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Well, another season and we're off.
It was well seen the season had started when you looked out the window. Dull and wet.
The game was reasonable enough, but as with last season we got off to the wrong type of start.
The team played in fits and starts and some of the players looked short of both sharpness and fitness, something the coaches will need to work on. As with games last season we are not physical enough, and even though we have some big guys in the team we are so easily pushed off the ball. Everyone will need to start to use their build and get stuck in. As for the score, we are still giving goals away when people have plenty of time to clear but either dither, or two players look at each other while the opposition walk between them and take charge of the ball. These things shouldn't be happening.
David got our goal and we had other chances but couldn't convert them. We need to be more clinical in front of goal. Let's see how we go this Saturday against Mearns.
The reporter
OPM 8 V 0 mearns ams
A much better performance this week, with a lot of positive contributions from most players.
The first half was a catalogue of misses although we did score some good goals.
The first goal came from a bye kick from their keeper which Ryan did well to intercept and passed back through the defence for David to run on to, to make it 1-0. We were passing the ball through their defence on many occasions only to see shots go wide, both to the left and right of the post. The second came from a corner from Ben, the ball bounced in the six yard box and Cyrus put it away with some part of his anatomy. We continued to press and either pushed balls wide or the keeper was there to make some good saves. Number three came from another corner, this time taken short by Ben to Ally who curled a lovely shot high into the top corner of the net. Number four was yet again from the corner flag, good delivery from Ben again and Cyrus was there to put it away.
The second half was much the same with us pressing at every opportunity. Goal number five was worked well and quickly. Matthew played a quick ball out to Ben who passed the ball over the defence for David again to run onto and place it past the keeper into the net. Cyrus scored number six and his third when David made a nice pass out to Ryan who played a lovely ball into Cyrus to finish. We continued on the front foot and Jack was unlucky after a massy run through the defence only to see his shot cannon of the bar. Number seven was a three man move involving Ben, Callum and finished off with a great shot from Ally form the edge of the box which swerved past the goalie and into the net. The last goal was again from a Ben corner which Callum met and guided it into the net.
The score didn't flatter us, on the contrary we could and should have score much more. Overall a much better display.
The reporter.
O.P.M 6 V 3 South Lanarkshire amateurs
Not a bad display today overall, with some good performances.
Our first goal came from a lovely through ball by Ali into the path of David, who ran on to the ball and finished well. The team were playing well from the outset and everyone was doing their job. An horrendous mistake by Darren with a high ball into the area left the opposition with an easy tap in. We went ahead again after a corner, the ball was cut out bt the defence, only for Ben to deliver a great cross for David to make it 2-1. We continued to press and a deflected shot from Ben nestled in the back of the net. Jordan was showing some great touches and skill, and it was one of those runs with the ball that led to a penalty. David stepped up and buried the ball past the keeper.
After half time we continued to make chances. A through ball from the midfield and Smithy ran onto it, took it down the right wing and chipped a lovely cross which floated over the keeper and into the net. A couple of changes were made, and the defence went to a back three. The midfield, for some reason, allowed the opposition to run through them leaving the defence exposed on a few occasions and they took full advantage getting to rather soft goals. We steadied the ship after that and again rallied and Connall finished off the scoring with a long range shot, although the keeper did rather make a hash of it.
A good result and everyone played their part.
The reporter
OPM 6 V 4 southside utd
Saturdays game was a good one for us, for the most part. We started well and made a few early chances. Ali threaded a nice pass through to David which the keeper saved. David set Jordan up for a shot that went wide. Then Smithy intercepted a clearance from the goalie and tucked it away to give us the lead. Smithy then made a good run down the left and his shot was deflected for a corner. Another fine delivery from Ali and David hit the post. Then after some good work by the midfield players, Connell hit a lovely shot which whistled in off the inside of the post to make it 2-0. David had another effort which hit the post again. We continued to press for the rest of the half without adding to our lead.
The second half started in much the same vein with us playing well. A determined run down the right by Smithy, and a fine cross resulted in an o.g. with the defender trying to cut the ball out. Then our usual defensive frailty started to raise it's ugly head. Without trying to hard and having been outplayed for the majority of the game we lost a very soft goal. We replied immediately with a good forceful run by David who put the ball away well to restore our three goal lead. Again errors at the back cost us another goal. Again after we settled we scored again, after some good work from Callum, Connell and finished by Ben. The errors continued however, and they scored again. A good delivery from a free kick on the right hand side from Ali and Callum met the ball with a well directed header to make it 6-3. We gave away another bad goal before the end and the final score 6-4. We need to be more concentrated at the back and stop letting teams get easy goals.
