Jim's Reports

Nae Luck!!- 9/01/12
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Festive cheer was just a distant memory as Kirkcaldy YMs interest in Cup competition was ended by a narrow defeat at Denfield to Haddington. After losing at Linlithgow in the last match of 2011, hopes were high that a team from a League equivalent to our own would prove an easier prospect than the Super League side faced before Santa came. However, especially in the first half, Haddington provided a stern challenge, and might have finished the game as a contest before the half hour mark. After that, it was a different story!
Yet it started promisingly for the home side as they attacked and Ian Lally fired his shot over the bar. But it went a bit downhill from there when Haddington were denied a goal by Jason Curran who was quick off his line to snatch the ball from the feet of Jamieson. The keeper gave an encore with a double save after ten minutes but his side survived a penalty call when Scott Orrock, on his first game back after injury, seemed to have tripped Cropley in the box. Haddington players certainly thought so, but, luckily for YM, the referee did not.
After 19 minutes, Ian Lallys pass found Gavin Gray, but keeper Combe got down to save the strikers shot. A pity that, for two minutes later, the visitors scored, and it was the climax of an excellent move between Connachan and Cropley who supplied the finish. The scorer was obviously up for more goals but was denied a minute later by Curran. The Lothians side were fired up now and Jamieson should have found the target from inside the box. The same player was equally guilty of negligence after YM had lost possession on the left and good interplay between Myles and Connachan gave him another chance.
Prospects of a YM comeback were looking increasingly bleak, and yet, ever so gradually, the small shoots of recovery were beginning to pop their little heads above the ground.. Perhaps encouraged by not being four down at this stage, the home players began to threaten an equaliser. It started after 30 minutes with a cross from Mark Westwater reaching Gavin Gray whose volley went just over. The striker threatened again, beating his marker nae bother, only to send his powerful shot past the post. Following a corner, Arran MacDonald was also off target with his effort, but the home side were back in contention.
Onlookers who felt the wind generated by the supersonic rate of
Andy Wilsons progress down the left must have thought the gales had returned. His final pass was received by Kevin Masson who provided strike partner Gray, but this just was not Gavins day. Nevertheless, home supporters were now daring to hope, and their prayers were answered in the 40th minute. Again, Gavin Gray was involved in the move, winning a header in the box which gave Scott Orrock a reason to celebrate his comeback by firing in a low shot past Combe.
Just two things to mention before the half time whistle. One, Haddington got a corner from which Campbell headed past, and Kev Masson got booked for dissent. Oh yes, and Ian Lally just missed the target from an Andy Wilson cross.
Mr Wilson himself started the second half by having a go himself, but had no more luck than his colleague, but the now effervescent YM side found they had to do it all again when Haddington regained the lead through a Lynch header four minutes after the restart.
To their credit the home players were not fazed and set about their business readily, winning a corner from a Gray free kick. Kev Masson took the kick and picked out Scott Orrock looking to add to his goal tally. Scottys header came back off the bar, landing nicely for the lurking Blair Smart who touched the ball past Combe with a goal his Uncle Kevin would have been proud of! Blair himself definitely looked happy anyway!
YM were definitely looking good now, and Haddingtons Martin was booked for deliberate hand ball in a dangerous area, but Kev Massons shot from the resultant free went wide. The visitor Wright was also affected by nerves and his name too was added to the referees collection. Gray and Orrock both had chances, while Wilsons run was halted by a defender, before Orrock again found the net. Now Scotty is no Maradonna, and when he used a hand while in the act of scoring, there was no way the referee would miss it, especially as the offender raised the very hand which committed the crime in celebration. Mr Orrocks name was duly noted by the match official.
Mark Westwater was replaced by Craig Smith, but it was Kevin Masson who caught the eye when he worked wonders to keep possession and get his shot away, only for Combe to make the save.
It almost seemed irrelevant when the visitors won a corner in the 79th minute, such was the Kirkcaldy dominance, and only the goalkeepers foot prevented Andy Wilson scoring from an acute angle.
Then came disaster as the punchdrunk Haddington defence managed to get the ball up the park when penalties seemed inevitable, and, to the horror of locals, Ferguson put it past a Jason Curran who had spent practically the whole second half relaxing with a fag or two.
But STILL YM would not surrender, and Wilson came agonisingly close to another equaliser before Combe blocked his shot. It only remained for a confrontation involving players from both sides, though Gavin Gray was the only one punished, being sent off while the previously booked Wright stayed on!
Well, time to look forward as YM get back to seeking League points with a trip to Jeanfield next Saturday, a game which will demand the performance Kirkcaldy gave in this ones second half. The kickoff is 1.45pm.

Kirkcaldy YM: J Curran, R Smith, T Carr, A MacDonald, B Smart, I Lally, S Orrock, K Masson, G Gray, A Wilson, M Westwater.
Subs: R McNeil, C Ness, J Quinn, S Gray, F Giove, S Gillespie.