12/04/08 K.O. 14.30 Cup Match
A special word to the effort made to get this game on, despite a week of constant rain in the area the club officals did a great job to make the pitch playable and this was the only game played in East Lothian this weekend.
Musselburgh kicked off with the same team that played in our last league game away at Newtongrange although the squad has been rotated over the last few weeks. A good crowd and athmosphere drove the home team on and for the best part of an hour they dominated their super league opponents. 16 shots on target in those 60 mins. Mitchell going amazingly close from a Porteous cross, a scramble in the box with CJ going close, Tansey shot saved by Hutchison. At the other end Scotland International Jim Lister narrowly hitting a shot wide. Musselbrugh were given a penalty on the half hour. After great work from Chris king his shot was saved and with CJ on hand to tap in the defender handled it and the referee gave Stuart Cringean a straight red card in the process. Despite the visitors protesting loudly no further bookings were given. 4 minutes later after a long wait Paul Currie calmly slotted the ball to Hutchisons right and gave him no chance. Musselburgh continued to push forward and a fantastic King free kick was matched with a save from the over worked visiting keeper. Danny Kelly dragged a shot wide after great build up play from King and CJ . What followed was utterly amazing. A pass forward found lister 40 yards out with his back to goal and was brought down by McManus. The referee already had the red card out and evened the teams up. So if you are half way in the opponents half with your back to goal that is a clear goal scoring opertunity. Musselburgh restructured well though and continued to cause problems King and Currie interchanging well and Tansey on the right in a tactical change. Currie in particular seemed on another level as did Murray and Porteous. Their passing and movement was superb.
Unfortunately the second half will be remembered for even more shocking calls. Another penalty was awarded this time to the super league visitors and again a red card was issued. Wes Mitchell joining his defense partner as McLaren converted the kick to bring the teams level. Although Musselburgh still had chances through Tansey and sub Matti King Camelon with the extra man were attacking more frequently. Shirra and McLaren finding McPherson alert and with three at the back Musselburgh did well to contain. A long ball though over the top found Shirra and he put Camelon into the driving seat. Two minutes later another sending off and to add to the now huge list of mistakes a throw in wrongly awarded to Camelon. The whole ground could see it was wrong and Devlin spoke out of turn and was issued with a straight red. Camelon should have finished the game off with 2 at the back Musselburgh still pushed forward but a long ball fould Jim Lister bearing down on goal but a top drawer save from Ronnie McPherson denied him. Camelons third goal was well worked with mooney finishing with class. Number four was as well a top goal with Greame McLaren and Lister passing well and the top scorer for Camelon tucked the chance away to complete a good day for the visitors.
There were many positives though for Musselburgh. Their football was a joy to watch. The return of Danny Sweeney. Matti King also looked good on his home debut. But the work and effort of all the players was the biggest possitive. Despite the regular set backs they grafted and ran themselves into the ground. Credit also to the management team also who chopped and changed the tactics to contain Camelon. It is a credit that even at the end the home team continued to attack for a goal. It shows how well Musselburgh played that Camelon gave the man of the match to their keeper. Fair play though to Camelon. At 1-0 down with ten players they hung on and got back into the game. They look a very well organised team with many class players. We look forward to meeting them if they beat Bathgate in the Brown Cup and wish them well in this competition.
For the supporters who came along what a dissapointment. The game is on, the weather has stopped raining, you are watching two of the best teams in Junior football and then one person rewrites the rule book to ruin what would have been a fantastic game. How can you expect people to come and watch football when you have people that are determined to be the headline. Instead of the great goals that were scored the news will be about the 4 unnessesery sendings off. God gave us yellow cards to issue so that football games wouldn't be ruined by players getting sent off, so that we would be able to watch 11 v 11. Certainly in all four of the cases a yellow card would have been accepted - by both mangers and teams. As far as the first home sending off - to be in a certain goal scoring opertunity surely you need to be facing your own goal - be last man and be closer to the goals than the half way line. Even the last sending off - granted the player gave the referee the chance but surely when you are 2-1 down with 9 men to a flying super league team, either a word in the ear or a yellow card would have been enough. There have been games this season where knee high challenges have been given yellow cards and yet not 1 bad tackle in this game and 4 reds and 6 yellows.
Finally a word on the man in the middle: rubbish
Follow Musselburgh next week when we head to League hopefuls Bo'ness United - Please be aware it is a FRIDAY NIGHT kick off. - This is to let every football fan live their dream of going to Broadwood to watch two teams they cant stand slog it out in the Scottish Cup prbably in freezing cold rain. - living the dream!
Musselburgh: McPherson, Porteous, Kelly, Mitchell, McManus, Murray, Devlin, Currie, CJ Osazowa, King, Tansey. Subs: M King, Murphy, Sweeney
Camelon: Hutchison, Ballantine, Graham, Cringean, Kiczinsky, Millar(Nixon), Donnelly(Batchelor), Shirra, Ryan (Mooney), Lister, Mclaren Subs: Batchelor, Nixon, Mooney, Gillespie, Currie
Porteous, Currie, Murray
McManus, Mitchell, Devlin
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