Archived Match Reports for January 2009

Not quite there….YET

A vocal crowd of around 200, mainly locals, made for an excellent atmosphere. A heavy, bumpy pitch made it difficult to produce good, attractive football; both teams, however, did try. The tempo of the game throughout the 90 minutes was extremely quick. The only time the players would get a rest in this match would be at the half time and full time whist les . This away fixture was always going to be a tough one. Penicuik are vying for the promotion slot; on their showing from this game, they won't be far away.

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With not even 4 minutes on the board, Parkin pulled off a fine save from a well directed header from the Penicuik centre forward. The striker stretching and falling backwards still managed to direct his header towards goal which, if the Oakley keeper had not been on his toes, would surely have ended in the net. This was to be the big striker's last involvement in the game. Nursing some sore ribs, he gingerly walked off the pitch a few minutes later.

Pennicuik were by far the stronger team and in the opening 20 minutes, used this to their advantage. Winning most 50-50s in the midfield, they started all their attacking plays from the middle then pushing it out to their widemen. It wasn't until 20 or so minutes before Oakley began to pull themselves into the game. Oakley widemen Thomson and Fyffe began to assert themselves with Fyffe starting to push Pennicuik's overlapping fullback, deep into his own half.

Street wise is a phrase popularly used within the footballing fraternity. The phrase must have been invented in the Lothians. Please understand, this is not cheating. It is merely a means to an end. If, by standing in front of an opponents free kick, you give your defence a few more seconds to get setup or if you continue walking up the line with the ball at your throwin, waiting for the referee to tell you to stop, or go back a few yards, then it would be foolhardy not to carry out these actions. Not all teams use these little helping stones, why, I can never fathom out.

The home side must have had 6 or 7 offside decisions against them in the first half. Standing where this reporter was, I would say the referee had them all correct. The left winger of the home team being the worst culprit. On the ball, he produced some lovely pieces of skill and almost always an end product. It was from one of these crosses, the Pennicuik defender managed to pull his shot wide of target from 6 or 7 yards out. With only the keeper to beat it seamed all he had to do was hit the target. Possible some credit has to go to Parkin who spread himself but must have feared the worst. Half time whistle blew with both teams going in level 0-0.

Less than two minutes on the clock after the restart and Pennicuik were one up. From an Oakley attacking move, which broke down deep in the oppositions half, Pennicuik broke away. The Pennicuik midfielder carried the ball through the gaping whole in the middle of the Oakley midfield. This left the defence with more men to contend with than they could handle.

The free wideman received the ball and almost immediately sent it back into the middle, low and firm, straight to the feet of the Pennicuik forward. His close control allowed him to turn quickly and strike a low firm shot, going through the legs of the unfortunate Lumsden, who himself must have thought he'd done enough to close the striker down. The strike ended in the back of the net, clipping the fingers of the diving Parkin on it's way 1-0.

The second goal was almost deja vu. The ball broke down in the middle of the pitch up at the centre line. Pennicuik intercepted a ball, the midfielder ran fully 35 yards without being challenged. He fed one of his strikers who turned and fired in an unstoppable shot 2-0.

The intoduction of Moody and Ritchie on the 60 minute mark freshened the Oakley lineup.

A passage of play involving 4 players and 4 separate “wall” passes led to a bobbled up ball being struck by Lammie, fully 25 yards out, giving the Pennicuik keeper no chance at all of stopping it. Oakley were on the accendancy 2-1.

On one of Pennicuik's breakaways, 20 minutes from time, the ball was driven into the Oakley penalty from the home sides's right hand side. It was an easy ball to cut out – or would have been - but for the pitch playing it's part for the home team. The luck les s K Connors, who up to this point had been oakley's best player, lost his footing in the soft, underfoot conditions allowing the ball to travel through to his opposite number. He merely had to control the ball and slide it wide of the dispairing keeper 3-1.

Oakley to their credit did not lay down. They fought back and from a period of sustained pressure, received a corner. From the resultant corner, after 4 or 5 attempts at the Pennicuik goal, Lammie poked the ball over the line from 4 feet. The defender on the line did launch the ball out of the penalty area but the referee had already blown for the goal, adjudging the ball to have crossed the line. 10 minutes to go 3-2.

Oakley continued to huff and puff but to no avail. The Pennicuik defence stood fast and the closing score did not change.

Against a team that are possbly going up to the Super league, Oakley are beginning to complete and almost hold their own. If they continue with their progress and superb team spirit, they may very well stave of the relagation threat that lurks just below their present position.

