Busby Amateur Football Club

The 19s have had a difficult start to the season, where having lost five players from last years squad we found ourselves going into the new season desperately short of players. Having made great progress last season big things were expected this year but losing so many players, including goalkeeper and vice captain, and with many others being "tapped up" throughout the summer through a variation of underhand tactics including rumours of the team folding and one player even being approached at a Busby training session, its fair to say the team endured an unsettling pre season. Add injuries, suspensions and a disappointing opening day defeat to last years strugglers Goldenhill to the equation it would be fair to say that upon seeing we were due to face last years champions Bonnyton in our next fixture, the prospect was not exactly mouth watering. However football is a strange game and with the addition of three new players combined with a fantastic turn out at wednesdays training session, a change of mood was evident and suddenly players who had perhaps grown a little frustrated looked as though a weight had been lifted. We lined up in a 3-5-2 formation minus Scotland cap Steven McArthur and last years top scorer Pete Gemmell but gave starts to Alan Mathews and Chris Mcglone, who had impressed in their only training session on the Wednesday.
After a nervy start with both teams cancelling each other out Bonnyton took the lead after half an hour when a lack of communication in defence resulted in a ball breaking loose at the edge of the box giving Bonnyton a shooting opportunity which resulted in them taking the lead. However, the boys showed great resolve and determination to bounce back from this and started to slowly dictate the game, with the midfield five winning their battles physically and showing composure in possession. We were causing Bonnyton problems and our front two of Mario and Chris ensured their back four were constantly being pulled about and never had a minutes peace. We soon got our reward when Chris Mcglone found himself one on one with the keeper after some good football and finished easily. We went on to create further opportunities before half time being unlucky not to lead, and when the second half eventually started following the longest half time talk ever from Bonnyton we were full of confidence. However we never really got going in the second half and found ourselves hanging on for long periods of the game, with perhaps lack of match fitness for some taking its toll. Despite this we can only praise the players for the will and desire they displayed to get a well deserved point in difficult circumstances. Hopefully we can use the performance as a marker and look to build on it, as the players deserve to have a successful season for the way they have handled a very challenging couple of months.