U21s v Bellshill Report

One down - to a penalty

It should be said that the first half was one of the most boring forty-five minutes of football that I have ever witnessed. Chances were few and far between and the quality of the play was poor. Chris McCart will probably have a neck strain tomorrow morning considering how often he was shaking his head.

Bellshill took the lead when Paul McGrillen (yes, that Paul McGrillen) raced onto a through ball and was tripped by DuBourdeau. He took the penalty himself and smashed it home.

This jolted us into action and we came close to equalising twice before the break. A defender on the line easily cleared Darren Jack’s weak shot and David Clarkson should have done better when he headed wide.

We began to dominate the play in the second half but an equaliser did not look like coming. Shaun Fagan came close on three occasions but eventually a defensive blunder gave us a goal. The Bellshill number five (who was superb all night) attempted to head back to the goalie, not realising his teammate was immediately behind him. Clarkson raced on to tap the ball into the empty net.

Darren Jack attacks with his head

Clarke headed a chance over before Bellshill regained the lead with a carbon copy of the move that brought success in the first half. This time DuBourdeau did not bring the striker down and he rolled the ball home.

Tempers began to flare between Fagan, Clarke and the Bellshill players and this eventually resulted in Clarke being thumped. Harsh as it seems, it might do him some good – he needs to learn he cannot continually kick and niggle the opposition and get away with it.

We missed some late half chances but we never looked like scoring again. The crowd went home satisfied with the entertainment in the second half and Bellshill can be heartened by their good performance.

In keeping with our new team spirit, George Adams, Terry Butcher, Scott Leitch, Faddy, Stevie Hammell and Kevin McDonald were all their to support the team.

Team:

DuBordeau

Dempsie McDermott(trialist) Kinniburgh Mathie(trialist)

Russell(trialist) Black Fagan

Clarke Jack Clarkson

Subs: Crawley Ewings Barkey Wright Bell

Bellshill 2 Motherwell 1