LBG Strollers went into this game against Prestonfield with their biggest squad of the season so far with 15 players available for selection.
Due to injuries and holidays, Thomson decided to go 4-4-2 for the day, altering from the 4-5-1 that the Strollers have used in recent weeks.
Prestonfield came looking to improve on a poor start to the season and were well up for the game from the kick off.
The first 20 minutes were very scrappy, both sides struggling to keep possession and Davie Scott of the Strollers being called offside on numerous occasions, at least 2 of them were incorrect calls and on another day the striker would have been clean through on goal.
The breakthrough came on the half hour mark when a lovely ball by Davie Scott sent Tomarelli clean through. Tomarelli was composed as he slotted home with the outside of the right foot for his 1st goal of the season.
The Strollers built on this shortly after when a lovely team move say Slymand cross to Davie Scott, his header across goal was cleared right back to him and he calmly rounded the defender before drilling home to give the home side a 2-0 half time lead.
The Strollers came out for the 2nd half a little over confident and Carson lost possession, however a poor cross gave the home side a chance to regroup.
Davie Scott then missed 2 golden opportunities when first of all debutant Dave Allen sent him clear and he shot wide. Then some good individual play by Scott seen him clean through again however the striker again fired just wide.
Prestonfield were playing some nice football in midfield but the defence of Carson, Wallace, Annand and Hengtes were defending superbly when called upon.
The 3rd goal then came for the Strollers when Burden hit a terrible free-kick right into the keepers arms. The ref however called for a penalty as the defender was holding onto Wallace. Burden stepped up and slotted home the resultant penalty kick.
It looked like that was game over, however Prestonfield got a route back into the game when the otherwise excellent Sayers allowed a weak free-kick to bobble through his legs and into the net. This gave Prestonfield a huge lift and they could have found themselves level shortly after when a low corner landed at the Prestonfield players feet 6 yards out, Sayers came out quickly though and produced a terrific save, redeeming himself for his earlier mistake in the process.
That seemed to take the sting out of the Prestonfield side and the Strollers grabbed a 4th when Wallace strode out of defence and played a perfect pass for substitute Kerr to run onto, Kerr ran half the length of the field before prodding through the keepers legs. Kerr then had to take a rest in the box as the run had taken so much out of him, the small midfielders lack of fitness clearly showing after months out.
All in all it was a good days work for the Strollers and they go away to Standard Life in their next league game full of confidence looking for a 3rd win in a row.