For another solid display with very few errors in his play:

Oakley United's Man of the Match:

Oakley United player of the match: Kevin Connors

Blair Wood

Down to earth with a Bang

Oakley's recent run of good form didn't so much dissipate, as merely explode. Take a couple of unforced errors, add to that some misfortune and mix them all together with a handful of players not at the top of their game – soup of today “underachieving broth”.

Oakley United team: Rushford, M Connors, K Connors, Thomson (Moody 75), J Sinclair, Innes (Bannatyne 55) Ritchie, G Sinclair, Celantano, Mullen (Fyffe 70), Cusick

Subs not used: Parkin, Woods,

First attempt at goal went to Kinnoull. 3 minutes into the game, Kinnoull's midfielder had a shot which he saw flash past the Oakley right hand post. A few squandered opportunities to go ahead the game still level with 12 minutes gone

4 minutes later, the Oakley central midfielder, Innes, had a shot at goal charged down with the resultant deflection falling to Ritchie, fully 25 yards out. The midfielder's first touch ensured he would get his shot away long before being closed down. The shot flew past the keeper's right hand post by only a few feet – it should have hit target.

Both teams, by the 20 th minute had further efforts on target either charged down or pushed wide but it was Oakley who was to score one of the many chances created by both attack minded teams.

In the 22 nd minute, a throw in deep inside Oakley's left hand half saw K Connors launch a massive throw well over the halfway line. Midfielder Ritchie rose to flick the ball on. The ever lively Celantano pounced on it first and drove at the defenders, dragging them in towards the centre. This made space for the Oakley winger, Cusick, who darted into the space vacated and received a weighted pass that required no change in pace - he was through with only the keeper to beat. Albeit from a very wide angle, Cusick managed to lift the ball over the keeper and direct it towards goal. The height in the lob, as it was deflected of the keeper, seemed to allow the recovering defender time to track back and make a last ditch clearance off the line, but the ball was always going to be just that little too far to reach, it bounced high into the net. 1-0

Kinnoull seemed to gather pace and momentum from that minute on. They constantly fed into the feet of their centre forward who, with great skill and strength, held the ball in, shielded it well and always found one of his team mates to lay it off to. This method of play led to the first two goals for Kinnoull. In, what seemed like very quick succession, Kinnoull managed to breach the defensive line up for Oakley with runners from the midfielder timing their runs to perfection. Collecting the ball on the run, under some very tight marking, they managed to score two goals from close range 1-2.

The half time whistle blew without any other further incidents.

Minutes after the restart, a seemingly harm les s ball floated into Oakley's penalty box from the right was called for by the central defender, Sinclair. Unfortunately, his central Defensive partner, K Connors, rising half a second earlier, just in front of him, could only redirect the flight of the ball over his partner's head. The ball fell at the feet on the Kinnoull attacker who only had to hit target to score – he didn't miss. This was the first time, since being paired, that such a lack of communication from both players had occurred – a harsh les son indeed, For this pairing, beginning to show some true promise, may very well develop into a defensive line-up that will be talked about for years to come 1-3.

This almost seemed to knock the stuffing out of the “O”s. A few attempts on goal from Celantano and a superb individual effort from the returning Fyffe – resulting in a fine strike being charged down - all but put paid to Oakley's chances of taking anything out of this game.

A last minute header by the Kinnoull midfielder, from an accurately delivered free kick, left Oakley wondering why he was not tracked and the cross intercepted. The marking player now knows to mark first and claim for offside later. This was yet again, another harsh les son for this very young team who are, and make no bones about it, beginning to gel and have the makings of a unit that will be hard to beat and can score goals. Unfortunately, with youth come inexperience, lack of consistency and ultimately lack of points.

This defeat may very well kick the proverbial butts of the players and urge them on to bigger and better things. One thing is for sure, no team is safe from relegation and only hard work, better communication and willingness to help and work for each other – traits that each and every one of the players have in abundance - will keep Oakley United in the Premier League. A special mention to Lee Celantano for his endeavour and attitude during the game; some of the decisions against him may have sent a les ser player over the edge, Lee merely kept on doing what he has been doing all season – working hard and trying to score goals. A les son to all.

Man of the match: For his superb displays of defensive football, coupled with his end les s attempts to join in with the attacking play.

