EKYC v Baillieston Juniors, Match Cancelled

This mornings game against Baillieston Juniors was called off at the last minute due to a frozen pitch.

EKYC v Baillieston Juniors, Sunday 19th February

This Sundays game is against Baillieston Juniors at Kirkland Park, Strathaven. We are meeting at 0845 at Hairmyres Train Station. If travelling straight to the pitch let me know, and be there for 0915. Due to the rain, the game may be in doubt,so remember to phone and check on Saturday night if the game is on.

Training Tuesday 14th February 2006

Due to School Closures training on Tuesday is at Jackton Police College for 1 hour between 6pm and 7pm.

Goal Scoring To Date After 17 Games

LIAM CRICHTON - 16 GOALS
RYAN KELLY - 15 GOALS
SAM HILL - 14 GOALS
SCOTT MITCHELL - 12 GOALS
JACK KERR - 6 GOALS
THOMAS McGUIRE - 6 GOALS
DREW WATSON - 5 GOALS
DARREN SMITH - 3 GOALS
SCOTT GRAHAM - 3 GOALS
ROSS McDONAGH - 3 GOALS
CAMERON GIBSON - 2 GOALS
DEAN ARROL - 2 GOALS
GARY McCULLOCH - 1 GOAL

Played 17 - Won 16 - Lost 1 - Drawn 0 - Scored 89 - Conceded 34

Aston Villa 1 EKYC 6

The absence of regular starters Scott Mitchell and Christopher Park meant a couple of changes to the team that started last week. Thomas McGuire started up front with Sam Hill.

We had a slow start to the game and after some early pressure Villa broke up the park and the striker fired the ball high into the net from a tight angle to give them a 1-0 lead against the run of play. Our boys were playing some good football, but as last week, could not find the killer touch in front of goal.

THOMAS McGUIRE then equalised after a goalmouth scramble to put us 1-1 at the end of the first period.

An unchanged team went into the next third, and a great solo effort from SAM HILL was finnished off with a cheeky chip over the keeper.

LIAM CRICHTON and SAM HILL added another 2 goals before the end of the period.

A couple of changes were made and trialists Bobby Barclay and Graeme Baillie were given a chance. We continued to press and LIAM CRICHTON added his second of the day, to put him back to the top of the goalscoring charts, before the ever impressive SAM HILL completed his hat trick and the scoring to make it 6-1.

The only black note of the day was an injury to keeper James Kinniburgh which resulted on 'Sick Note' hobbling off to be replaced by Dean Arrol. Lets hope its just a wee knock and he will be okay for next weeks game against the strong Baillieston Juniors.

The team which started was;
Kinniburgh,Arrol,McCulloch,Gibson,Graham,Kerr,Kelly,Crichton,Hill,McGuire,Smith Subs; Elliot,Dingwall,Barclay & Baillie.

Aston Villa v EKYC, Sunday 12 February

This Sundays game is agaisnt Aston Villa with a 1000 ko at Priory Playing Fields, Blantyre. We will be meeting at Hairmyres at 0900.

Training Tuesday 7th February 2006

Training on Tuesday is for 1 hour at Jackton Police College. 6pm til 7pm.

EKYC 3 Hamilton Boys Club 0

The absence of regular left winger Ryan Kelly led to a couple of personnel changes for todays game. Scott Mitchell moved from up front to left midfield, Christopher Park moved to centre forward and Jack Kerr returned to the middle of the park.

We were camped in the Hamilton half for most of the first 20 minutes, but a mixture of poor finnishing and good goalkeeping resulted in the period ending 0-0.

The second period followed the same pattern, and it was obvious that Ryan's width on the left was missing, and changes to the formation were required. At the end of the second period it was still 0-0.

The third period started with Scott Mitchell reverting to centre forward along side Sam Hill, Thomas McGuire replacing Christopher Park and the side going 3-5-2 with Dean Arrol moving to right midfield. The change paid off with 10 minutes to go when DEAN ARROL flicked a Hill corner towards goal with his head, and the ball deflected into the net.

The goal gave the boys confidence and soon THOMAS MCGUIRE added a 2nd with a great shot, high into the net from just outside the box. We kept Hamilton penned into their own half and SCOTT GRAHAM scored his second in as many weeks with a strong finish from 8 yards out.

Dean Arrol was voted Man of the Match by the referee, for his goal and 100% effort.

