9/5/08

Last Saturday we welcomed the visit of West Calder to the Forresters for the 2nd last game of our disappointing season. The previous 2 games had seen clean-sheets against Dunbar and Blackburn Utd, so the boys were keen to extend our unbeaten run to 3 matches. It was also our first chance to impress the new manager as Brian Johnston took his position for the first time at the helm. He was joined by Hamish in the dugout who is going to be in charge of our under 19 team next season.

The new manager decided to make a few changes to the starting line-up with 3 trialists taking their place in our starting 11, however, we still lined up in our familiar 4-4-2 formation. The game kicked-off at a frantic pace and Tranent started with most of the attacking. Some of our passing was good and we were limiting West Calder to throwing long balls out our defence which we were able to deal with on the majority of occasions. Probably and most unfortunately for me, the best chance that we had in the opening 20 minutes fell to myself when I found myself free on the right hand-side of the pitch. As I tried to drive diagonally towards the penalty box, I managed to step on the ball and completely lose momentum and the chance was gone. A bit of an embarrassing moment (Auldy hasnae let me forget about it since) and worse was to come when West Calder ventured up the field a couple of minutes later and managed to take an undeserved lead after breaching our off-side trap down our left side. So we found ourselves 1v0 down against the run of play but to the boys credit we forced our way back into the match and got our just rewards when Gibby scored a spectacular equaliser. Dan swung a vicious corner kick into the box which Gibby met sweetly on the run to rifle an unstoppable shot past the keeper on the volley. It was the least that we deserved and we went into the break equal at 1v1.

Brian and Hamish were fairly satisfied with our first half display but wanted us to be a little more aggressive in our play. We kicked-off the 2nd half determined to come away with the 3 points, however, we were dealt a severe blow 5 minutes in when Dan MacFarlane was red carded for a 2nd bookable offence. Trying to re-group we lost our shape for a 5 minute spell after this and it was no surprise when West Calder took the lead after a bit of pressure. So 2v1 down and down to 10 men and it wasn't looking good but we managed to pull together and work that little bit harder and we more than matched our opponents for the remainder of the match. The introduction of young Robert from our U19 Squad in the last 15 minutes was a particular highlight as he added a freshness and a direct attitude to our attack. He was very unlucky in the dying stages of the match to hit the post that would have gave us a well deserved draw from the match but in the end it wasn't to be and not for the first time this season we came away from a match with nothing when we deserved at least a point.

So, the verdict on the new managers first match in charge was a positive one if not victorious and the 3 trialists who made their debuts impressed in their first match in a Tranent shirt. It is all about building for next season to ensure that the club improve on our league position and I think with a few additions to our already talented squad, we could see a major improvement in the clubs fortunes.

We only trained once this week on Wednesday but the boys all put the usual effort in. There was a return for Tranents version of Roy of the Rovers, Auldy, but his fitness was severely lacking when he could only manage 3 minutes of a 10 minute run. Chris was nursing a calf injury so was posing on the side-lines with his flat-cap alongside some of the committee members. All he needed was the pipe and slippers ........! Jamsie is nursing a hamstring injury but it didnae effect is tounge when he gave Auldy a lashing during the small-sided game for not passing him the ball .... Must take that from his Mum as I have had a few bashings from Mrs McPartlan when I have not passed him the ball on a Saturday! She might not need to worry this Saturday as I am still nursing a groin injury! Gibby is also a doubt with sun-burn after trying to get a tan like Kenny and Daryll .... they obviously forgot to tell him that it was out of a bottle! Q is also touch and go for Saturday after returning from Fiorentina with a virus .... nothing to do with the 20 pints consumed on the bus back from Italy then?

So the final match of the season takes place on Saturday when we welcome Broxburn to the Forresters. Its a chance to go out on a high and put a little bit more of a points gap between ourselves and Pumpherston in trying not to finish in the unwelcome position of 2nd bottom. Hopefully the locals will come out to support the boys in the final match of the season and hopefully we can put on a decent performance in the sun!