Oakley United player of the match: Mark Connors

Blair Wood

Not quite there….YET

A vocal crowd of around 200, mainly locals, made for an excellent atmosphere. A heavy, bumpy pitch made it difficult to produce good, attractive football; both teams, however, did try. The tempo of the game throughout the 90 minutes was extremely quick. The only time the players would get a rest in this match would be at the half time and full time whist les . This away fixture was always going to be a tough one. Penicuik are vying for the promotion slot; on their showing from this game, they won't be far away.

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With not even 4 minutes on the board, Parkin pulled off a fine save from a well directed header from the Penicuik centre forward. The striker stretching and falling backwards still managed to direct his header towards goal which, if the Oakley keeper had not been on his toes, would surely have ended in the net. This was to be the big striker's last involvement in the game. Nursing some sore ribs, he gingerly walked off the pitch a few minutes later.

Penicuik were by far the stronger team and in the opening 20 minutes, used this to their advantage. Winning most 50-50s in the midfield, they started all their attacking plays from the middle then pushing it out to their widemen. It wasn't until 20 or so minutes before Oakley began to pull themselves into the game. Oakley widemen Thomson and Fyffe began to assert themselves with Fyffe starting to push Penicuik's overlapping fullback, deep into his own half.

Street wise is a phrase popularly used within the footballing fraternity. The phrase must have been invented in the Lothians. Please understand, this is not cheating. It is merely a means to an end. If, by standing in front of an opponents free kick, you give your defence a few more seconds to get setup or if you continue walking up the line with the ball at your throwin, waiting for the referee to tell you to stop, or go back a few yards, then it would be foolhardy not to carry out these actions. Not all teams use these little helping stones, why, I can never fathom out.

The home side must have had 6 or 7 offside decisions against them in the first half. Standing where this reporter was, I would say the referee had them all correct. The left winger of the home team being the worst culprit. On the ball, he produced some lovely pieces of skill and almost always an end product. It was from one of these crosses, the Penicuik defender managed to pull his shot wide of target from 6 or 7 yards out. With only the keeper to beat it seamed all he had to do was hit the target. Possible some credit has to go to Parkin who spread himself but must have feared the worst. Half time whistle blew with both teams going in level 0-0.

Less than two minutes on the clock after the restart and Penicuik were one up. From an Oakley attacking move, which broke down deep in the oppositions half, Penicuik broke away. The Penicuik midfielder carried the ball through the gaping whole in the middle of the Oakley midfield. This left the defence with more men to contend with than they could handle.

The free wideman received the ball and almost immediately sent it back into the middle, low and firm, straight to the feet of the Penicuik forward. His close control allowed him to turn quickly and strike a low firm shot, going through the legs of the unfortunate Lumsden, who himself must have thought he'd done enough to close the striker down. The strike ended in the back of the net, clipping the fingers of the diving Parkin on it's way 1-0.

The second goal was almost deja vu. The ball broke down in the middle of the pitch up at the centre line. Penicuik intercepted a ball, the midfielder ran fully 35 yards without being challenged. He fed one of his strikers who turned and fired in an unstoppable shot 2-0.

The intoduction of Moody and Ritchie on the 60 minute mark freshened the Oakley lineup.

A passage of play involving 4 players and 4 separate “wall” passes led to a bobbled up ball being struck by Lammie, fully 25 yards out, giving the Penicuik keeper no chance at all of stopping it. Oakley were on the accendancy 2-1.

On one of Penicuik's breakaways, 20 minutes from time, the ball was driven into the Oakley penalty from the home sides's right hand side. It was an easy ball to cut out – or would have been - but for the pitch playing it's part for the home team. The luck les s K Connors, who up to this point had been oakley's best player, lost his footing in the soft, underfoot conditions allowing the ball to travel through to his opposite number. He merely had to control the ball and slide it wide of the dispairing keeper 3-1.

Oakley to their credit did not lay down. They fought back and from a period of sustained pressure, received a corner. From the resultant corner, after 4 or 5 attempts at the Penicuik goal, Lammie poked the ball over the line from 4 feet. The defender on the line did launch the ball out of the penalty area but the referee had already blown for the goal, adjudging the ball to have crossed the line. 10 minutes to go 3-2.

Oakley continued to huff and puff but to no avail. The Penicuik defence stood fast and the closing score did not change.

Against a team that are possbly going up to the Super league, Oakley are beginning to complete and almost hold their own. If they continue with their progress and superb team spirit, they may very well stave of the relagation threat that lurks just below their present position.

