Tonight I saw a team in black and white who weren’t afraid to have a shot on goal or tackle when necessary. Shame they weren’t playing yesterday.

Team:
1. John Karelse
2. Ryan McGuffie
3. Olivier Bernard
4. Gary Caldwell
5. David Beharall
6. Brian Kerr
7. Stuart Green
8. Jamie McClen
9. Lomana LuaLua
10. Daniel Cordone
11. Mark Boyd

Blackburn had quite a few well known names in their team, including Alan Kelly, Jeff Kenna and Keith Gillespie! Also a thug in the no. 6 shirt by the name of Marlon Broomes, more of him later.

We started well, the lads passing the ball and generally keeping possession. We were definitely the better team, and when they cleared a ball out of the box it fell to Brian Kerr who hit a lovely shot along the ground from 20 yards out into the back of the net. Ten minutes later LuaLua had the ball near the corner flag and was running in on goal. The keeper came to meet him, Lua2 skipped past him and calmly put the ball into the net. We were by far the better team and Blackburn were getting niggled. The above mentioned no. 6 brought down Lua2 and was lucky to get away with a yellow card.

At half time I nipped into the upstairs bar to use the loo. Coming back I nearly bumped into Diego Gavilan! The only other players present were Stephen Glass and Carl Serrant.

Second half we came out well. Within the first couple of minutes Cordone and McGuffie(?) shot just wide. Then it all started to go wrong. The ref (with the highly appropriate name of A Hogg) must have been nobbled at half time as he awarded Blackburn a highly dubious free kick. They took it well and curled a lovely ball past Karelse into the back of the net. Never mind, we were still in front and playing well. Unfortunately it’s hard to maintain that when the ref gives everything to the other team. They scored again, then Lua2 broke away and was again brought down by their thuggish no 6. It was an appalling tackle and should have had a red card. Instead the ref bottled it and told the lad not to do it again when he should have been off the pitch. With everything going against us it wasn’t surprising that Blackburn got a third. We were still pushing forward and had more shots on goal. Near the end Cordone beat the keeper and looked certain to score when it was somehow cleared off the line. It was turning into one of those days where it just wasn’t to be. However, it was a good performance, and those lads deserve a trip to La Manga a damn sight more than those who played yesterday.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Answers

Thanks Steph. What's happened to S Caldwell - gone to Spain?

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

.COM reckons Steve C was there watching bro Gary.

Steph - I suppose Diego still can't speak fluid English, otheriwse he'd have said hello to you! Thanx for the report. A couple of day s to forget, eh??

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Thanks for the report, Steph. Sounds like this lot should be rewarded with a game against ManCity next week and send the 'first team' off to play the next reserves match.

Also, got the magazine you sent today. Thank you!

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Great report again Steph....hope you don't mind but I've copied it, added a couple of piccies and used it on the DAILY TOON site.....with credit to yourself as well of course.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Nice one Steph! Sounds like there`s plenty there to look forward to. (:o)

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

.com and the Journal have less than complimentary views on the reserves match.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

Apologies of this has been mentioned but I'm told that a section of the crowd asked Gillespie whether he has money left. His face was apparently a picture.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

Sh*te from the Journal

>>Indeed the home side could have no complaints as they left the pitch to a volley of boos....

There was PLENTY to complain about and the boos were for the ref NOT the team!

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001