The team hich started was Kinniburgh,Arrol,McCulloch,Graham,Gibson,Smith,Mitchell,Kerr,Hill,Park,Crichton. Subs-McGuire,Elliot & Cunningham

Goal Scoring To Date After 15 Games

RYAN KELLY - 15 GOALS
LIAM CRICHTON - 14 GOALS
SCOTT MITCHELL - 12 GOALS
SAM HILL - 11 GOALS
JACK KERR - 6 GOALS
DREW WATSON - 5 GOALS
THOMAS MCGUIRE - 4 GOALS
DARREN SMITH - 3 GOALS
ROSS MCDONAGH - 3 GOALS
CAMERON GIBSON - 2 GOALS
SCOTT GRAHAM - 2 GOALS
GARY MCCULLOCH - 1 GOAL
DEAN ARROL - 1 GOAL

Played 15 - Won 14 - Lost 1 - Drawn 0 - Scored 80 - Conceded 33

EKYC Invitational Tournament, Sunday 9 April 2006

As you will by now be aware, the Scottish Easter Cup tournament which we were attending at Dalziel Parks, Motherwell at the Easter weekend has now been cancelled due to poor subscription.

We are now holding our own tournament which will be held on Sunday 9 April between 1pm and 5pm at the Strathclyde Police Playing Fields, Lochinch, Pollok Park.

The format will be a round robin event with ourselves and the three other invited teams, all playing against each other on the 2 pitches at Lochinch.

I have invited Lawhill United, Baljaffray Boys Club and Giffnock Soccer Centre to take part, and they have all agreed.

Fundraising to pay for the event has begun and I ask everyone to try to raise as much as we can. I am also trying to find sponsors for the event. If you can help please let me know, or pass my number on to anyone who you think can help.

It should be a great day.

EKYC v Hamilton BC, Sunday 12th January

This Sundays match is against Hamilton Boys Club at Balerup Pitch 6 with a 1000 kick off . We are meeting at Ballerup at 0915.

EK Burgh 1 EKYC 9

Our local derby against the Burgh took place at Ballerup on Sunday morning, in spite of a late scare due to a sharp frost.
The boys looked up for the game from the start with the impressive SAM HILL running from his own half and rounding the keeper to give us an early lead.
We kept pressing and before long SAM HILL added his second after som great work by Ryan Kelly on the left wing.
Both Ryan Kelly on the left and Liam Crichton on the right were possing Burgh all sorts of problems and after one of his trade mark runs from the right LIAM CRICHTON made it 3-0.
At this time our boys started to sit back and think the game was won, allowing our opponents back into the game. At the end of the first period it was 3-0.

Some slack play at the start of the second period allowed Burgh to get a goal back, which raised their spirits, however Sam & Ryan continued to cause them all sorts of problems on the wings.
In the second period LIAM CRICHTON added his second and THOMAS McGUIRE scored from close range.

In the final period SAM HILL completed his hat trick, RYAN KELLY scored a brace(one with his head!!!) and SCOTT GRAHAM finnished the scoring with a close range shot after a great corner from Sam Hill.

Were it not for some poor finishing and a couple of dodgey penalty decisions the score would have been greater, but it was a great result and good performance from everyone.

Man Of The Match was a hard decision but it was shared between Sam Hill and Ryan Kelly.

EK Burgh v EKYC, Sunday 29 January 2006

This Sundays local derby against EK Burgh is being played at Ballerup Pitch 6 with a 1000 kick off. We will be meeting at the pitches at 0930.

EKYC v Newmains Hammers Match Cancelled

This Sundays match against Newmains Hammers has been called off due to the pitches being flooded.

Training will be at Clairmont on Tuesday as ussual between 6pm - 8pm.

Next weeks match is the derby game against EK Burgh with a 1000 kick off at Ballerup pitch 6.

Wishaw Wycombe Wanderers 3 EKYC 1

This was a hard fought match played in Overtown in which we suffered our first defeat of the season against the strong Wishaw Wycombe Wanderers. We made a few changes to our line up from recent weeks with Cameron Gibson reverting to centre half and Ross McDonagh replacing Liam Crichton who was struggling with a muscle strain.

We started the game like a train and very quickly had Wishaw penned in their own half. RYAN KELLY opened the scoring after some great passing play saw the ball squared accross the goal and Ryan volleyed us into the lead from close range. We continued to press and when the pacey Wishaw forwards tried to break they were marshalled well by Scott Graham and Cameron Gibson at centre half. Scott Graham was unlucky with a long range effort that hit the bar in the last minute of the half.

At the start of the second period Thomas McGuire replaced Scott Mitchell who was struggling with a thigh strain and Liam Chrichton replaced Ross McDonagh.
Wishaw gained the upper hand when they pressed down the right, forcing a quick shy which resulted in the getting the ball into the box and the forward finished well to equalise.

