GET THE FANS BACK IN!!

In the last three games at Hillhead, all three of our fans have missed out on a whopping THIRTY goals as todays was another goal fest with the Uni eventually running away 8-3 victors.

A change in formation and a few personnel changes to gives others minutes meant Thursdays performance would have little bearing on today. We started well and Crawford had an early effort deflected wide before Forbes put an effort just wide and Unsworth almost picked up a collector’s item goal but his headed hit the cross.

JS XI were a good match for us in the opening period with some very tidy players in the middle of the park and willing runners up front and it was the amateur side who took the lead. A diagonal cross over the Uni defence looked to be sailing through to Blackhouse in goal but the striker must have big feet as somehow he managed to stretch and get his big toe on it and divert it into the bottom corner.

With the Uni stunned and JS buzzing from the goal JS went forward again straight away and
whilst there seemed to be little danger when they had the ball out wide, no one expected Calum Adams deep cross to sail straight in to the far top corner!!

From this moment on the tide started to turn with the Uni lifting it a gear. Gassama and Clark got more involved down the left flank and Forbes, Crawford and Clark all had efforts close before we finally pulled one back when Mooney scurried ino the penalty box and cut back for Forbes to make no mistake from 6 yards out.

We then drew level with a rather fortuitously awarded penalty. Clark’s shot did look like it hit the defenders arm but his back was turned as he tried to block the shot and there was nothing he could have done. However, the ref awarded it and captain Clark took full advantage, sending the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

Shortly after we took the lead. The ball work down the left before being passed inside to the impressive Turek. He rolled his man before taking a touch and firing a low curling shot past the keeper.

HT: AU 3 – 2 JS

Turek almost caught JS out from kick off and he might have got through for a shot had the JS no. 6 not comically rugby tackled him to stop him skinning any more players on his mazy run.

However, the same man did add a fourth moments later. Jinking through the defence before cheekily lifting the ball over the onrushing keeper who had gone low to block.

JS pegged us back to 4-3 and sparked a bit of fire into the game again. Lewie Ross’ cross was not dealt with and it fell to the feet of Dougie Russel who smashed the ball past our keeper from 10 yards. A deserved goal for the JS striker who ran about constantly all game.

However, the Uni put any chance of a JS revival to bed with a quickfire Chilaka double. His first came when a back pass to the JS keeper was underhit and he reacted first and slotted it in and his second again a gift but from our player with Turek again walzing through the JS defence and, on a hat trick, he unselfishly ‘’cut back’’ the ball to Chilaka who tapped in from 2 yards, much to the disappointment of Gassama who was right behind him looking for a goal his play deserved.

Next on the the scoresheet was fresher Owen McColgan. With JS tiring and play opening up, he was left in acres of space at the side of the box and moved inside and struck a well placed shot into the far corner.

Freshers McKay and Donnelly were having a good game next to Turek as well and it was McKay who rounded off the scoring when he collected the ball 25 yards out and strode forward before unleashing a strong shot past the keeper.

There were plenty other chances throughout the game but a combination of good goalkeeping and my memory struggling to cope with the amount goals and chances means that’s your lot for this report!

FT: AU 8 – 3 JS

A good way to bounce back after Thursday. JS were no walkovers and some very able players in their side saw some good football played by both teams. We wish them all the best this season.

Squad: Ian Blackhouse, Rio Nacef, Charlie Unsworth, Rob Mallinder (Rhuiri Garvey), Ross Clark, Kieran Mooney (Glen McKay), Ewan Mcluckie (Brandon Donnelly), Oscar Forbes (Owen McColgan), Adam Crawford (Nduoma Chilaka), Adrian Gassama

AU Scorers: Forbes, Clark, Turek x2, Chilaka x2, McColgan, McKay

AU Man of the Match: Kurtis Turek – Unanimous in the full time debrief. ‘’On fire’‘, ’’insane’’… you pick your superlative, it’ll be applicable. The kid has got real ability.