Squad: Campbell, Sherry, Fraser, Findlater, Kerrigan, Prain, Barber, Todd, Penman, Cheyne, Reid, McKenna, Hamilton.

Following Kirrie’s promotion to the top league for their age group it was important to start the season well against fellow promoted side Lincraig, and to get something from the side who they dropped vital points to last season. So a trip through to Dundee on a bright sunny day should have played to Kirrie’s slick fast passing game, however the boys played much of the 1^st half  panicking and launching high balls against a tall back line of Lincraig who seemed to have the measure of our strikers. And as usual following all lot of possession and several missed opportunities the opposition broke up the park and scored first 1-0 . This should have been the tonic to get the boys to chase and fight harder but again they fell back to high balls .

The one positive was a number of well placed corners from the training ground and takers McKenna and Todd would have expected more reward, however a superb Todd in swinger caught the home keeper out and he and the ball fell backwards into the net 1-1. This finally shock up the players and with more dominance there were more ½ chances went a begging, Hamilton chased down a poor kick out and nicked the ball of the fullback and slotted past the keeper scrapping the paint at the near post. 1-2 half time.

With a little more confidence Kirrie started to win the individual battles across the park but cruelly again, the opposition broke up field with a number of strange non decisions by match ref they found themselves facing a quickly taken free kick which was headed in at the back post 2-2.

Fortunately that was the last time the opposition was to venture into our box as Kirrie stamina began to show as a result of hard summer training they got to the ball first, time and time again, but a number of missed chances including a saved penalty it looked like one of these days then with just 10 minutes to go a long driven low cross was met by Kerrigan who calmly side footed home 2-3. Minutes later a quick throw into the box was latched onto by Penman who volleyed high into the net for a 2-4 away win.

Tuesday 23/8/11
Kirrie v Broughty (Martin Park). Meet at park 1800.

Sunday 28/8/11
Free week

Sunday 4/9/11
Kirrie v Luncarty (Martin Park meet 1.15pm. 2.00pm kick off)

Kirrie 22 Edzell 3 ( scored by our loaned strikers)

Forfar 0 Kirrie 2

Edzell 0 Kirrie 4

Kirrie 3 Monifeith 0

Kirrie 2 Broughty 1

Cup Final

Kirrie 0 Ferry 0

Ferry won 4-3 on pens

So any comments I make are irrelevant as Kirrie scored 33 in 6 matches and conceded 1, of which we won that match. So we lost a tournament but were never beaten——- very hard to swallow sorry forgot to add we scored in the final but the position of ref prevented him from giving. Other teams might say ah that’s just sour grapes,  but no as 3 team managers came over to me at the end of the tournament and applauded the boys play and commented we were the best team in the tournament. Somehow that just makes me even more sorry for the boys.

The bigger picture is, all I promised the parents (at meeting) was to improve your sons ability . I also made that promise to the boys at training , and given various comments from parents and the boys Facebook site “Kirrie Youth” they too feel better players. So far that’s happening so why do we all feel gutted , simple ! they deserved to win it.

The work ethic and team bonding is there for all to see bring on the season.

Darren

New players welcome call Darren (manager) 07833 950601

Season end of table results 2010/11:

Squad: Barclay, Sherry, Dickson, Fraser, Brennan, Findlater, Kerrigan, Prain, Barber, Todd, Penman, Cheyne, Reid, McKenna, Pogson, Ray, Hamilton.

Cup final day arrives at North End park and with two previous victories over the Saints this season hopes were high of lifting the cup. However Saints are a well drilled outfit and from the first whistle they showed grit and determination and with a strong wind helping them Kirrie found themselves in a real battle in the opening exchanges and Barclay produced a great early save to keep the score deadlocked.

Strangely Kirries defence which normally does the right thing at the right time did the opposite and after a number of defensive blunders Saints somehow failed to capitalise. But with the strong wind Saints had the majority of play and when another missed clearance fell to the striker’s feet he cooly lobbed the ball over the keeper who was caught of his line for 1-0. Finally this woke up the Kirrie players who were all playing below their best and slowly but surely after a poor half hour they began to move the ball and the pendulum slowly started to swing back to Kirrie.

Penman launched a high pass over the Saints back four and Kerrigan’s pace saw him first to the ball but he shot over, then Dickson fired in a long range effort and with several good corners Kirrie finally started to play as we know they can and with seconds to half time an identical Penman pass saw Kerrigan race to goal and a classy finish into the net saw the score level 1-1 at the interval. With the wind now behind them it was Kirries half to dominate and that they did with wave after wave of attacking possession.

