POLLOK (League Champions Cup Final 2013 @ Newlandsfield Park)

POLLOK - LEAGUE CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL, HURLFORD UNITED 0-3 AUCHINLECK TALBOT, ATTENDANCE: 783

Season 2012/13 finally concluded with one last trip to Scotland. Glasgow was today's destination as Hurlford United took on Auchinleck Talbot in the League Champions Cup Final at Pollok.

As is usually the case for most of the cup finals in the West Region, Newlandsfield Park was the choice of venue for the final.

The ground is situated adjacent to Pollokshaws East train station and is more or less landlocked by flats and a supermarket.

The ground is yet another fine example of a Scottish Junior ground. Opened in 1928, Newlandsfield Park has a capacity of 4,000 and the large stand can hold up 1,500. The social club is outside the ground but I chose the 5 minute walk to the local Wetherspoon's for my pre-match beverage.

The format of the competition has changed where before it was the West Region's Cup Winners and League Champions, it is now just the Champions. Today pitted the Super League Premier Champions (Auchinleck) against the Super League First Division Champions, (Hurlford). Today was the first all Ayrshire final since clubs from Ayr were admitted into the competition in 2002.



Hurlford provide a guard of honour for
2013 Junior Cup Winners Auchinleck



Auchinleck came into the game fresh from winning Scottish Junior Football's top prize, the Junior Cup itself, after beating Linlithgow Rose 1-0 at Livingston last Sunday.

It would be a big ask for Hurlford United for to win today and so it proved as they were comprehensively outclassed by Auchinleck, who gave the impression of of team that did really have to go through the gears to win the match and trophy.

Two first half goals from Ray Montgomery (22 & 27) put the 'Bot in control. Any hopes Hurlford had of a comeback were dashed on 55 minutes John Craig was shown a straight red card for a studs-up challenge. An own goal 11 minutes from time sealed the win for the Beechwood Park men.

An enjoyable finale to season 2012/13, spent in very good company, even if the game was a little anti-climatic.

   



2013 Evening Times Cup Winners - Auchinleck Talbot



In a shock move I've claimed my seat back and returned to the fold at Goodison Park for Roberto Martinez's debut season, so this is going to curtail my groundhopping a little.

It's goodbye for now, Thanks for reading.

Chris :)

LESMAHAGOW JUNIORS (Craighead Park)

WEST OF SCOTLAND REGION CENTRAL DISTRICT DIVISION ONE , LESMAHAGOW JUNIORS 4-1 DUNIPACE JUNIORS, ATTENDANCE: 284



Nae Paper!

Another weekend, another trip North!

I was part of a travelling party of four Groundhoppers heading to Scotland. Before we set off we took a vote as to our destination, the options being either Larkhall Thistle or Lesmahagow Juniors. The vote on the latter was carried unanimously.

Both games were a straight shoot out for the runners-up spot, behind Greenock Juniors, and the promotion to the West Superleague First Division that went with it.

Lesmahagow held the upper hand in the sense that if they did the business then it would not matter what Larkhall did. If the 'Gow drew or lost then it was up to Thistle to take advantage.

After a "pit stop" in the Wetherspoons in Lanark, we made it to the ground in good time despite the postcode that was given on most channels being wrong (the ground is actually about a mile down the road).

Craighead Park is simply one of best grounds I have been to this season. From the main road you walk down into this glorious amphitheatre....

The covered stand was full of local youths adding to the atmosphere with a large flag and a loudspeaker, not unlike what you get in the Bundesliga.

Dunipace started the brightest and probably shaded the opening period. A Craig Reade penalty (pictured left) gave the visitors the lead after 28 minutes, which they held onto until the break.

News filtered through that Larkhall were winning, which meant as it stood it would be them who were promoted. That must have made Robert Irving's half time team talk pretty straight forward.

Whatever was said did the trick. John Logan (47) and Kris Jarvie (57) put the homesters in front and after that the result was never in doubt. Jarvie bagged his second with five minutes remaining to get the party started before a Colin Boylan penalty (87, pictured right) sparked wild celebrations.

There was a pitch invasion at the climax of the game as fans and players celebrated as one. Someone even let off a smoke bomb, which seem to be de rigueur at games these days.

Another top day in Scotland and I managed to maintain my reputation for "eating all the pies" as I bagged the last pie at Half Time!!!



The Lesmahagow players celebrate their promotion





 



GLENAFTON ATHLETIC (Loch Park)

WEST OF SCOTLAND CUP SEMI-FINAL, GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 3-2 ARTHURLIE, ATTENDANCE: 281

As seems to be the norm, the last few weeks of the season can be stretched out with visits North of the Border, as the Junior season complete their usual backlog of fixtures. This year is no exception and, with fixtures scheduled for the next three Saturday's, season 2012/13 can safely be extended into June.

Today was a trip to New Cumnock, in Ayrshire, recently 'voted' as Scotland's most dismal town http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-21955916 though I found the views around this former mining town rather pleasant in the late May sunshine.

Formed in 1930, the club played on a colliery pitch until moving to the purpose built Loch Park in 1960. The ground is situated on land close to where the "Afton Water flows gently" into the River Nith.

The ground is just off the main road in the town and has a large main stand and rest is terracing, though most of this is overgrown, giving a sense of age to what is not, in football terms, a very old ground.

Both Glenafton and Arthurlie compete in the West of Scotland Superleague Premier Division, finishing the season in 4th and 6th place respectively. Three points separated the teams in the final table and Arthurlie won the league encounter at Loch Park back in September.

However Glenafton were not to be denied today and they won through to the final by the odd goal in five, despite playing the second half with 10 men.

Glenafton took control from the kick off and Ryan Millar gave the homesters the lead after six minutes before Ross Robertson doubled their lead after 12.

