Strollers went into this 2nd round game in the Centenary Cup again missing a host of players. Strollers lined up with a 4-5-1 formation which has been working well for them.
Clermiston had all of the extra pressure in the game and forced a couple of corners, however they were struggling to create any clear cut chances.
Strollers took the lead against the run of play in the 20th minute when Carson played it to Burden whose through ball found Langstaff clean through on goal. The keeper made it easy for Langstaff and Langstaff calmly slotted past him for his 3rd goal of the season. The winger has made a tremendous start to the season and continued that with another fine performance in this match.
Clermiston again had lots of possession, however the Strollers were defending well with big Tomarelli having a superb game in the centre of defence. Clermiston's number 7 was the only player causing problems to the home side with numerous speculative long range efforts.
Strollers then took a 2-0 lead when Burden swung a free-kick into the box and the defender turned it past his own goalkeeper. The Strollers knew it was important to try and take the 2 goal lead into the break however they were 1 minute away from doing so when the Clermiston number 7 hit a shot from 40 yards that flew over Sayers head and into the top corner of the net.
Half-Time LBG Strollers 2 - 1 Clermiston Star
The Strollers made an enforced change when Burden came off injured to be replaced by Raeburn.
Clermiston started the 2nd half on the front foot and put numerous crosses into the box, however the Strollers centre back pairing of Tomarelli and Wallace were defending brilliantly to keep them at bay and Thomson and Searl in the middle of the park were beginning to get a hold of the ball more and keep possession.
The 3rd goal came for the Strollers when the ball was touched to Hengtes whose shot looked to be going out for a throw in until it landed right at the feet of Raeburn who was clinical in dispatching the shot into the corner of the net. This was the cue for the Clermiston team to start putting in some wild challenges. Greg Carson in particular came in for some rough treatment as he made a number of terrific runs from right back which the Clermiston team were only able to stop by taking him down.
Strollers then took a 4-1 lead when Hengtes teed up Holroyd who nipped in to clip home at the near post, it was a deserved goal for Holroyd who had played very well upfront on his own.
The Clermiston number 7 was then sent off for an off the ball incident involving Langstaff, in all honesty it was a red card that was coming from very early on as the number 7 who you could hardly call intimidating had threatened to lose the plot on a few occasions.
Thomson then picked up a nasty looking ankle injury when he cut inside and a poor challenge saw him leave the field hobbling. Wallace could also have added a 5th, his stretching header hitting the top of the bar.
All in all it was a very good result and performance from the Strollers and they will hopefully have a few players back after the September weekend off.
