H/F time 1-1 F/T 3-3

MATCH REPORT BROUGHT TO YOU TODAY BY OLD SILVER TONGUE HIMSELF KEV McQUILLAN

First match of the new season and after a very promising pre-season and a record number of players in the squad, the gaffer took the unusual step of focussing the minds of the starting 11 by naming his team on Friday morning – a positive move I think the majority agree. And the early signs were good.  Abronhill dominated the early exchanges and although Eastwood enjoyed a 10 min spell of possession midway through the half it was against the run of play that Eastwood took the lead.

Abronhill had failed to create many clear cut chances despite some nice passing interchanges and use of the wide areas as drilled in pre-season.  The sucker punch came when their forward got in behind Rab who’d pushed forward for another attack.  The Eastwood boy outpaced Jack (who should have halved him 40 yards from goal but instead tried to engage him in a WWF wresting manoeuvre) in the fullback position and squared the ball for a neat finish from the Eastwood centre forward who managed to place the ball perfectly into the gaping hole in the Ravenswood nets – WHO’S GOT OUR NETS??

Abronhills new found resilience, having comeback twice in pre-season, stood us in good stead and the equaliser came thanks to some patient build up play.  A corner was cleared at the near post only as far as Michael McQuillan who swung a great ball into Kanye West at the back post who controlled superbly and finished as fashionably as we’ve come to expect from our resident catwalk model.

After halftime, a more even game but with Abronhill still enjoying the best of the quality of football on show and a couple of near things with Billy R Superstar just narrowly missing out on a back post header after some nice one touch stuff on the opposite flank from M³©®™♂άΩ and Kev.  The goal wasn’t long in coming though and with a terrific through ball from Rosco, who enjoyed a good performance particularly in the 2^nd half (that’s a tenner wee man!), M³©®™♂άΩ did what he does best and made the goalkeeper look stupid with a composed lift into the corner from 18 yards ensuring his dad’s trip from Switzerland for the game wasn’t in vain!!

Just as it looked like Abronhill had the game by the scruff of the neck, 3 mins of madness turned the game on its head.  First a free kick from all of 40 yards was over hit by the Eastwood midfielder aiming to cross into the box and Innes strayed off his line anticipating the cross only to misjudge the flight and see it nestle in the back of his net.  Unfortunate moment from the otherwise sound keeper making his debut.

With Abronhill looking as shocked by that as they were pre-match by the size of the new strips (wee Ross is camping in his shorts at TITP next year!), we were caught cold and a sweeping move led to no 3 for Eastwood.  Decent goal caused by the whole team switching off.

Thankfully though, that goal got the perfect response when another cross from Kev to Bill resulted in a brave header cannoning off the back post and into the path of the oncoming tin of Ronseal that is Kanye repaying his gaffer’s confidence with 2 goals in his first game from midfield after Billy’s cut back.  3-3 and with chances at either end for the winner, it probably ended up being a fair 3-3 draw in the end.

Good game for the neutral and with the same attitude, the season ahead promises much.