Messages

121

Lowland League Team / A Great first half

« on: March 24, 2016, 02:30:51 PM »

I was at the Gretna game last night at Broadwood. What a first half! From kick off to half-time the team displayed such a powerful sense of urgency. They pressed, they harried and they attacked. They went one up but there was no let up in their energy or determination. They went two up and still the intensity continued. They played like a team that needed to win and win with plenty of goals. Even when the third goal went in, they maintained the same urgency. It was great to watch.
It was no surprise that the energy levels were lower in the second half although they went on to win 4-1.
Anyway, credit to the players and coaches for bouncing back from the poor performance and result at the weekend. It is rare to see a team put in so much effort and energy even when they are winning.
Forza Colts!

122

Lowland League Team / The Battle of Broadwood

« on: March 05, 2016, 08:54:49 PM »

Quite a contrast when compared to last week's game. In place of flowing, attractive football we saw a scrappy hard fought battle. The Stirling Uni team are a good side, they have only been beaten twice this season but one of the two teams that beat them was Cumbernauld Colts, so there was hope that we might do the double on them. Both teams fought hard and the physical side of the game, including some very tough tackles, resulted in several explosions of temper and retaliation as well as two dismissals. Anyway, well done to the Colts for managing to score a late goal that gave us a well earned draw.

123

Lowland League Team / A convincing win

« on: February 27, 2016, 06:03:13 PM »

An excellent result and a great performance. Four goals scored and none conceded.
It was a pleasure to watch some beautiful football today. Colts can play the tiki taka style so beloved of the mighty Barcelona but equally they can use the long pass to set up those players who can outrun the defence. Today they outplayed Dalbeattie Star and their victory was the result of a combination of factors: good organisation, confident goalkeeping, effective pressing, accurate and varied passing, players willing to work hard for the team, creative moves and quality finishing. It is also good to see competition for places because football nowadays depends on having a good squad. Anyway, I enjoyed the game. Hopefully when the temperature rises we get more spectators attending.
Forza Colts!

124

Lowland League Team / Our bogey team?

« on: February 07, 2016, 07:17:28 PM »

Every great football side should have a bogey team. I would like to nominate Spartans as ours. Two defeats and no goals scored against them. Of course, bogey teams don't always win, so let's see what happens next season.

Now that I think about it, we won't need to wait until next season. We meet them in the cup.

125

Lowland League Team / A 5 goal victory

« on: January 09, 2016, 07:22:59 PM »

A very good performance and a great result. Admittedly, the game was made easier with the penalty and sending off of a Preston player but Colts still had to do the work required to ensure victory. Stephen 'Messi' O'Neill scored 3 of the five goals. What a performance!
So, we move up to equal third position. Winning the league might not be a realistic target but we can certainly compete for second place. A real pleasure to be at Broadwood despite the cold.
Forza Colts!

126

Lowland League Team / The EK game

« on: January 03, 2016, 09:31:17 PM »

I have just read the report on the EK game. A good result against a good team. Looks like we are still in contention for a Champion's League place. (Well.... You know what I mean)

I don't get to many of the away games but I'm looking forward to the first home game of 2016.

A Happy New Year to everyone at the club. 2015 will remain a special year for the club but who knows what 2016 might bring.

Forza Colts!

127

Lowland League Team / Back to normality

« on: December 11, 2015, 11:55:51 PM »

It was good to see the Colts playing with determination and confidence again. As the game progressed they grew stronger and stronger. Another victory and it pushes us up to equal third in the league, although we have played an extra game.
I did wonder how long it would take before the referee had to change his strip. The ref in black looked like the Colt's twelfth man but that's no advantage when the players start trying to pass the ball to him.
Anyway, good to keep the unbeaten record going.

