Back to league business after cup triumph
Hello once again everyone - I hope you are all well.
Well, I don't think anyone that witnessed would disagree that it was a good old game of two halves. The most important thing was to get ourselves into the semi-final of the Alba Challenge Cup and we were successful in that but we certainly put our supporters through the ringer in that first half.
I'm sure Elgin fans will agree that the performance of both teams was night and day in each half and they might have been disappointed to go in only 2-0 up at the interval. But what a turnaround from our players in the second 45 minutes.
Bryan Gilfillan got us off and running with a typical long range effort (he doesn't score tap-ins you know) and immediately you could see the confidence and belief return to the players. The manager made two changes at half-time and both Graeme Bell and Alan Inglis made massive contributions with the goals that put us ahead before Phil Storey rounded off a superb come back with a great individual goal.
I wasn't in the dressing room immediately after the game as I was doing some running but I'm sure our manager Harry Cairney will be hoping we start our next game the way we finished on Sunday.
It's great for everyone at the club that we've got to a national cup semi-final but we must put that to the back of our minds and really get ourselves going in the league.
We have many difficult fixtures coming up and they don't come much harder than Forfar and Queen's Park. We simply must pick up a victory in these next two games. So we will look forward to the semi-final draw (praying for a home tie) and after that, get on with the bread and butter.
We now know the Third Division line-up will stay as it is for the remainder of the season after . It's never nice to see a football club in trouble and this is no different. You feel for their fans as they have had difficulty in the past.
When you play at our level, it is always a boost to players when you come up against bigger clubs. You can never get enough of playing at the better stadiums with excellent playing surfaces and that's what everyone will get when they visit Almondvale.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, while I would rather Livingston's financial troubles weren't there, Annan Athletic are certainly looking forward to pitting themselves against Livi this season. Honestly, there is a compliment in there somewhere!
See you next week.
Hi there, I'm Chris Jardine, midfielder with Scottish Third Division side Annan Athletic. I hope, throughout the season, I can give you a good insight into life at the newest Scottish League club and maybe even a few laughs along the way.
Comment number 1.
At 10th Sep 2009, newgod666 wrote:Whats going on, a very short blog this week. Thou still enjoy the read while working.
Looking for a Forfar win this week as they are on my football betting slip he he
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Comment number 2.
At 10th Sep 2009, Craig wrote:This blog is getting very tired....surely the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ can think of something more interesting?
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Comment number 3.
At 10th Sep 2009, Martin McKeeman wrote:If you dont like it dont read it nightshift82 ( notice I omitted the "super" ).
A superb comeback in the Elgin game retains Annan hopes of cup success and congratulations to you all. I also look forward to seeing A) how Livi cope with life in the lower league and B) how far Annan have come by pitting themselves against a club of Livi's quality.
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Comment number 4.
At 11th Sep 2009, Chris Jardine wrote:Hi everyone - I must apologise about the blog this week. I don't actually understand why it is so short as there was a lot more in what I sent off to the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ. I sent it away on Wednesday morning prior to the Scotland v Holland game so I can only guess that the blog wasn't put on the website in time. I was talking about the game on Wednesday night so I'm assuming this is what's happened. I will try and make sure I do some extra next week and make it more exciting for the readers.
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Comment number 5.
At 12th Sep 2009, dundee dave wrote:Chris, how do you feel about being drawn aginst dundee in the alba cup?
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Comment number 6.
At 15th Sep 2009, CTP wrote:maybe we could have some more insight into how you really feel about not getting a regular game/what goes through your mind/bittersweet feelings about winning when you're not playing, etc.?
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