(Next week will be the final View from the Camp for the Season)

Smithy

This



1/5/08

The boys were keen to build on the midweek victory against Dunbar with another home match against Blackburn Utd. We felt this was another great chance to pick up 3 points as we were only narrowly defeated 1v0 when we played them away earlier in the season when having the bulk of the play. Chris Smith is trying his best to compete in the fashion stakes of the dressing room and in my opinion has taken over from the departed Craig McConnell as a candidate for Tranents next top model. His style appears to be more around head gear (must be to cover his bald patch) and has treated the boys to 2 interesting hats since he joined the ranks which can only be described as something from the baker boys and something from the seniors tour on the golf course. Devine was also in confident mood after Broonie revealed that his dad has been impressed with his performance on Monday night and was looking for someone to run up and down the line passing water bottles to the players during the summer.

Davie Lees returned from his family holiday to Portugal to take the team in what turned out to be his last match as manager of the club. Bob (or Dougie if you prefer) was missing from the team-sheet so I was restored to my favourite left-hand side of midfield position and the team was therefore much the same from the one that beat Dunbar 1v0 on the Monday evening. The hard and bumpy pitch was making playing conditions difficult and the first 10 or 15 minutes of the game consisted in what can only be described as a midfield battle. Devine, the Kilmarnock transfer target, was the first to threaten but his run down the left flank was cleared by the Blackburn defence. At the other end, we were lucky not to be 1v0 down after only late whistle prevented the Blackburn striker scoring with a cracking effort at the edge of the box. The first half was pretty scrappy and therefore it was no surprise when the referee brought an end to the half with the scores level at 0v0.

The plan for the 2nd half to was express ourselves on the ball more and improve our attacking play and we started the 2nd half with more drive and purpose. However, we were finding the Blackburn defence difficult to breakdown and were subject to a couple of counter attacks which if it had not been for some good defending and some bad finishing we could have found ourselves behind. As in a few matches this season, we were struggling to score without the physical presence of Ya Ya Auldy in attack to hold the ball up for the team and in fairness we never really tested the Blackburn keeper in the 2nd half despite having the bulk of the play. The final chance of the match actually fell to the away side and it was only the width of the post that denied Blackburn the victory and 3 points to take back to West Lothian.

Smithy.

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24/04/08


Its been an eventful week since I last wrote this column. Revelations of unrest in the camp appear to have been addressed by our club officials with the announcement that Jackie Myles would be returning as Manager for the start of next season. Reports of financial troubles appear to have also caught the locals attention with the news that a major investor could be about to pump much needed cash into the club. The potential for a decent junior team for a town the size of Tranent is there for all to see and hopefully these changes will see an upturn in the clubs fortunes. Having only played in the East of Scotland leagues with Ormiston and more recently Craigroyston, I have only ever come across Jackie Myles once in a pre-season friendly at the start of last season, but I know a few of the boys currently playing with the club have played for him before. No doubt he will have his own ideas of how the club is going to be run next season so we will all just have to wait and see what the Summer will bring.

Jackie was in attendance when Dunbar came calling to the Forresters on Monday. We had already played Dunbar twice this season down at their excellent facilities and we both had a victory each to our names prior to the encounter. Results this season have been disappointing and with only 4 home matches remaining before the season comes to an end, the boys were determined to have one final push over the course of these 4 games to try and finish as far up the table as possible. Dunbar on the other hand are sitting comfortably in 4th place of the South Division and we knew that we would have to play well if we were to take anything from the match. With the Gaffer in Portugal on a family break, it was up to Broonie to take the team still looking for its first victory since November. Dan McFarlane was ruled out with a foot injury and I dropped to the bench after the disappointing defeat to Arniston. This resulted Daryll and McEwan being restored to the starting line-up with Gibby and Tattie patrolling the right and left flanks. Daryll had obviously been to the sunbeds with 'legs' Kenny before the match as he was supporting a new bronze look. There was also a place on the bench for young trialist Jamie Butler.