Our boys looked sahken by that and James Kinniburgh had to make a few good saves to keep the score even. The defence which looked solid in the first half was being caught out of position and 2 quick goals from Wishaw saw us struggling at 3-1 down.

At the start of the third period Sam Hill moved to wide right and immediately started to find space for himself and his team mates, and his work rate was second to none. Cameron Gibson was pushed forward as we went 3-4-3 to try and get something from the game and both he and Christopher Park shot narrowly over. The game finished at 3-1 and the disappointment showed on some of the players faces,as they tasted defeat for the first time at 11 a sides, an impressive run which hopefully will get back on track next week, agaisnt the equally tough Newmains Hammers.

Man of the Match for the 2nd week in a row was Scott Graham.

Wishaw W Wanderers v EKYC

This Sundays match is against Wishaw Wycombe Wanderers. It is a 1030 kick off at Overtown Wishaw. We are meeting at 0915 at Hairmyres Station.
The match promises to be a cracker as both sides were going strongly prior to the lay off for bad weather and the Christmas break.

LYFDA Fixtures 2006

15/01/06 v Wishaw W Wanderers(a) Overtown, 1030 ko

22/01/06 v Newmains Hammers(h) Hamilton Palace Pitch 3, 1000 ko

29/01/06 v EK Burgh(a) Ballerup Pitch 6, 1000 ko

05/02/06 v Hamilton BC(h) Ballerup Pitch 6, 1000 ko

12/02/06 v Aston Villa(a) Priory Pitch 3, 1000 ko

19/02/06 v Bailieston Juniors(h) Kirkland, Strathaven, 1000 ko

26/02/06 v Claremont AFC(a) Ballerup Pitch 3, 1000 ko

05/03/06 v Netherton Claret(a) Netherton, TBA

12/03/06 v Strathclyde United(h) Brancumhall Pitch 8, 1000 ko

19/03/06 v Aston Villa Colts(a) Priory Pitch 1, 1000 ko

26/03/06 TBA

02/04/06 TBA

09/04/06 TBA

14/15/16/17-04/06 SCOTTISH EASTER CUP TOURNAMENT HELD AT DALZIEL PARK, MOTHERWELL

23/04/06 v Baillieston Juniors(h) Brancumhall Pitch 2, 1000 ko

30/04/06 v Newmains Hammers(a) TBA

07/05/06 v Aston Villa(a) Hamilton Palace Pitch 1, 1000 ko

EKYC 2 Westwood Rovers 0

Our first game of 2006 was played on the 3G Astro Grass at Bent Pitches, Hamilton.
Our opponents were Westwood Rovers who were playing their first 11 a side match.

The game was played in freezing conditions, and the long lay off looked to have affected the way the boys played.

Within a minute of the game starting we were one nil up with a volley from SCOTT MITCHELL high over the keeper and into the net.

It should have been the start we wanted and allowed us to play our normal passing game on the big pitch. It was not to be however and we huffed and puffed a little, passing up some good goal scoring opportunities. At the end of the first period it was 1-0.

EKYC made some changes with Lee Elliot, Cameron Gibson and Ross McDonagh replacing Darren Smith, Sam Hill and Scott Mitchell.

The second half was pretty unaventful but again some poor finishing kept the score down. Meanwhile James Kinniburgh had to look alert and be quick off his line a couple of times to help out the defence.

At the start of the third period more chnages were made. The boys looked a bit hungrier and kept Westwood penned in their own half. RYAN KELLY was getting more involved and he finished off a good move down the left to make it 2-0.

Scott Graham looked to have the defence controlled well and his pace matched that of the Westwood winger, who looked frustrated and his attempts to outrun Scott.

The game ended at 2-0 and SCOTT GRAHAM'S performance meant he was awarded Man of the Match.

Friendly v Westwood Rovers - Sunday 8 January 2006

A friendly match has been arranged for this Sunday, 8 January against Westwood Rovers.
The game is a 2pm kick off at the Bent 3G Astro Grass Pitch in Hamilton.
We will be meeting at 1pm at Hairmyres or 1.30pm at the pitch.

Training Re-Starts Wednesday 4th January

I hope everyone had a good Christmas and a Happy New Year. Tam and I would like to thank everyone for their gifts, mostly which were drunk over New Year, they were very much appreciated !

Training is re starting this Wednesday to let the boys burn off some of those sweets they have been eating over the festive period.
We will be training at JACKTON POLICE COLLEGE between 6pm and 8pm.
We are aware that a lot of the boys have been unwell during the run up to Christmas and the holidays, and if anyone is feeling the effects of it then take your time in coming back.

We are trying to arrange a friendly game for Sunday, but the weather forecast does not look to good.