128

Lowland League Team / The dream is over. (Until next year)

« on: December 02, 2015, 11:05:00 AM »

It was a heavy defeat last night but I'm not sure what to make of it. The easy option would be to say that there is a large gulf between the lowland league and division 2 but I have my doubts. The Albion were more confident, faster, more determined and stronger. They created a large amount of chances in addition to the six they scored from. But....I wrote something similar after our 4-0 defeat to the Spartans and there's no good reason to believe that the Spartans should be in a different league from us. I can't help but thinking that if the Colts had played to the standard they have shown in most of their games, it could have been a much closer contest. Albion did play well but the Colts played badly. Anyway, Cumbernauld Colts by getting to the third round of the Scottish Cup have made their name known to a wider audience. They can be proud of what they have achieved so far in such a short amount of time.
Forza Colts!

129

Lowland League Team / Kirwan to the rescue

« on: November 21, 2015, 05:40:16 PM »

A well deserved three points for the Colts but a nail biting finish.
Despite having most of the play and creating numerous chances, when Gala equalised in the last quarter of the game it looked as if the Colts might have to settle for a draw but credit must be given to the team for their determination to take all three points. Richard 'Alves' Kirwan who had made several brilliant overlapping runs in the second half scored the goal that he deserved and the goal that the Colts had earned.
Well done to the Colts!
Looking forward to next week's big game.

130

Lowland League Team / Re: The Scottish Cup

« on: November 04, 2015, 02:40:50 PM »

I'm pleased that we are going to be playing Stirling Albion. When we played at the Albion stadium earlier this year against Stirling Uni, the Colts played some great football and came away with a victory. So, playing in this stadium again holds no fear. Anyway, the Colts away record speaks for itself. I'm looking forward to this cup game. It was good to hear the Colts mentioned on Radio Scotland this morning as the presenter spoke about Stirling Albion's next cup opponents. For some listeners, it will probably be the first time that they have heard the name Cumbernauld Colts.

131

Lowland League Team / Re: Away form continues

« on: November 01, 2015, 11:30:01 AM »

I didn't manage the journey to Dalbeattie but I saw the result on the lowland league website. Fantastic! Still undefeated away from home. No surprise to see goals from Stephen 'Messi' O'Neill. Looking forward to reading the match report.
Forza Colts!

132

Lowland League Team / Re: The Scottish Cup

« on: October 29, 2015, 08:57:37 PM »

I'm pleased with the third round draw. An away game against a second division team. We have shown that we can compete in the Lowland league. We have shown that we can beat the best of Junior football. Now the challenge is one level above us. I know it's a one off game but it might give us a clue as to whether there is a gap between lowland league and division 2. This will be an away game that I don't want to miss.
Forza Colts!

133

Lowland League Team / Magnificent Colts!!

« on: October 24, 2015, 05:26:24 PM »

What a performance!
Every player was a hero. From start to finish the team gave 100% and their victory was so well deserved. Credit must also go to the coaching staff who have assembled and organised such a great team. They were a joy to watch.
And what a great atmosphere! Today it felt as if Cumbernauld had embraced their home town team.

134

Lowland League Team / Re: A Missed opportunity

« on: October 23, 2015, 10:47:47 PM »

Could this be another first for the Colts? Highlights of their game with a commentary. Very professionally done.
I watched the penalty claim incident and I think I can see why the referee might have thought that the keeper got a touch. Selkirk touches the ball so that he can go around the keeper but the direction of his touch has the same effect as if the keeper has touched it. So my verdict is a penalty but I can see how the referee got it wrong from his angle.

135

Lowland League Team / Half full or half empty?

« on: October 17, 2015, 07:47:41 PM »

No game for us today but some interesting results. The top three teams in the league all lost but it meant that some of the 'middle' teams gained points and moved above us. So, we now have one or two games in hand in relation to most of the teams above us. Personally, I'm pleased with the results for two reasons:
1) We continue to see that every team in this league is beatable and no team is beyond catching.
2) The defeat of the top three teams means that if we have a good run from now on picking up the points that we deserve we can close the gap.
 
Spartans are the only team that I have seen that outplayed us but they haven't consistently outplayed the other teams in the league and have had bad results against teams that we outplayed. So......I think the glass is half full.

Forza Colts!