Reds v Kilpatrick FC

On what I have been told is a bigger pitch, length ways, than Hampden Ardencaple played a friendly against current table toppers Kilpatrick. Having previously drawn a friendly and this seasons’ league match bragging rights were most definitely at stake.
Kilpatrick had the first effort on goal but luckily for Caple the striker didn’t have his shooting boots on……well not yet anyway. Caple earned the 1st corner or the match with Chris attempting an overhead kick from the headed clearance. Caple were on the attack, Lewis Fagan had an effort over the bar after some good pressure by Chris and then Blair. The match was end to end and both teams were playing some nice football. Blair was put through but his run was matched by the defence and the angle made harder, his shot went wide.
Tommy took a goal kick, the ball was headed back into the Caple box and with the Kilpatrick forward about a mile offside in Bowling, Tommy was called into action to make a fine save and save Caple going 1 down. MJ back in the starting line-up made a good over lapping run down but his cross was held by the Kilpatrick keeper. The next Caple attack saw Blair beat the keeper to the ball and as he composed himself and shot the Kilpatrick defender covered and cleared off the line for a corner. Chris then had an effort that squirmed under the keeper but just wide of the post for another corner.
Connor had a free kick which he effortlessly drifted into the box but too close to the keeper who held the shot as the Caple forwards following in.
Subs: Tom/Rhys on – Connor /Lewis G off
The first goal came from an unusual source, Mini, who was playing at left mid field. Chris ran down the right and crossed the ball to the back post where Mini was unmarked to head into an empty net. 1 – Nil Caple.
Tommy was again called into action to make 2 good saves from the Kilpatrick striker and kept the half time score at 1 nil.
Subs: Andy H/Nathan on – Chris/Andy L off
The 2nd half started well for Caple. The Caple midfield was dominant and with passes flowing the 2nd goal didn’t take long coming. Tom played a ball between the 2 central defenders&#59; Blair controlled the ball and slotted the ball under the keeper and into the net. 2 - Nil Caple.
The third goal was just as good. Tom played the ball out wide for Blair, who controlled the ball and dribbled into the box, and with Nathan’s movement the defence split wide open leaving Blair the chance to shoot, left footed past the keeper. 3 – nil
The game was won at that point or so we all thought.
Subs: Lewis G/Connor on - Jack/Mini off
At 3 nil the Caple players fell asleep and Kilpatrick did to Caple what Caple have done to teams all season. They used 1 strong running player to run at the defence and cause problems. Before he had scored the first goal he had at least 3 sighters to score, all of which drifted wide. Kilpatrick then got the first of their goals, a ball straight through the middle was collected and the striker beat the advancing Tommy.
The 2nd goal came as a ball was played in, the attacker got to the ball first, and slotted into the empty net.
Subs: Chris/Andy L on – Blair/MJ off
Another simple ball over the top gave the Kilpatrick forward a something to chase, he got their first and slotted under Tommy form the angle of the box to make it 3-3.
His 4th was almost identical and the icing on the cake was his 5th, this time he controlled the ball out on the left and curled the ball past Tommy and into the net. Final score Kilpatrick 5 – Caple 3. All in all a pretty good 45 – 50 minutes than a complete nightmare for the last 20.