Cabrera Ath v Civil Service Strollers
Cabrera continued their lacklustre start to the season with a hard-fought victory in this Edinburgh East league tie. A last gasp winner from Danny May secured the points for the Cabrera side in a very even encounter that lived up to the age-old cliché of a game of two halves.
With the majority of their league rivals competing in the East of Scotland first, both the sides on show at Saughton 3g having benefitted from a bye, this was a great opportunity for Cabrera to move into pole position in the league and the Tinkerman hope that this would provide the motivation needed to fire the players up for the task at hand. Instead however his side stuttered to a nervy start and found themselves under the cosh early on with poor defending across the pitch shipping a two goal lead to this improved Strollers side.
New signing Hammy making his debut in the sticks for Cabrera was faultless for the goals and would go on to put in an outstanding performance that more than contributed to Cabrera’s victory on the day.
One thing that had improved and will have pleased the Tinkerman was the home sides discipline on the pitch, evidenced by the fact not a single booking was awarded throughout the duration of the game, no doubt aided by the omission of Morrison, Allan and Jamieson, last season’s most decorated sinners, from the starting XI.
When Cabrera did get the ball down they showed that they are a more than capable footballing side and had they stuck to this style of play throughout the game there would be no doubt they are serious contenders for the league title this season. With strength and depth throughout every position on the pitch, competition for places has never been higher and the players currently in the first team will be feeling the pressure to continue performing both on Saturday and at training for fear of finding themselves on the bench over the coming weeks.
As it happened though the second goal from strollers hitting the back of the net was the wake up call that Cabrera needed and with deputy-captain Scott Thomson urging his side on they were able to take the game by the horns pressing for a goal to reduce the defecit before the end of the first 45. The breakthrough did finally come when a long ball from the Cabrera rearguard found Stephen Duke in the box and his clever nod down was thumped into the goal by another new summer signing Adam Valente. With six goals to his name this season Gogs Falconer will be feeling serious pressure to his top goalscorer title, especially as he was sidelined with a foot injury for this game.
This goal was vital as going into the break it gave Cabrera the confidence booster they needed, and you feel that had they went into the second half two down they may not have had the bouncebackability to recover and grab the points.
Half Time: Cabrera Ath 1 – Civil Service Strollers 2
The second half was a much different proposition and was mainly one-way traffic throughout as Cabrera sought the goals they needed to get themselves in front.
Strollers however continued to look dangerous on the break and the Cabrera defence had to be on their toes with Hammy making some excellent saves and Colin Campbell looking particularly tidy at the back (or at least so said Jack McGhie on the sidelines…..Colin watch your back boyo you seem to have an admirer!).
The equaliser did eventually arrive and it was Lee Greenan who pulled the teams level on the 60 minute mark was a close range drive. The tireless centre midfielder by his own admission did not have the best of games and he will be looking to improve on this in coming weeks and hopefully this goal will be the first of many as he seeks to recapture the prolific form he found in pre-season.
As the game ticked on Cabrera spurned a number of opportunities to take the lead, with Greenan, Falconer (on as a sub for McLean) and Duke all missing close range chances. With only five minutes to go there was however a collective sigh of relief from the players and the ever-boisterous sideline when Danny May took advantage of a goalmouth strumash and some indecision from the Strollers defence to poke the ball home past the helpless keeper.
In the end a victory for Cabrera that would see them back to the top of the league going into the September weekend. While the players know they will have to perform better in coming weeks, if they are able to grind out victories on days such as this they will certainly be there or thereabouts at the business end of the season.
Spirits were high as the lads went back to the Kilted Pig bar/restaurant for post-match food and drinks to celebrate their hard=-fought three-points and also an excellent new partnership with the Colinton establishment.
Full Time: Cabrera Ath 3 – Civil Service Strollers 2
Man of the Match – Hammy the keeper. An excellent display in goals from the debut boy, only just pipping Coco for the award on the day.
Cabrera Team: Hammy, Robertson, Campbell, Thomson, Greenan, Duke, Weddell, May, Dodds, Valente, McLean.
Subs: Simpson, McArthur, Lee, Falconer, Manson
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