Match Report Vs Westhill 27/07/2013 After the disappointment of a cancelled pre-season game last Wednesday Halli were looking forward to game number 2 of the preparations for season # 36. A decent 60 minutes against Torphins now had to be improved upon over the piece when this afternoon, we faced local side Westhill. Westhill have not had their problems to seek over the last couple of seasons, with back to back relegations seeing them now ply their trade in the bottom division of the AAFA ranks for season 13-14. Talk about kicking someone when they are down, their club founder and president Clark Milton then decided to jump ship to play in the higher leagues joining Nicols X1. Full credit then to Westhill who arrived with a healthy squad for today’s match. Halli’s new sponsor Rainbow Taxis were represented at this afternoons match by Managing Director Mr Russell McLeod, who officially handed over a new strip and holdalls for each of the players. The new strip was used for today’s game. Sct Marlow was in goal, Turner, Simpson & N.McDonald at the back. Ellis, Wilson, Young, R.Fulton & K.Jaques were in midfield behind Laing & S.Jaques who spearheaded our attack. On the bench, were keeper Andrews, Gebbie, Hunter, Howieson & Moir. In baking heat the game got underway on the practice pitch which has been set out at Lawsondale. The opening 10 minutes saw play distributed pretty evenly with both sides vying for supremacy. The first half chance fell to Halli after Sct Marlow plucked a left wing cross out of the air, to send a long ball forward for Laing, he chased after it but a defender blocked his effort out for a corner kick. In 15 Ellis delivered a throw into the visitors area but R.Fulton was adjudged to have handled and play was halted. In 18 Westhill flicked a ball forward which caught Halli flatfooted. Sct Marlow got down to save then also stopped the rebound as Westhill pounced. Seconds later Laing was through at the other end, but the Westhill keeper got down to save, he spilled it but with no Halli man gambling on this he had time to recover and grab the loose ball. The match had now gained some momentum with Halliburton pressing however without really bothering the visitors keeper. R.Fulton worked hard to win possession in 21 then picked out Wilson who saw a curled effort float wide of the far post. The Westhill goalkeeper showed up well in 29 quickly off his line to block away a Laing effort, which his defence then scrambled clear. In 34 the same keeper was relieved to see a miskick from S.Jaques after he had taken a good headed pass from R.Fulton. R.Fulton then picked up a yellow when he took out a Westhill midfielder on the half way line. An excellent challenge from the Westhill #3 thwarted Laing in 40 after he had linked with Wilson & K.Jaques.(H.T.0-0). An unusual score line for a pre-season friendly. Halli were lectured in the need to slow things down, until now play in the main had been far too frantic. All predictable with long kicks out from the keeper, long throws and rushed passes. We had also been as per usual far too quiet. Two changes were made at the break. R.Fulton carrying a bit of a knock and S.Jaques were replaced by Gebbie and Hunter. Gebbie wide left, K.Jaques into the middle and Hunter up front with Laing. From KO Laing instantly had a half chance but the ball just would not fall for him and the defence got it away. In 50, Halli produced the composure discussed at half time. A huge win in the air by a commanding Young in midfield, picked out Hunter. He controlled, turned and slipped through a perfectly weighted ball for Laing to pursue. He took it on, shielding it from a defender before superbly tucking into the corner past the despairing keeper 1-0. A very well worked goal. This however spurred on Westhill who forced a good save out of Sct Marlow as his defence stood up. The big keeper down to his left to stop a powerful drive off the visitors #3. In 61 a cheeky Jaqual free kick saw K.Jaques try his luck from well wide, the ball flew inches wide of the far post. Simpson delivered a throw in from the left which Laing rose to head just wide. At this stage it was Halliburton that were dominating and forcing the visitors back. K.Jaques raced onto a loose ball 30 yards from the Westhill goal, he collected, turned inside and curled a superb chip just over the crossbar. In 68 Laing rifled a bullet shot inches over the top. Howieson was introduced for Laing he went into centre mid, K.Jaques up front, the sub showed up well soon after with a solid challenge on the halfway line. In 73 the move of the game saw Halli play it out from the back. Sct Marlow rolled it out for N.McDonald, he curled it wide for K.Jaques. He in turn drilled it up the line for Hunter, who collected and laid it back to Wilson. A powerful effort flew just over the top. Westhill attacked down the right in 75, but Turner rose well to head clear, Sct Marlow then received a huge let off in 77 when he allowed a tame cross to slip through his grasp, Young bailed him out by booting the loose ball to safety. In 80 the Westhill #13 wildly slashed an effort miles wide after they had made inroads down the left. Halli with Laing now back on playing central midfield, won a free kick, which Laing rolled to S.Jaques, the hitman drilled in a shot that looked in until it lifted just over the bar. Hunter produced a superb run for Halli when he skinned 2 men before squaring into S.Jaques, he played a one two with Gebbie but his parting shot lacked pace and the keeper saved. In 89 Gebbie picked up a get out of jail card, when he set up Westhill with a great scoring opportunity. He lost possession easily and two visitors closed in on the Halli goal. In truth they managed to produce a 3rd division finish which was neither pass nor shot, with the ball rolling harmlessly well wide of the far post. The attacker appearing to panic when given the chance to level the scoreline. As is nearly always the case in football, when a chance is passed up at one end, then almost always a chance is created and usually taken at the other. This indeed was the case this afternoon, when a hand ball within the visitors box, resulted in a penalty kick for Halliburton. Laing slotted home his second 2-0. Almost straight from the restart the referee, blew for time (F.T.2-0). A slightly better 2nd half from Halli did produce a number of chances, but we must work at finishing games off, no question that first division sides will battle to gain points for 90 mins and at only 1-0 then games must be closed out. We neither scored enough from a decent ratio of chances nor showed enough at the back to suggest we were water tight. Another game left before the season kicks off when we play top premier league outfit and neighbours Westdyke on Monday evening, weather permitting. A very difficult game which should give us more indication of how we stand in terms of form and commitment . As is customary against Westhill the local public house Keywest, Cup was played for and as is also customary, went home with Halli. Westhill for their part look well capable of climbing out of the bottom tier and should start the season confident of promotion. The Halliburton Man of the match goes to newcomer Nick Hunter who definitely made a big impact after his introduction after the interval.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 12:15:02 +0000
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