Underdogs Annan prepare for Scottish Cup test
Everyone was a bit stunned . After being 2-0 up and seemingly on course to pick up a massive three points, we let our lead slip as Michael Moore made all the difference when he set up the first and scored the equaliser after coming on as a second-half substitute.
Credit goes to , who changed their formation and went for broke in an attempt to salvage something from the game. It worked for them as they scored two late goals but that was a game where we could quite easily have been out of sight.
I think every Annan fan who has watched us on a regular basis would probably agree that was one of our best performances of the season so far. I felt we dominated the game for long spells and after going 2-0 up early in the second half we soaked up a bit of pressure whilst always looking dangerous on the break.
If our final ball and composure had been just a little bit better we could have gone on to score three, maybe four goals. We all know how it turned out and it was a definite two points dropped for us.
However, in saying that, we would have taken a point before the game started.
Stranraer have been on fire of late, and the way they came back to snatch a draw shows you what a good squad and spirit they must have within their ranks.
Annan face Brechin in the third round of the Scottish Cup. Photo: SNS.
You might expect me to be saying that the manager came in at full-time and went to town with us, but he was quite the opposite and I've never heard everyone so positive after such a disappointment.
Hopefully that's a turning point for us in terms of performances.
I've said often enough on here that they have dropped below our standards too often, although results have still been OK.
I couldn't believe it when I looked at the results on my phone after the match to find that . We now find ourselves in fifth position in the league table and that's as low as we've been for a number of weeks now.
That top six is looking very tight just now and I fully expect it to remain like that for the majority of the season - we just need to make sure that we stay in the mix.
We're obviously disappointed that Berwick and Arbroath have climbed above us, but the main aim was that we weren't any further behind Stranraer at the end of the game and we've achieved that.
I'm sure we would all have liked to kick on in the league after Saturday's performance but we have the small matter of a Scottish Cup third round tie away to Brechin City facing us before that happens.
There's no doubt we are the underdogs for this one and we will have to be at our very best to get anything from the game.
are riding high in the second division, with only Livingston sitting above them in the table.
Everyone is likely to be familiar with the scoring exploits of Rory McAllister and I've been having a good look on their website to get to know a wee bit about the others.
I know Jamie Redman from his time with Edinburgh University in the East of Scotland League and he will be another we have to keep our eye on.
The game is bringing back some good memories of our last trip to Brechin when we came up against our manager, Harry Cairney.
Harry spent a good few years as a player up at Glebe Park and he will be relishing the trip to face his old club.
I remember we found ourselves 2-0 down away from home and probably thought our time was up for that season. Perhaps Brechin relaxed a bit but we just went for it and snatched a draw near the end to take the tie back to Galabank.
Unfortunately we lost the replay 3-2 after extra-time but we'll be hoping to run them as close this weekend and maybe even go one better and knock them out of the competition.
There have been a few changes to personnel at the club in recent weeks. It's never nice to see team mates move on from the club and that was certainly the case with Pat Walker.
"Patch" was a great guy and one that a lot of us will hope to keep in touch with. For whatever reason, things never really happened for him at Annan but I see he was back to his best, scoring for Dumbarton as a trialist on Saturday, so I'll keep my fingers crossed that his move goes ahead.
Javier Amaya's short spell at the club also ended recently. The man with the most nicknames ever wasn't with us for very long but he made a lasting impression on the boys and the fans also took to him instantly.
We never got the chance to say cheerio to the big guy but I believe he is trying to sort things out for a return to Spain: best wishes go to Javier.
But, where there is disappointment that players have left I think it's fair to say everyone is delighted to have Sean O'Connor back at the club.
Sean made an instant impact on Saturday scoring our opener and it's disappointing that he has to drop out for us this weekend.
We've got him on an initial 28-day loan but we'll all be hoping that the club are working behind the scenes to get that extended.
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 18th Nov 2010, jpannan wrote:Hi Chris
Great performance at Stranraer by everyone. A wrong call by the manager probably cost 2 points, but that is football.
At lot of fans who did not get to the game and your Blog readers will be suprised at Chris "The Intimidator" Jardine sorting out a wee fellow like Armand Oné. (We thought you were training in case David Hayes decided to take on allcomers later that evening)!!
Bullying is frowned on so pick on someone your own size in future!
My question about corner tactics can you explain please.
Keep up your level of performance and best of luck at Brechin
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Comment number 2.
At 19th Nov 2010, Chris Jardine wrote:Thanks for the comments as always jpannan. Football makes you do some strange things and that was certainly one of mine on Saturday - it's fair to say the boys had a bit of a laugh at my expense after the game!
Regarding the corners - you might have noticed that we have changed our set-pieces in the last couple of games; I have been taking the corners from both sides on my own. Prior to this we would normally have two of our players over in the hope of dragging an extra man out of the area from the opposing team. Basically if there is only 1 player taking the corner then there is no need for him to be marked, but by pulling an extra man over beside the corner taker you are dragging 2 defenders out of the box. It should hopefully mean that we have a potential extra man in an attacking sense and creates more space in what is often a crowded penalty area.
I hope that makes sense and has cleared things up a little.
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Comment number 3.
At 19th Nov 2010, Kickback wrote:Hi Chris.
I love the blogs you do mate.Keep up the good work.
What players in the 3rd division could make the step up in your opinion to the 1st division?
Oh and what about the Jambos! Flying eh ;)
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Comment number 4.
At 24th Nov 2010, blogcritic wrote:Picking a fight with Armand One? You must be extremely brave or extremely stupid, Chris!!
I'll go for brave ;o)
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Comment number 5.
At 24th Nov 2010, MrHighway wrote:Great blog Chris, keep it up.
Always a good to read about life in the 3rd Division.
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