The flag waving ‘Well fans behind the goal unfurled a banner in Norwegian reading “We’re thinking of you” before the game – a nice touch and a reminder of our game with Aelesunds last season.
Thinking of you....
The same supporters endured a worrying start to the game as Kilmarnock dominated the first ten minutes with an impressive display of passing football. We hardly got a touch until Hammell got up the wing and passed to Law who delivered a low teaser across the face only inches away from Murphy’s outstretched foot.
Four corners then followed and Hutchison came close with a header just over the bar. The rest of the half was an even affair. Both teams tried to get the ball on the ground and to make progress with a series of passes. Law looked the part – always in the right position and with a bit of pace when needed.
Randolph had to make a couple of good stops from distance and at the other end our best chance came when McHugh and Murphy combined and Bob finished the move with a fierce shot that had Bell’s hands stinging.
We almost had the perfect start to the second half when Jennings let fly from 25 yards. It was destined for the top right corner but the ‘keeper tipped the ball away for a corner.
It became evident as the game moved on that the size of our squad limits our options. By the 75th minute Killie had made three substitutions while our eleven soldiered on with increasing careless mistakes as legs grew weary. Jennings and Hutchison in particular gave the ball away carelessly time after time.
It looked like a winner was on the cards when a ball over the top released Law. He had only Bell to beat as he ran in to the left side of the box with McHugh free in the centre but the midfielder tried a low shot into the ‘keeper.
There were no complaints from either side as the game petered out without a goal.