Abbey AFC V Smuggler Inn
26-10-2014
Smugglers Inn travel to Kirkcaldy today to face Abbey AFC who currently sits a couple places behind Smugglers so will be looking to close the gap.
The game was heated early on as the Abbey were clearly looking for a fight rather than a game off football. The Abbey striker was in the book after 10 minutes and was lucky that the ref didn’t deem it a red when he went in with high studs on Johnston.
The Smugglers tried not to let the bullying tactics affect their game plan and soon started to play their football. They were finding plenty of room in the middle off the park today with them resorting back to a 4-5-1 formation today.
The first real chance came on the 25th minute as Bryson got down the right hand side and cut back across the face of the goal and James looked destined to tap home, but much to his dismay the ball somehow managed to go wide.
Much like every game this season Smugglers let the first goal in and had an uphill task to try to get something out the game. Abbey punted the long ball forward allowing the striker to burst through on goal and smash the ball home. 1-0
The Striker was lucky not to see a second yellow for his celebration. Smugglers continued with their football but just couldn’t find the final ball to break the defence down.
Bryson delivered a corner which Fowle got up to meet, his looping header looked to settle in the back post, but at the last minute the defender rose to clear the ball.
HALF TIME 0-1
Smugglers came out full guns blazing in the second half and were knocking at the Abbey goal not allowing the Abbey any possession.
Smugglers were kept out on many occasions from smart defending, good saves and last ditch tackles. It seemed like they were just going to come short of grabbing the goal to level.
But on the 60th minute as Couper’s corner was ping ponged around in the area, James went to head home but was met with a kick to the head. The ref awarded the penalty and up stepped Linton. Linton was being taunted by the opposition but remained calm and slotted home. 1-1
CHEATED! 5 minutes later and the Abbey re-establish their lead. The striker is played down the right hand side but Johnston and White watch as the ball goes 2 feet out of play and look to take the goal kick but somehow the ref does not see this and he plays the ball back in leaving a tap in for the Abbey player. 2-1
With the game still being played by Smugglers they soon found the equaliser for the second time from the corner. Bryson’s corner was driven into the back post to be headed in by Morrison. 2-2
They continued to press to find the much deserved winner but time wasn’t on their side and had to settle for the draw. On another day Smugglers would have won this game and can’t take much from the referee’s apology after the game for getting major decisions wrong on the day.
FULL TIME 2-2
