Annan agony at losing two-goal lead
If only our game on Saturday had lasted a mere fifty minutes we would have walked away from Almondvale with an incredible three points.
We were 2-0 up and had started the second half quite well; keeping possession in good areas of one of the worst pitches I've ever played on. The league leaders then hit us with a .
I have to say after the first 15 minutes or so I would never have imagined we would be in the dressing room with a two-goal lead at half-time.
I had barely had a touch of the ball as I tried desperately to get close to Steve Tosh and stop him playing - and not for the first time I may add!
Gradually we felt our way in to the game, as did I, and goals from Kevin Neilson and David Cox gave us a lead that not many people would have expected.
At no point did we ever think the game was over and knew that would hit us with everything in the second half but we were still confident of causing them problems on the break as they pushed men forward at every opportunity.
We lost an early goal after half-time, something that has become a bit of a habit for us but even after that we had a great chance to increase our lead again. Unfortunately, Lewis Sloan scraped the wrong side of the post when he looked odds on to score.
I genuinely believe that might have knocked the stuffing out of Livingston so soon after they had got themselves back in the game but it wasn't to be.
The manager was great with us afterwards. I'm sure I wasn't the only one expecting a bit of a roasting after throwing away the lead but he thought we had a lot of positives to take away from the game and convinced us that if we perform that way for the rest of the season we'll quickly start to climb the league table.
We have to take that belief and start turning it into victories as it's getting a little too close for my liking at the bottom of the table. We're only three points from 9th place and although we have games in hand over most teams I'd much rather have the points in the bag.
We continue to play catch up on Wednesday with a . A victory would see us leapfrog both Stranraer and our visitors. That's a lot easier said than done and it's sure to be tight going by our two previous scoreless draws this season.
We'll be up against a familiar face in our former team mate Lee Hoolikan, who looks like he could be making his debut for Albion.
I still keep in touch with Hooli and we have been texting each other. There has been a bit of banter flying back and forward and if he does play we know we will need to keep an eye on him, especially at set pieces.
Things didn't quite work out for Hooli this year after a promising start with Annan and he will be determined to show that the club made a mistake in letting him go.
He tells me that he is looking forward to kicking me but I've said he'll need to get close to me first.
I'm starting to wonder if he will actually get that chance to give me a boot after reading the managers comments in the paper. He has commented that the game on Saturday and the pitch especially took a lot out of the players and he might be making some changes and bringing in some fresh legs.
At 31, I've a sneaky suspicion he might just have me in mind but I'm keeping my fingers crossed he's talking about Derek Townsley instead!
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 17th Feb 2010, livingstonfc1 wrote:I was at the game on Saturday and was quite impressed with the way Annan went about their business in the first half. Overall i think our superior quality and fitness shone through. And as for yourself, i thought you had played well and were unlucky to be taken off after an hour.
After seeing the majority of the teams in the 3rd division this season if Annan play like that for the rest of the season they will be looking at a happy mid table position
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 18th Feb 2010, Craig McConnell wrote:When it happens in Football Manager I want to cry, So im sure youre gutted.
Hope you have better luck next game.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 18th Feb 2010, kornaek wrote:I try to predict football using Thai astrology by comparing birth charts of competing team managers, but it requires estimating correct birth time. I predict Liverpool will win v Man C 21 Feb / Man U will win v Everton 20 Feb. Posted on Twitter 18 Feb. Based on estimation of birth time of Liverpool’s Rafael Bentiez born 16 Apr 1960 converted to GMT 0.0 at approx 06.00/ Man C’s Roberto Mancini born 27 Nov 1964 at approx 23.00/ Man U’s Alex Ferguson born 31 Dec 1941 at approx 06.00/ Everton’s David Moyes born 25 Apr 1963 at approx 06.00. Can anyone confirm this? [
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)
Comment number 4.
At 20th Feb 2010, StarfireReturns wrote:Congrats on the goal and a good win today Chris.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
At 22nd Feb 2010, Chris Jardine wrote:#1 - can't disagree with anything you say. I knew I was going to be coming off at half-time and it was down to my silly booking in the first half - the manager was rightly worried about us going down to 10 men.
#4 - thanks for that, both have been a long time coming!!!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 5)