LOCATION:STEPFORD

       TEAM: INNES, JOE,GRANT,MARK,McKEEVER,THOMAS,DAVIE,ROSS Y,IAIN,SAUN, KEV

 SUBS USED:  ROSS K, RAYMOND, BILLY

H/F time 1-2, 2-5

With an opening day draw in the league under the belt, Abronhill embarked on their first Cup campaign of the season with an opening fixture against stiff opposition, Red Star.

With Jack taking up an unaccustomed place on the sidelines as gaffer / sub and ably assisted by our Captain who dressed up as the illegitimate love child of Martin O’Neill and Paul Lambert, a fresh looking line-up took to the field with only our keeper, Ron Seal and Kev retained in the starting line up in a new 4-5-1 formation.  However, maintaining the continuity in the side, The Judge once again took his place on the bench to preside over the subs.

A keenly fought contest followed with plenty good football played in yet more aquatic conditions.  Red Star took the lead  due to their midfielder having to much time on the ball to slide a ball in behind the back four for a suspiciously offside Red Star striker to run in an calmly finish. ( Michael Brady if you read this, I hope you buy me a pint the next time i see you)

However, the fighting spirit so evident throughout the Abronhill squad this season came to the fore again and after an Abronhill corner had been cleared, Ross Yuill crossed to his adopted ‘brother’, Ron Seal who soared into the air at the front post to apply a ‘sparkling finish’, putting the ‘gloss’ on another great performance from Ron who continues to ‘shine’ at this early stage of the season , TANtalising.

Abronhill were soon 2-1 up when Sean Gallanagh made a great run down the right cutting it back from the touchline to the near post area for Kev to finish with ease.

Early in the 2^nd half, Red Star were creating most of the chances and the pressure paid off when the scored, their left winger scoring with a rasping drive that gave Innes no chance after the new stand in Captain Joe was clearly fouled 2 seconds before hand. Jim Beam obviously never saw the foul.

However, not to be undone, Abronhill picked up the fight with superior fitness and determination finally wearing down their opponents.  First Sean reacted brilliantly to a great save by the keeper from Kev’s shot, keeping his composure to take the rebound past the defender and slot past the onrushing keeper.  Sean then scored an early goal of the season candidate.  Mince defending left the ball breaking off to Sean 25 yards from goal whose first touch was to lob the ball over the keeper and into the net.

From there, it was one way traffic with a couple of their players throwing toys out of prams quicker  than  Ron Seal’s scoring goals this season.  The final goal came when more rotten defending led to a long ball out of defence landing between the Red Star ‘defence’ and their keeper leaving Kev with a clear run on goal who decided, after much deliberation, to slot it past the keeper on his own rather than square it to the sprinting Billy.

Billy didn’t exactly faint!!

Great start to the season in the Cup as well as the league and every player giving themselves the chance to claim a starting berth for the next match.