Pursuers 1 v 2 Bellahouston

Saturday 11 September 2004
Match report by Chick Yuck (AKA Chris Byrne)

Pursuers went into their first league game of the season looking to avenge a 4-0 defeat in the league cup section at the hands of Bellahouston. As a result of Pursuers again being down to the bare bones, three of their up and coming youth team players - James, Paul and Darren - were promoted to the first team squad.

The target before the game was to reach half time without conceding a goal but this fell by the wayside midway through the first half when an individual error again cost the Pursuers. Bellahouston's centre half was first to meet a corner from the left and managed to squeeze it in between the post and the static Chris "Edgar Davids" Byrne. Pursuers were quick to respond though and a great through ball from the impressive James was met by Jon McLeish who clinically fired home. Pursuers had some good attacking moves after that and grew in confidence as the half wore on (to the extent that Segun Komolafe attempted a Van Basten type volley from the touchline 30 yards out - unfortunately there was no Van Basten type result though!!).

Half time 1-1. Although failing to meet their target of not conceding a goal, this was an encouraging half from the Pursuers. Mohan and Cunningham coped well with the speed and aerial threat posed by Bellahouston's 8 foot striker and Darren's pace caused the Bellahouston defence plenty headaches.

The second half saw more of the same with both sides threatening. Chris McLeish was unlucky to see his freekick come off the underside of the bar and, with nobody following up, bounce to safety. Worse was to follow though and, not long after, a speculative shot from the edge of the box bounced akwardly in front of McKinnon (or was it David James?) and sneaked in at his near post. Pursuers spent the rest of the game pushing forward for the equaliser but to no avail as the team began to lose its shape.

Final score 2-1. The Pursuers players refused to comment on the game following criticism in last week's match report but this was a disappointing result given the effort put in by the team. Like their international colleagues during the week (most of whom wouldn't look out of place in GDSML Div B), Pursuers need to cut out the schoolboy errors, create more goal scoring opportunities and take advantage more often of the chances they do create. Hopefully the return of Narey, Dawson, O'Neill, McKinlay and Kane can make a difference...

Match report by Chick Yuck , BBC Pursuers