Season 2009-10

MATCH REPORT BY CAPTAIN JOEL LAVENDER

After last week’s poor showing away at Magna 73 Rangers, the Accies were looking for a much improved performance in terms of attitude and desire. Helpfully, the first 15 minutes saw the Accies dominate by playing some of their best football this season, Jim blazing over the bar with the goal at his mercy and numerous other half chances coming and going. Eventually the pressure was rewarded; a good throw from Tim deep in the White Lion half found Jim (who had now managed to locate his shooting boots) put the Accies into a 1-0 lead with a clever turn and an exquisite chip over the keeper (or was it a cross????)

The Accies sat back, started defending too deep and didn't seem to have sufficient confidence in possession. Frustration got the better of captain Joel and he found himself in the referee's notebook after a nasty-looking two-footed lunge that even had his own team mates aghast. Deservedly, White Lion got themselves back on level terms shortly before the half-time break, pouncing on an error from goalkeeper Paul.

The second half arrived and the Accies still struggled to string anything meaningful together. Again and again, despite determined efforts from each player, passes would go astray and we were forced further back into our own half. White Lion took the lead with a deft header from a long throw that really should have been defended better. However, it was at this point that, instead of heads going down and people going missing, all 11 men in green started to shift up a gear or two and the passion and commitment missing from the week before was in abundance. Needers, Jit and TP all made notable last ditch tackles and the spirited defence seemed to galvanise the rest of the team. The Accies equalised with a goal from Pete Tilbrook who lashed the ball in from a yard away into the roof of the net after a good battle for the ball and a pull back from Joel. The game ebbed and flowed, with both teams still looking like they could snatch all three points, until 10 minutes from time, when a great cross from Pete was diverted into the Lion goal by one of their three centre backs. A great save from Paul, the woodwork and heroic defending saw the Accies home after an extremely nervy final few minutes.

Let's hope that we can all continue to show the same desire for the rest of the season. We had some deserved luck in this game too. Let's not waste it, let's push on now, climb the table and go on a cup run.

MOM was James Boyd, although in my opinion all 11 men were MOM