x1Kenny Giles   
 x2Blair Bateman (u20)   
 x3David Brown   
 x4Danny McAlistair (u20)Scorer  
Off85x5Robbie Duncan   
 x6Ryan Flannigan (u20)   
 x7Dylan O’Hagan (u20)   
Off60x8Jeff Fergus   
 x9Fraser SheridanScorer  
 x10Daniel McDonald   
Off63x11Cammy McKay (u20)   
On60 12Conor McAteer (u20)Scorerx2  
  13   
On63 14Andy McNee (u20)   
On85 15Josh Devine (u20)   
  16   
  17   
  18   
 

22/01/2016  |  League

East Kilbride   0  v  4  Cumbernauld Colts

The young Colts travelled to K Park, East Kilbride and were met by a club still enjoying their fabulous midweek Scottish Cup victory which has seen them draw Glasgow Celtic in the next round. The TV cameras had long gone but the excitement of players and officials alike at the impending cup tie was clear for all to see. On the playing front the Colts coaches had to shuffle the squad again with Milne and Pirrie both injured and McGarraghan suspended. They were however boosted by the return of O'Hagan and Sheridan and the introduction of Brown, Duncan and McDonald from the first team squad.

When the two New Town teams clashed earlier in the season at Broadwood, it was East Kilbride who left with the spoils after a hard fought 2-1 victory.

The game kicked off and East Kilbride were quickly on the attack and pressed the Colts youngsters back. The Colts had to defend well at this early stage and Brown, wearing the captains armband, showed his experience and marshalled his young defensive partners, Bateman and McAllistair well as they thwarted any of the home sides advances. Gradually the Colts started to work their way back into the game with Flannigan and O'Hagan starting to win important tackles in the midfield area and feeding Duncan and Fergus on the flanks who were becoming more evident with some fine probing runs.

The Colts began to fashion some good chances and some good passing moves saw McDonald have a couple of opportunities to put the youngsters in front, however on the night the big striker pulled his efforts wide and the scoreline remained blank. The youngsters continued to press and on the half hour mark they got the break through they deserved. Fergus harried the home defenders into a slack back pass and McKay nipped in to take the ball away from the advancing keeper, and when the striker turned sharply, the keeper dived at his feet and pulled the hitman down. Sheridan confidently stepped up and drilled the resultant penalty into the net.

The game continued to be played at a fantastic pace and, Sheridan, Duncan, McKay, McDonald and Flannigan all had efforts at goal. East Kilbride themselves worked hard and made this a competitive match and although restricted in goal attempts, they passed the ball well and nearly found an equaliser in 40 minutes. A quick break on the left had the Cumbernauld youngsters back tracking and when a long high cross from the left dropped into the Colts box, Giles was called upon to move quickly off his line. As the keeper advanced to collect the ball, he was challenged by the forward and the ball broke to the edge of the penalty area. The on rushing East Kilbride player looked as if he was about to pick his spot in the unguarded goal, when Bateman somehow managed to make a great block tackle and clear the ball to safety.

Half Time 0-1

The second half continued in much the same style and both teams should be applauded for the efforts on the night and quality of football they produced. Colts continued to slightly have the upperhand and looked the more threatening. They went further ahead after a well worked set play. Sheridan drove a corner kick into the area, and McAllistair ran from the edge of the box to meet the ball flush on his forehead to bullet the header into the goal giving the home keeper no chance.

At this stage, the Colts were forced to make changes with McKay and Fergus being replaced by McAtear and McNee. Fergus had sustained a leg injury and McKay was feeling the effects of flu.

As the home side pushed forward, the game became more open and the pace of the Colts two substitutes was to prove emphatic. McDonald dropped into a deeper area and Sheridan took up a position on the left of midfield. The Colts were now hitting the home side on the break at regular interval and 82 minutes they extended their lead further. Good play on the right by Duncan saw the ball come across the goal mouth and McAtear was on hand the sidefoot the ball home.

The Cumbernauld youngsters were not finished and on another good break McNee did well to run the full back, a run that took him from the half way line into the opposition box. Just as the full back looked as if he may win the ball McNee turned inside and unselfishly rolled the ball across for his incoming strike partner, and McAtear slotted home for his second goal of the evening.

Final Score 0-4

An outstanding performance on the night. The youngsters thrived on the experience that Brown and Duncan brought to the team and they showed that they are enjoying this level of football. The team as a whole, are evidently learning quickly and are dealing with much more experienced and older sides better than they did in the early part of the season. A good night for all.