For another solid display with very few errors in his play:

Oakley United manr of the match: Kevin Connors

Blair Wood

The “O”s continue to impress

The weather was abysmal; rain severely cold and to top it off, a howling wind. The surface, mainly due to bouts of frost, interlaced with sleet and rain over the past 5 or so weeks, was heavy and wet. All elements joined together forecast a game that was not going to produce free flowing attractive football. The forecast was not wrong.

Bottom of the league Oakley started the game knowing they needed to start collecting valuable home points. Considering the extreme weather conditions and the wind being against Oakley in the first half, the first half was pretty even – possibly swaying towards the visitors. This was borne out by the quality of delivery from umpteen cornersand free kicks gained through persistent pressure. Inevitably, the stalemate was broken. Unfortunately for Star, by an own goal from Newtongrange, in the 10 th minute (possibly attributed to the Oakley striker, Colin Mullen). This wasfollowed by a well directed shot, from Star's striker Roseburgh, in the 17 th minute which gave us the half time score of 1-1.

Superb displays from Oakley's goalkeeper, Martin Parkin, and the joint central pairing of John Sinclair and Kevin Connors ensured Star would have to earn their crust if they wanted to take anything from this game.

Both full backs, Mark Connors and Paul Thomson worked tir les sly, to stem the flow of attacks from Star's wide men. Working closely with their midfield partners, Stuart Innes and Brendan Cusick, the wide defensive pair carried out there tasks effectively; the left side pairing of Thomson and Cusick offering a little more in the offensive stakes.

The second half produced a few more goal mouth incidents and if anyone was still in the Bovril queue, they could be excused for missing both teams' second goals.

3 minutes into the second half produced another one of Lee Celentano's trade mark, lung busting runs. Thomson cleared the ball long, the resultant ball falling behind Star's defenders making them turn and give chase to a Celantano already 2 yards ahead and beginning to pick up pace - there was no catching the striker. The ball was dispatched with the composure of a striker in form, flicking the ball deftly over the onrushing Star goalkeeper – 2-1.

Less than a minute had passed when Star striker, Thomson, rocketed home a shot which had fallen to him after cannoned of the back of defender Kevin Connors, 2-2.

The central midfield pairing of the experienced Scott Lammie and the young Brian Ritchie proved to be a winning combination in this game. The hard working, tough tackling and never say die qualities of Lammie together with the vision, ball passing skills and the ability to run and take on opponents, of his young midfield partner, made for a very efficient and effective central midfield

It was 59 minutes before the decider was scored. A free kick, 25 yards out – just left of centre, was kicked straight into the wall. The rebounding ball fell to Celentano favoured left foot, catching it on the semi-volley, the shot flew past the Star's keeper at chest height, still rising and still gaining pace. A truly magnificent shot worthy of winning any game.

Star did mount some serious challenges, in an attempt to get back into the game, but due to the central defensive three, Parkin and his colleagues, there were no openings and they kept the Syat's strikers at bay.

Just before 70 minutes. Innes was replaced with William Campbell, who helped shore up the defence and directly adding a little more pace to the attacking right side, as M Connors was pushed forward.

The starting debut of Oakley new signing Colin Mullen can be logged with a pass mark. The strikers work rate, ability to hold the ball under extreme conditions and his very impressive linkup play earned this striker 7 out of 10.

The game began to fizzle out, nearing the end, which suited a much improved Oakley. The game finished on 3-2.and noise floated from the "O"s players with, what can only be described as, a communal “sigh” of relieve.

The belief in the camp is that all of the hard work put in at the training ground is beginning to reap some rewards. There is still a long way to go yet and the club hope that they can only get stronger.

With results going as they did today and games being put off, Oakley have eventually lifted themselves off the foot of the table. This may be the day Oakley's season started.

MoM: this was, yet again, not an easy choice. The selection of the top three was easy but to put one in front of the other two was where the difficulty lay.

Goalkeeper Parkin was tremendous. Had it not been for some truly wondrous saves, Oakley may have been dead and buried long before the second half started.

Kevin Connors has, over the past 4 weeks, impressed and is improving with each game. His last ditch challenges and aerial power are there for all to see. His distribution from the back is good but also intelligent, deciding distance rather than retaining deep possession is the better option.

John Sinclair, since joining only a few months ago, has added a steel and determination that would be grabbed with both hands by many so called better teams. The player looks like he is enjoying himself and if both can stay injury free; the central defensive pairing can only get stronger and more difficult to break down

Unfortunately there can only be one winner: Man of the Match award goes to Kevin Connors, for his continued improvement leading to a very high level of consistency.

Blair Woo