SPFL Tier 4, The Rock, 06/05/23.

So, the final league game of the season.

Like last week at Elgin it was a turgid affair. Both sides had nothing to play for and our players looked like they were not exerting themselves too much; saving themselves for the play-offs.

That concern was reflected in the line-up, with an unusual look to the back line, Aron Lynas alongside Peter Grant at centre half, Harry Broun again in goal and Luca Vata given his first start in midfield. He stayed on for the whole game, didn’t disgrace himself but probably needs to bulk up a bit before becoming anything like a regular.

Neither side created much early on but Finlay Grey had two strong drives which the keeper had to beat away.

Their goal was a joke. Aron Lynas just got his head to a cross but miscued it against the post and the rebound bounced in off Peter Grant.

A few minutes later Edin Lynch got up at the back post from a corner and powered it home for the equaliser.

In the second half Ally Love had two decent attempts at goal, an attempted flick over the keeper just caught his fingertips but the ball was going in until a defender swept it off the line. Then Love’s header from a great Martin McNiff cross beat the keeper but was headed over the bar by a defender. (Love’s header may have been missing the goal though.)

It’s on to the serious end of season stuff now. Away to Annan on Tuesday night, before the return at the Rock on Saturday.

Scottish Cup, Third Round, The Rock, 27/11/21.

It took us a while but we won it in the end.

We were pretty comfortable first half. Sauchie had a few corners but never really troubled Sam Ramsbottom in our goal. Their one clear opportuniyty was blazed over the bar. Not that we had many on target ourselves but we did score a very good goal, Carlo Pignatiello slotting it under the keeper after an exchange of passes between Conner Duthie and himself.

Second half Sauchie came into it a bit more. But their goal was a joke. Their forwards had been falling over easily all game and one finally did it in the box. It was never a penalty. But of course they put it in and that gave them impetus.

Neverthless we continued to create openings, frustrated by a few poor crosses from Edin Lynch and other balls just out of reach plus an away keeper in inspired form.

About five minutes to go and sub Ryan Schiavone poked a cross over the line but neither the ref nor lino gave it. A replay after that would have been sore to take but we worked another opnening and the ball broke to Joe McKee who buried it. In the final minute of added time we got another, a Conner Duthie shot apparently spilled by the keeepr with Schiavone on hand to net the rebound. I say apparently because the live stream had stayed focused on Duthie not the ball. I only had the commentary and subsequent kick-off to indicate we’d sealed it.

A potential banana skin avoided then.

On Monday we’ll find out who we’ve got in the next round.

SPFL Tier 3, The Rock,* 25/9/21.

This was a strange, scrappy game. I thought we played too many long balls first half, which their defence tended to gobble up. Alloa on the other hand looked more purposeful going forward without really threatening at all, though Sam Ramsbottam had to make a save from a well hit effort. It all livened up just before half-time. Conner Duthie scuffed an effort straight at the keeper and in Alloa’s next attack Gregor Buchanan’s back headed clearance fell to one of theirs on the edge of the box and it was despatched behind Ramsbottam.

We’re quite easy on the eye going forward, young Callum Wilson looking very assured in possession. They tended to sit back and soak up our pressure though, and I lost count of the times they broke up play with niggly fouls so we didn’t really create many chances but Gregor Buchanan miscued a header from a set piece when he would usually score.

The equaliser came from a set piece, Callum Wilson’s corner well met by Paddy Boyle and put away.

There were chances at both ends after that, Sam Ramsbottam got down well to thwart Niang after his mazy run and sub Ross MacLean had two efforts which weren’t clinical enough – one screwed horribly over the bar.

An opportunity for three points not taken, then. However at half-time I’d have taken the draw.

On this evidence Callum Wilson is definitely a talent and Edin Lynch is evolving into a fine attacking force from right back.

First quarter ends next Saturday with ua away at Peterhead. More of a chance to assess where we are after that.

*I’m not calling it the Moreroom.com Stadium.