It was a 12pm kick off on a Sunday morning and the Bafana Bafana boys turned up looking worse for wear to say the least. Nevertheless there was an air of excitement as they strolled onto the pitch to begin a brief warm up perhaps showing signs over-confidence? Bafana were in the their usual yellow and blue whilst Strathblane Rovers wore their black and white strips.
As the game kicked off Bafana took control and once again gained an early lead - something that is becoming quite a habbit - this time through experienced midfielder Euan Ingram. The momentum was certainly with them and their lead was doubled when Maciver released the ball early to player/manager Atha who dribbled into the box one on one with the keeper and kept a cool head to finish with a somewhat soft placed shot. The look on the Struans face said it all - the keeper should have perhaps done better. New boys Dan Pugh and Craig Robinson thoroughly enjoyed their debuts as Robinson proved to be a rock in defence often finding himself being the last defender but dealing with the attack like a veteran. Dan on the other hand attacked the right wing time and time again, linking up well with Andy Mcquade and bagging himself 2 goals for the effort. The first half saw Bafana dominate from the start and they looked good for their 4-0 lead at the change over.
Perhaps tiredness came into play at the beginning of the second half, perhaps it proved too difficult to keep up the intensity we witnessed in the first half, but Bafana endured a spell of being on the backfoot as Strathblane threw men forward. The defence weren't getting the support they craved from midfield as Rovers frustratingly looked for the break through. Goalkeeper Jack Sutton look good for the clean sheet making a couple of good saves as the barrage continued. Strathblane might have felt hard done by when Chris McQuade appeared to floor their striker right infront of the goal line, however no claims were made by the rest of his team and gameplay continued. Rovers eventually got their goal - they probably deserved - but Bafana showed good spirit as they came back fighting. Andy McQuade ,who had worked tirelessly upfield holding up the ball, got his goal as did his striking partner Daz Maciver. Euan Ingram double his tally and looked good for the hat trick when left back Lewis Atha broke into the box from the left, Ingram was left in disbelief when Atha chose to go himself rather than squaring the ball, surely leaving Ingram with a tap-in and the match ball. As the game came to a close Bafana Bafana were once again left smiling as they celebrated their comfortable 7-1 victory.
In the post match press conference Strathblane manager Vik claimed his team were unlucky to lose the 2nd half and had been the better side. In his reply Atha looked slightly bemused at claims Rovers had "dominated" proceedings despite the six goal margin stating that his team had perhaps taken the foot off the pedal at the beginning of the 2nd half and will perhaps have to be wary of complacency against stronger opponents, but had played very well overall and can be proud of their victory. A rematch on the cards? It's too soon to tell. Atha refused to comment about rumours that goalkeeper Jack Sutton was seen getting bundled in the boot of a car at the end of the match....make of that what you wish!
With strong perfomances from every player - notably from A. McQuade, Pugh, Ingram and Robison - the Bafana train keeps on rolling as the 'undefeated' tag remains intact.
MOTM - Andy McQuade
