match270903

Today was the start of a new era for the Primrose with it being the first game with the new management team of Gary Yard and Joe Small in charge.

The pitch was a bit heavy after all the recent rain but the Steelend Committee had done a grand job with them having to re roof a dug out and rebuild a large proportion of the fence after it was destroyed by the high winds.

The game got off to a cracking start with both teams creating chances but after 16 minutes it was Crossgates that got the first goal when Deans played the ball through to Gary Osborne who waited until the defence was committed before he played the ball through to Scott Ross who controlled the ball well with his first touch before firing the ball past Hamilton in the Steelend goal.

Five minutes later and Deans again got the ball to Gary Osborne who took it first time with his left foot. He didn't quite catch it 100% but he put enough on it to get it past the keeper and into the net.

On 27 minutes Steelend got one back when Crossgates failed to clear their lines and Clelland got to it first and slotted it past Houston.

34 minutes in and after some good play Crossgates got a free kick 30 yards out on the right side of the pitch. Deans again was the provider and Osborne ran in at the back, after the Steelend defence had left the ball to go out, and he met it with a side footed volley, 3-1.

Ryan Houston pulled off a great save a few minutes from the end of the half ensuring the Primrose went in two up.

The second half was mainly Crossgates, Deans hit the bar, Gary Osborne got on the end of a good pass and his shot beat the keeper, hit the post and ran along the goal line before being cleared. A few minutes later though Gary got his hat trick when he got on the end of a low struck cross from the right.

Steelend also had there moments in this half though. Houston made a fine save from a Mitchell free kick and Ravenscroft had a goal chalked off for offside before he got a second for Steelend two minutes from time.

A good solid performance from the Primrose which will have heartened the new manager. Yes there's room for improvement but the team showed good shape and for the first time in a long time communicated well and played for each other.

C'mon the Primrose!

Primrose:
Houston, Stone, Millar, Lakie, Patrick, Mullen, Laing, Ash, Deans, Ross, Osborne
Subs: Tosh, Sykes, Cowbrough

Steelend Victoria:
Hamilton, Bakie, Ravenscroft, Mitchell, Clark, Wilson, Coulter, Clelland, Bennet, D. McCallum, Donaldson
Subs: Milne, Nedwik, Sharp, P. McCallum, Grewar

Ref: S. Crichton

Man of the match: Graeme "Dixie" Deans. Caused problems through the whole game and had an
assist in every goal.