James Marks headed home after 42 minutes to halve the deficit, then right on the stroke of half time Jack Steele was given a straight red card for a challenge on 'Lie goalkeeper Kevin Macklin.

As expected with a  man advantage, Arthurlie came out for the second half all guns blazing and it was no surprise when Stephen McKeown equalised after 55 minutes. However rather than being the catalyst for a 'Lie victory the game swung back in favour of Glens and they created the better chances. With ten minutes remaining Gus Cochrane blasted home to book Glenafton's place in the final.

With "pit stops" in Dumfries and Auldgirth, it was a great day out, spent in great company.

 

  

  

EVERTON (Goodison Park)

FA PREMIER LEAGUE, EVERTON 2-0 WEST HAM UNITED, ATTENDANCE: 39,475

Well what a week it's been at Goodison Park as the club bids farewell to David Moyes after 11 years as Manager.

The Manager went out on a high after comfortably seeing off the Hammers courtesy of two Kevin Mirallas goals. The first goal was a great team effort whilst the second was a deflected shot. Everton should have scored plenty more but a combination of last ditch tackles, great saves and bad misses kept the scoreline down.




Kevin Mirallas (11) shoots at goal



Atmosphere was fantastic, It was a great team performance but as like every summer it is always a nervous time for Evertonians as we wait to see who will be still here come August. Speculation is already rife as to who is supposedly leaving, hopefully the departure of Moyes will not mean the break up of the team.

,

                  Could this be the last time we see these two in a blue shirt?

As well as Moyes leaving, it was also Phil Neville's Goodison swansong after being released by the club, though he didn't play today due to injury. In fact Neville hasn't played for the club since his suicidal back pass in the Wigan FA Cup game, when he was substituted at the interval.

I hoped that wasn't his last action in a blue shirt, but it looks like that is going to be the case, but the reception afforded to him yesterday showed that the Goodision crowd have appreciated his efforts over the past eight years. He always gave 100% and whenever he spoke, he always had nothing but high praise for the club and "got" what it meant to be a blue.

Another stalwart of the Moyes era also put in appearance to say a belated farewell to the fans, as Tim Cahill flew in from New York, despite playing for The Red Bulls the previous evening, to join in the occasion.

Not many players in the modern game have the commitment, will to win and sheer force of personality that Tim Cahill possessed and he was always superb in a blue shirt. Time waits for no man, but It was a genuinely sad day when he left last summer. He will always be one of my all time favourite Everton players.

Which brings me to David Moyes. There was always an air of inevitability that he would replace Taggart in the Man Ure hot seat when the moment arose, so it was no real shock when Moyes was appointed last Thursday.

It's a strange one for me as I have never been a huge fan of Moyes but I am fully appreciative of what he has done for Everton over the last decade, dragging us from perennial relegation candidates to regular top half finishes on a budget that was mid-table at best.

After the reign of the Blessed Walter, the bar was set pretty low so there was really only one way up. The way Moyes did it wasn't particularly eye catching at first, but I suppose you had to be pragmatic with what you had at your disposal. However, after four years of watching Moyes "get 1-0 up and defend it" type of football (amongst other reasons) it was too much for me and that is where I bailed out as a season ticket holder.



Last time in the 'home' dugout for
David Moyes

In fairness though, as the team improved over the following seasons some of the football played was superb but there was always a sense that those negative thoughts were never far away in Moyes mind. When it really mattered, when we were on the fringes of kicking on, we always seemed to fall short. There has always been the frustration with some of his negative tactics and team selections, one up front at home against "lesser" opposition or his appalling record away from home against the "Sky four". You can only blame the lack of funds so far and I think Moyes has to take some of the blame, last season's loss to the RS at Wembley being the nadir as far as I was concerned.





Another end of an era:
Today was also the last
paper issue of WSAG.
This fanzine had been
regular reading all my
adult life

Despite no silverware to show for his reign, even I cant argue with the regular top 6 or 7 finishes on a shoestring budget and there is no doubt he has left the club in a better position than when he arrived and the appreciation he got during today's game (however, the Gwladys Street did drop a wee reminder of the rivalry as the classic "Oh Manchester..." was belted out with gusto) and on the lap of honour was well deserved.





Who will follow in Moyes footsteps, well who knows, none of the bookies favourites whet the appetite, but make no mistake he will be taking over a fantastic club. We are Everton. Onwards and Upwards.



David Moyes receives a guard of honour at the end of the game,
as well as rapturous applause



Another stalwart of the Moyes era Tim Cahill flew in to say goodbye,
after playing for New York Red Bulls the previous evening



This will have to be removed by August!!


There have been plenty of highs and lows over the last 11 years, but based on games I went to (hence no mentions of regularly tossing those phonies from Citeh) here are my Five most memorable Moyes games....

1. 20/04/05 Manchester United (home) 1-0. Goodison was rocking as Big Dunc terrorised Rio Ferdinand as the Blues recorded a great win to all but seal a top four finish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=586JDNl_pv0

2.12/03/08 Fiorentina (home) 2-0. After a dreadful away leg which left us 0-2 down, the atmosphere at Goodison was electric as the Blues levelled the aggregate score before losing on penalties.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yghfGTKNYdE

3.08/11/07 Nuremburg (away) 2-0. My first ever European trip and I along with 6,000 blues travelled to Germany to witness a blue victory. I will always be grateful for that chance to travel abroad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hznYtrlweXU 

4.19/04/09 Manchester United (Wembley) 0-0. My first trip to the new Wembley and Everton reach the final with a 4-2 win on penalties.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JSynnf-0ZQ

5.11/12/04 Liverpool (home) 1-0. The famous Carsley Derby. What a great day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cNt76G4mIQ