Overall a good performance not reflected by the score. Lets tighten up back there.
The reporter
OPM 2-1 calderwood blue star
Well, what a game. One of our worst performances for a while. Not much to report in this weeks game. David scored and he gets an assist, after he hit the post and the defender knocked the ball into his own net. We were lucky to get away with the win. We have got to show much more commitment all round, in defence midfield and attack. We need to be more positive in the tackle and more vocal.
Come on orchard after the break lets get stuck in, and show the other teams we mean business.
The reporter
OPM 3-3 Stamperland thistle
A good game with, for the most part, everyone playing well.
The team started off a bit hesitant and we looked second best. We went 1-0 down from a cross which the defence had opportunities to clear. Then after around 15 minutes we started to play and put the opposition under some sustained pressure. David had a shot come off the post. A good run by Ali earned us a corner. A great delivery from Ali and somehow David managed to head over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Connell made a tremendous run down the right, this wouldn't be the last time, and played the ball into the penalty area for David to put it away. Another period of pressure earned us another corner. Ali took it again, with a great cross which was going in. The defender could only help it on its way.
The second half started like the first with us under pressure. Again as in most weeks defensive errors cost us dear and we lost two bad goals to go 2-3 down. We rallied after about ten minutes and began to put the opposition under more pressure. We were rewarded with a penalty which David despatched to bring the scores level. A couple of chances at each end but no further score.
The reporter
OPM 3 V 5 westwood reds
We suffered our second defeat of the season.
Both teams got off to quite a slow start. Connal had the first shot, which went wide. Ali picked the ball up from midfield and had a shot which the keeper saved for a corner. A great delivery and Chris headed against the bar and over. Ali then delivered a good free kick, which David miss controlled and put wide. We went 1-0 down after the usual defensive error cost us. It wasn't long before we went 2-0 again a soft goal given away. Another free kick from Ben which Chris headed wide. We continued to press and were awarded a free kick which Ben took and scored.
We started the second half well and put them under some sustained pressure. Connal had a good shot which the keeper saved. As they say if at first you don't succeed, Connal had another shot soon after which he scored from to make it 2-2. We were well on top at this stage and were pressing forward. We lost a goal against the run of play, and that seemed to knock the fight out of us. We went two down again but continued to try and pull it back. Ben scored again from a free kick but it was too late and they completed the scoring.
There some positive parts to the game and a good bit of fight for the most part, but it wasn't to be our day.
The reporter.
WEST OF SCOTLAND CUP
OPM 4 V 2 antonine fc
Let joy be unconfined, ring out those bells, shout it from the rooftops, we won a cup tie.
Great display and fighting spirit from everyone. A good game played well and everyone playing their part.
A good start playing reasonably well, but went 1-0. We didn't get downhearted and pressed for the equaliser which came from a good delivery from Chris, on the right side and David finished well. We went 2-1 down and that was about the last chance they had for the rest of the game. We equalised from a corner from Ben and Jack at the back post to steer the ball into the back of the net. We pressed for the rest of the game and made several good chances, but were unable to make them count.
Into extra time and we were making chances but just couldn't put them away. At last we went ahead with a good goal from David. The game was wrapped up with a goal, his first for us, from Danny well controlled at the edge of the box and put away. The team ran as a man to congratulate him.
Well done everyone, you all played well.
The reporter.
OPM 2 V 2 calderhill thistle
A good game but can't believe we didn't win with all the chances we had in the first half.
A fine start from the team creating plenty of opportunities.
David was put through early on but had his shot saved. Ali challenged well outside the box and was able to head the ball into the path of Smithy, but his shot went wide. We went 1-0 down from what was about their first attack. Then another pass through midfield and Ben ran onto it but again the keeper saved. A good run down the right wing by Smithy and a good cross was met by David. This time he made no mistake and we were level. We continued to press and were unlucky on a couple of occasions not to score before half time.
We went behind again, but the boys rolled up their sleeves and fought well. There were few chances in the second half but continued to fight right to the end and scored in the last few minutes. A good delivery from a free kick by Jack and Chris met it well and slotted past the keeper. We still had time for a last minute scare when they got a free kick just outside our area. The wall stood up well and we were able to clear.
A good start for the new coach, but I'm sure he will be looking for us to put away a few more chances when we get them.