The boys started the game well and we created a few chances in an open first half. Tattie probably had the best of our chances when being sent through 1:1 on the Dunbar goalkeeper twice. Unlucky with his first effort after rounding the goalkeeper but just going to wide, I think he was caught in two minds the second time which gave former Tranent goalkeeper Gavin McLean the chance to stop him in his tracks. At the other end, the defence consisting of Jamsie, Moose, Chris & Devine were dealing with Dunbar well although former Berwick striker John Crawford will be disappointed with a couple of his efforts. In fact, we were a little fortunate mid-way through the first half when the over fussy referee disallowed a dunbar goal for offside after Cudgy had mis-judged the initial shot against the crossbar. There were further chances for Joe Murray and Daryll but the teams went in at half-time 0v0.

Dunbar introduced Hampshire at the break and this appeared to improve the Dunbar midfield. They started the 2nd half on the attack but on the occasions that they did reach the final third, their efforts were always off target. I was introduced to the Tranent midfield with roughly 30 minutes remaining and was delighted to be back at home on the more natural right side. The game was swinging from end to end in the 2nd half and for the 2nd game running I was guilty of missing with a header at the back post after a terrific cross from Daryll. Young Jamie Butler came on to replace Mark McEwan and added some pace and enthusiasim to our attack. With the game approaching the last 15 minutes, we were awarded a free-kick down our right hand side. With Broonie's words echo'ing in my ears to "miss the first man", I proceeded to loft a hopeful (ok, not the best) cross towards the Dunbar goalkeeper. However, Joe Murray had made a run across the front of the goalkeeper and managed to get something on the ball to divert it into the empty net. Little did I know that 'something' was his hand and he ran to the corner celebrating what he described as a 'Maradona' goal ..... Thats the closest he will ever be described to maradona anyway! For once this season, we managed to hold on and actually had a couple of chances at the death to extend our slim advantage. So 1v0 it finished and the boys had managed to muster our first 3 points of 2008, against the gaffer's local team, whilst he was sunning himself in Portugal .... Bet he was gutted!

Before the match on Monday, the club held a race-night on Saturday night in the Tranent Club to raise much needed finances. Normally the horses are the entertainment on nights like these, however, our very own Keith Auld tried his best to upstage them. Not all of this was entirely his fault, as unknown to him Joe had topped-up his half empty pint of guiness with vodka and challenged him to a downing competition. Auldy, being the life and sole of the party, would never shirk the challenge and proceeded to down his pint. I think that was the last moment that Auldy could remember about the night but I am quite happy to remind him. Apart from telling everyone they were fantastic and also trying to steal one of the organisers race videos, he decided that he would bid by himself in the last race auction for a horse. This cost him £25.00 (about a years Tranent Salary) but to make matters worse it fell at the very first fence when the race managed to get underway! I never had much luck myself and apart from Jamsie winning a couple of bottles of vodka as an owner, I think Joe 'timberlake' Murray was the only person to pick a winner from 8 races! I got to meet another 'Mumsy' from the team when Jamsie's mum kindly offered to give me a lift home. However, the enterainement was not finished there as we bumped into the wandering/swaying/staggering Auldy in Tranent high street. What made matters worse was the fact that he had a chinese take-away in one hand with a chippie in the other .... Quality entertainment! Well I think despite the poor turn-out from the team, we still managed to raise £800+ so that should help see the club get through to the end of the season!

Finally, we welcome Blackburn to Forresters on Saturday. The gaffer will be back from his holiday so he will be hoping that the boys can muster our first back to back victories of the season. With West Calder and then Broxburn still to come at home, we have a real chance of picking up some points before the end of the season and try and at least make our final league placing a little more respectable than 2nd or 3rd bottom!

Smithy.