Pursuers 4 v 4 Strathclyde University

Saturday 19 February 2005
Match report by Hugh Levens, Scottish Pun

Having failed to take a single point since 4 December Pursuers manager Femi Komolafe rang the changes in a bid to stop the rot. Three trialists were named in the starting 11 and a change of formation to an unfamiliar 3-4-3 saw Pursuers take on the youth on Strathclyde University at Glasgow Green on Saturday.

Despite these changes Strathclyde University started the stronger and only after a re-shuffle to a more familiar 4-4-2 did Pursuers begin to make an impact in the game.

Chances fell to Trialist Kenny and Dawson but both were denied by the Uni keeper and post respectively.

By half time both teams had in the woodwork but the score line remained blank at 0-0.

The second half started like most Pursuers games start, Pursuer sdefending and they were lucky not to be 0-1 down when the Uni yet again struck the woodwork.

Shortly after that Pursuers were given a free kick 20 yards out. With Mir acting as a decoy C McLeish stepped up and fired a low drive into the bottom right hand corner

1-0

Pursuers then found themselves on the back foot as the Uni tried to get themselves back into the game and is wasn't long before, with the help of the Pursuers defence they found themselves level and then winning 2-1.

Pursuers only then started to come back into the game and when yet another free kick was awarded, Mir was yet again used as a decoy (he's good at that!) C McLeish stepped us and drove the ball across to old brother J McLeish who back heeled the ball in from 6 yards. Clearly youngest brother D McLeish who viewed at the side has been teaching the "old boys" a thing or two!

2-2

Failure to learn from their mistakes yet again saw Pursuers fail to hold on as Keeper James passed the ball out to their right back trialist despite a Uni forward only being 3 yards away from him, one tackle and two passes later and Pursuers were again down 3-2.

Enter Trialist Kenny who up until now had closed down the Uni's defence, tracked back and pushed forward all without getting his rewards. 2 goals in 10 minutes from him saw Pursuers lead 4-3.

Then panic set in as Pursuers weren't sure what to do. A "midfielder" gave away and needless free kick. From the resulting free kick Uni equalised from what appeared to be an offside position.

4-4

This Saturday sees the boys travel away to Glasgow Islay.

Huge Levens
The Scottish Pun.