The reporter
OPM 11 V 2 clarkston
Well, a great result and what a first half.
We started well and kept going with the aid of the wind in the first half.
David had a run down the right and tried to cut the ball back but the keeper cut it off. Ali delivered our first corner which was a good one but the defence cleared a bouncing ball. Connell made a good run down the left a good cross met by Ali whose shot went over. Another delivery into the box and the defender hand balled and the ref awarded a penalty. David stepped up and blasted it into the net. Jordan flicked a nice ball into the area which David collected but the keeper saved the shot. Connell had a shot which went just wide. Ali played a delightful ball through to David and he ran on to make it 2-0. Ali delivered another good corner which Chris hit wide. Another through ball by Ali and David shot over. Then Connell played a nice ball to David who put it away. Balls were being played through to David and another one from Ali gave him his fourth. Ben then got in the act with another great through ball and once again David made no mistake. A long free kick by Chris from the back and David was there once again 6-0. Connell had a great shot which the keeper did really well to save. Ben played a nice ball to Chris but he shot wide. Jordan turned provider for David again to make it seven. David then had a solo ran and shot which found the back of the net. Another fine delivery from a corner by Ali and Connell met the half clearance to put it beyond the keeper.
In the second half and against the wind it proved a bit harder and we lost two early goals. We continued to make several chances. Both Connell and Ali had a couple of chances each which went wide or over. David also had a couple of chances which the keeper saved. David scored another two goals in the half to end the game with an amazing ten goal haul. Quite a performance. It was good to see so many chances and a good amount of goals.
The reporter.
OPM 2 V 2 eastwood
What a terrible day for a game cold wet and windy.
The report is short due to the fact the reporter tried to keep hands in pocket for large parts of the game.
The first half we had a couple of chances. David had a shot saved by the keeper. They scored and the midfield were very disjointed and seemed to taking the day off. They scored again. Ben had a free kick which went over.
The second half was a good bit better and we got back to fighting for the ball and the midfield perked up. Connell had a good run and passed to David his shot was diverted for a corner. Ben had another free kick. This time his delivery was great and Connell latched onto it to steer the ball past the keeper. We continued to press and David made it two a piece with a good shot. We had a couple of chances to pinch the game with David but he was not able to convert either of them.
A good fightback after a bad first half.
The reporter.
OPM 5 v 3 ek burgh
The score flattered the opposition and we deserved to win by a more comfortable margin.
We started the game well and were playing some nice football. The first gaol came from a good run from Connell, he passed the ball into the box. Ali took a nice touch to control and finished high into the net. We were dominating the game from early. Jack had a good run and shot through a ruck of players, the keeper made an error and the ball ended in the back of the net. David received a good pass at the edge of the box. He laid it of to Jordan but his shot was over. Then Ali had a strong run through the defence but his shot hit the side netting. We lost a soft goal against the run of play. We replied quickly with a run by Ben down the right and he finished from a tight angle. Ali had another fine run down the left his pass was inch perfect but Connell knocked it wide of the target.
The second half continued with us making several other good chances. Connell ran through but his shot was saved. Ross had a good run down the left, his pass inside to Ben, but his shot was saved at the expense of a corner. It was clear David wanted into the act with several runs into the area, and was rewarded with the fourth goal. A penalty, after hand ball, pulled one back. We continued to press and a shot fest in the area ended with Chris netting our fifth. We lost another goal but deserved the win.
A good display and some good football at times, a nice way to end the year.
Happy christmas and a good new year to all my readers.
The reporter
OPM 2-1 southside utd
At last a game of football, and a win into the bargain.
The team started of well and were passing the ball around. A couple of half chances with Danny hitting the post.
We went 1-0 up with a nice piece of play from Smithy and a lovely half volley from Ali which the keeper was unable to keep out. We continued to press and were looking as if we had never been away.
Then, what was David thinking off. Bad enough to kick the defender but to go back to him to do it while he was on the ground. Only one option for the ref straight red.
We were pegged back to 1-1 before the interval.
The second half was almost one way traffic, and as we were down to 10 you would have thought it would be us under pressure. Not a bit of it. The whole team are to be congratulated on their second half effort. We played like a team with everyone doing their part.
Chances were made and we just weren't having that bit of luck. Substitutes were made and Ben and Connell had a great impact on driving the team forward when we needed fresh legs.
We got our reward with a goal from Derek, in only his first start for the team.
A great performance from the team. We should take that fighting spirit with us for the rest of the season.
The reporter
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