Dunfermline City v Grange 7
Woodmill H.S.
29/10/16
Would it prove to be fourth time lucky for City or another horror show as City faced Grange 7 at Woodmill on Saturday?
As usual the line up was all change with Al Green and Brian Brown in for the first time this season, former regular Neil Innes back for the first time in a couple of seasons and several players unavailable.
After a last few minutes meltdown last week, teamwork was the order of the day and what a difference a week makes.
From this reporters neutral view this was a much improved team performance, each area of the pitch City won their individual battles(without earning cards) and dominated the whole game. The only negative was the dominance was not rewarded in the number of clear cut chances made, otherwise City easily could have won by four or more. My only small criticism(constructive) would be not quite so much driving with the ball - pass, move, support, and be prepared to go square or back to retain possession and go forward down other channels. Retain possession means opposition can't score, strange that!
The game itself was all about City driving forward, being creative with the best chance missed by A Green but he was in the right place at the right time. Other half chances were created and missed before Graeme C picked the ball up in midfield, drove past a couple of Grange players, into the circle, went onto his reverse and hit an unstoppable shot high past the keeper to his right. A well created and taken solo goal (payment in cash to the author pls Graeme).
Grange created little in the half, the most exciting moment being when Brian "Craig Gordon" Brown decided to confuse everyone by hiding the ball between his foot and kicker in trying to stop a long corner, no Grange that never is a short corner.
The second half was an exact replica of the first, half chances and lots of pressure in the Grange half. Graeme C went close with a replica of his his first half goal and then then best chance, a short corner to City, trapped top circle and quickly transferred right to Innes who shot low and hard inside the post giving the keeper no chance. A great return by Neil.
City had a narrow escape after "Craig Gordon's" footwork let him down again, a panic and a missed open goal for Grange but City escaped.
In the last minute Grange pulled a goal back but City easily held on for a 2-1 victory, a scoreline which really flattered grange who really were never in the game and City played much better with no signs of the meltdown and moaning amongst themselves of the previous week. Positivity helps so much more than infighting and imploding.
A really good all round team performance, more of the same please.
Well done guys.
I had to stay on and ump a Negie game that followed, one point from that game I think is worth sharing. Negie had a number of talented youngsters, none of them played with an attitude, and despite having skill to beat numerous opponents, they would beat one or two and look to lay off, if no one clear up front they would not hesitate to get their feet round and go back or square to keep possession and change point of attack, the only point I would make we could improve on from Saturday.