Kirrie were awarded a free kick just outside the corner of the Saints box and with the strong wind Penman’s shot hit the back of the net 1-2. Kirrie were now dominant and Saints barely crossed the half way line, but with the score still 1-2, you never know.

However when a fierce Dickson shot rebounded of the post Sherry raced in for number 3 and a huge sigh of relief was felt by all. Full time blew for a 1-3 win. With very difficult wind conditions this was never a pretty game of football but with dominating possession in the second half, Barclay in goal never got a touch, such was the control Kirrie had. A win is a win no matter what kind of football is played and in a final it’s even better.

Squad: Barclay, Sherry, Fraser, Brennan, Findlater, Kerrigan, Prain, Todd, Penman, Cheyne, Reid, McKenna, Pogson, Ray.

A league match today against a stuffy Saints side who always seem to hang around and never give up as we have see in previous meetings. This is important match for our league title hopes and also psychologically as this is our opponents in the league cup final 2 weeks from now.

Kirrie started well and moved the ball around quickly which helped us dominate possession but after a string of saves by Saints goalkeeper the score was deadlocked mid way through the 1^st half and in fact it took a defensive blunder to score when Ray was gifted the ball and rolled it into the net 1-0.

Sherry was chasing every ball and unsettling the away defence and after conceding several corners and frantic defending Kirrie really should have more to show but the 2^nd goal was proving difficult to find. The midfield was dominant and Todd again put in a number of good corners and Penman’s passing ensured continual supply for the strikers. Kerrigan then kicked into gear and as per normal the left back soon found the nippy wingers pace to hot to handle and after a number of good crosses Ray was found unmarked at the back post to head home number 2.

Penman then collected on the half way line and after beating two of the oppositions players, the away defence stood back giving him sight of goal, and a good strike lofted over the stranded keeper for 3-0 halftime.

Seconds in to the 2^nd half Kirries defence which had mopped up all Saints 1^st half attacks with ease then strangely did the opposite and passed the ball within their own box and after a mix up the resulting soft penalty was struck home for 3-1. This then gave Saints some hope and they started to cause problems for the home defence but Reid and Fraser knuckled down to the task and played threw the tough period.

But when Penman ran up the left wing and cut inside with no defenders making a challenge again he looked up and chipped the advancing keeper for 4-1. Just as Kirrie started to relax then back came Saints however their goal should have been dealt better by reliable Reid and Barclay 4-2. Saints had been in our box twice and had 2 goals to show and that 100% record was extended as they made it 3 from 3 visits into our box following another missed clearance 4-3.

This was nervous times with minutes to go and a quiet second half by Kerrigan burst into life as he charged down the right wing leaving his marker trailing as he looked up to cross the keeper left his line and Kerrigan fired over into the net for 5-3 win.

Squad: Barclay, Sherry, Dickson, Fraser, Brennan, Findlater, Kerrigan, Prain, Barber, Todd, Penman, Reid, McKenna, Pogson, Ray.

League business today finds us traveling to play Brechin in what felt like “Costa del Edzell” due to the scorching heat. With a hard park both teams took time to read the bounce and the first 10 minutes saw scrappy disjointed football. However, slowly but surely, Kirrie began to pass well and with several good wing runs and crosses from Kerrigan, but there were no takers in the right place.

Brechin also had some promising runs but the defence moped up most and Reid swept well when a threat came through. Sherry runs again were unsettling the opposition and as he chased down each fullback he forced a rushed clearance which rebounded off him and he out sprinted the defence and slotted past the advancing keeper 0-1. Penman also started to master the midfield and another pass split the defence and Sherry ran on to it and cut back for Ray who passed into the empty net 0-2.

Kerrigan was now beating his marker at will and he also cut back to Findlater whose shot was despatched home for 0-3. Todd corners have troubled many defences this season and a rare collector’s item when Reid was first to the ball at the back post and a left footer hit the net 0-4.

McKenna and Brennan come on at half time and a strong run saw McKenna beating 3 but shooting wide then Brennan was in the right place to receive a Ray cut back to side foot home 0-5. Kerrigan’s runs where more direct this half and when he headed towards goal he drew the keeper and laid it on a plate for Ray 0-6. An identical Kerrigan run and cut back so McKenna fire home 0-7. Rays hatrick came when he ran onto a Penman pass tapping passed the rooted keeper 0-8. Kerrigan was told to go for goal himself and he duly did and in style by knocking it round the keeper and firing home 0-9. Goal of the match was Penman emerging with the ball from 3 opponents and a long wide pass to Kerrigan saw a precise cross find Sherry firing home for his hatrick 0-10.

However with 30 seconds to go a long range free kick dashed Barclay’s hope of a clean sheet as it hit the net via the underside of the crossbar and after such an easy game for him it was rough justice but  1-10 win.