(Report by D Kavanagh)
The Academicals won a well contested game against Tibshelf by a score of 3-2 in a game that probably should have been all over in the first half as the Accies created chance after chance.
After the disappointment of the previous week where plenty of possession and endeavour resulted in a difficult to take loss it was vital that the Accies put in a spirited and more clinical display. Good early pressure and some nice football saw Bri run clear on two occasions, the first one he showed a little indecision as the keeper checked his run after Bri had looked to have decided to lob him, the effort screwing wide. Moment slater he was clear again and this time saw his effort graze the post. Daz was also put through by a great ball from Si but saw his effort saved by the keeper who was looking a decent player between the sticks.
On 25 minutes Dan Kav jinked his way up the left and was felled as he cut inside. He took the free-kick himself and thought about squaring it to Jamie who was in acres of space to his right; but instead struck a curling shot into the wind that flew into the far top corner. The lead was no more than the Accies deserved as Tibshelf had shown some good possession but no real chances. The goal did spark Tibsehlf into life though and a dangerous ball in was headed down and Godders came out quickly and spread himself to put off the advancing player who miscued his shot wide.
The game started opening up at this point and Daz was put clean through again by Jamie. He did everything right, opened his body up and struck a sweet shot toward the far corner but it came back off the post when it looked in all the way. This summed up Daz’s day as he continually got into great positions but couldn’t apply the finish. On another day he could have had a hatful! The Accies had got to grips with the tight pitch and were playing some nice football.
On the stroke of half time the Accies switched off for one second and a hopeful ball over the top saw their forward running clear at a tight angle and he somehow managed to slide it past the advancing Godders. It was a blow to the Accies defence who had looked comfortable to a man up until this point, despite a shake-up 5 minutes before when the injured Batts was replaced by Ryan who slotted in comfortably at centre half. Some would say Batts should have given his hamstring another week or two.... ;-)
Half time 1-1
The second half saw more Accies pressure and little from Tibshelf who looked a comfortable side on the ball but did not create any clear cut chances. The Accies were getting plenty of balls into the box this half with Ryan marauding down the right and working well with Hodgy to create spaces to get the ball in. Dan Kav drew their full back and midfielder out wide then reversed a ball to the onrushing Si who punted the ball toward the bottom corner that produced a great save from the keeper. Swifty replaced the hard working Bri and almost had an immediate impact with a rising shot that the keeper tipped over the bar.
It seemed like a matter of time before the Accies would score who had shown good spirit despite the blow at the end of the first half. Godders smashed a massive kick downfield that Swifty ran onto with an excellent first touch and a finish to match as he stroked the ball into the far bottom corner to put the Academicals 2-1 up.
Shay came on for Hodgy and worked well with Ryan down the right hand side with a couple of nice moves. Bondy had replaced Trev and looked very much at home in the centre half spot, the ripped shirt flapping in the wind didn’t seem to put him off too much as he won the majority of the headers and worked well with Reedy. Stan was mostly being shouted at by Godders despite another solid game.
The game had the feel that it would probably play out with no further scoring although the Accies looked the more likely if a goal was to come. Dan Kav was replaced by Andy Baker retuning after injury. But then disaster struck as a free kick was conceded just outside the box and the Tibshelf forward clipped a ball over the wall and toward the near post, Godders got a hand to it but it came back off the post and went in off his back. Agonising way to concede and now 2-2.
This is where the Accies needed some spirit and they duly showed it. Swifty did well to earn a free kick on the right hand side and Jamie took his time lining it up before whipping in a perfect cross into the corridor of uncertainty that man-mountain Si Spinks rose and met with a header that went in off the far post.
No more than the Accies deserved and a great way to leave the league format for a week to embark on a thrilling cup run next time out against the Red Lion from Division 1b.”
