The Captain Finally arrives

This fixture was an eagerly anticipated affair - mainly by Captain "G" as it was my debut for the 3's this season. The squad all turned up early so I could introduce myself and get to know everyone ;)

We got through introductions and performed some warm ups while I suggested we should also practice short corner routines after hearing about success rates the previous week. Everyone appeared keen to get out on the pitch - I put it down to trying to impress the new kid on the block but maybe they were just cold from turning up so early.

We looked like a strong team warming up with 15 players present, catching up with what I'd missed since the start of the season. - which was the exact opposite compared to the opposition. Only 4 of the opposite team had turned up by the Push Back time, claiming to have gotten lost (I suspect they heard I was finally playing ;) ) . Our very own Duncan from the 6's however stepped up and offered to play for East Kilbride so we could get the game underway with the minimum? numbers.

True gentlemen as we are, we didn't score while they had depleted numbers and just kept them under pressure until the rest of their squad turned up and allowed Duncan to take a rest (E.Kilbride's MoM).

I'm not sure when the rest of the opposition turned up but I think we continued to play like they only had 8 players on the pitch and camped out in their half. I don't think Lamby was happy unless 90% of our team were setting up our tents in their half.

Pressure continued for all of the game with lots of good runs from the midfield & forwards with any lose balls being picked up comfortably by our defence. There were only a couple times where we got caught out with a couple counter attacks but our new star defender (Neil Mitchinson) managed to save our bacon.

Both goals came from short corners in the end. Steve Swanton & Sandy Drennan scored almost identical goals, assisted by G. Think we need to add some variety to these but will keep that routine in the back pocket for now :)

Overall, an intense match that felt a bit rushed due to the nature of the start but when we settled down after the 1st half, we found our feet and the elusive goals. If we can turn up to training to improve basics & play more as a team, then we should be contenders for promotion at the end of the season.

Cup game next week - lets take all the positives (& numbers) from this week's match into next week. The longer cup run we have, the more games we will play this season !! :)

Well played everyone !