retired_amyslack

December 2005

I was crushed to hear that Gretna lost 3-0 at HSV to go out of the UEFA Cup on away goals. They were joined by Kilmarnock who went out to Parma, conquerors of Aberdeen in the previous round. Hearts had a comfortable 8-1 aggregate win over Shamrock Rovers and Rangers overcame Albanian opposition 8-5. But the best result of the night was a 5-0 win for Hibs at home to FC Copenhagen to overturn their 4-0 loss in the first leg.

We were thoroughly outplayed by the home side on our trip to Montrose, losing 1-0 but experienced keeper Myles Hogarth played a blinder to keep the score respectable.

We make an early exit from the Scottish Cup, blowing a two-goal lead courtesy of striker Scott Bannerman to lose 3-2 at Peterhead.

By coincidence we face the Highlanders again in a midweek league match at home. Bannerman scores once more as we avenge our earlier defeat with a cracking 5-0 win. Midfielder Craig Brown, defenders Jamie Smith and Calum Hill and striker Elliot are also on target.

In the Champions League Celtic blow their chances of qualification with a 2-0 defeat at home to Milan and they are now playing for a UEFA Cup place.

For our next game we make the short trip to Falkirk to play East Stirling and return with a 3-2 win. Brown scores a brace and Bannerman is on target once more.

We end the month with a Boxing Day visit from promotion-chasing St. Mirren and a ding-dong battle ensues. We finally triumph 3-2 with Dougie Wilson scoring twice and Bannerman getting the winner.

Another decent month results-wise sees us in 4th place in the table, just 4 points outside a promotion place. My main concern is our dreadful financial position, which is making it almost impossible to bring in new players and renew contracts. The big problem is that defender Jimmy Jackson is paid a ridiculous £3,900 a week – I cannot believe that the club agreed to a contract like that. I do manage to bring in former Celtic youth Chris McCormak as we are desperately short of central defenders.

retired_amyslack

January 2006

We start the year with a good 2-0 win at home to Dumbarton with Wilson and Bannerman scoring the goals.

Scott Bannerman is in unstoppable form at present and he opens the scoring in our home game against Elgin. Elliot adds the second in a 2-1 win that keeps our excellent form going.

Our trip to Stranraer ends all square with the overpaid Jackson’s strike cancelled out late on for a 1-1 draw.

Despite playing with ten men for most of the second half after Dougie Wilson is sent off, a brace from Bannerman is good enough to beat bottom club Arbroath 2-0.

We close the month out with a trip to Berwick and the home side score all of the goals in their 2-1 win, giving us the lead with an own goal but fighting back to get the win.

Montrose head the table on 41 points with East Stirling, ourselves and St. Mirren all tied on 34 points.


February 2006

The month begins with a showdown at home to league leaders Montrose. Strike pair Elliot and Bannerman each find the net in a two-minute spell in the first half. The visitors pull a goal back near the end but midfielder Craig Brown secures the points with a goal in injury time to give us a good 3-1 win.

Alex Grace and Allan Grant, two of my favourite players from Gretna, have been sitting on the transfer list for some time and the club accepts my offer to take them both off their hands for free. To my surprise they both accept the pittance of a wage that I can offer and they will join in the summer transfer window.

After a weekend off we are back into action with a trip to Peterhead. Elliot opens the scoring but we concede twice in the first half and lose 2-1, a real let down after beating the league leaders in our last game.

Our next match sees us on the road again travelling to 3rd place St. Mirren for a crucial promotion tussle. Elliot keeps his excellent scoring run going with the opening goal but once again we fail to defend our lead. The home side square the game before half time and then get a late winner to condemn us to a 2-1 defeat. Such is the competitive nature of the division that we drop from 2nd to 6th in the table. We also lose right-winger Patrice Napoli for the remainder of the season but fortunately youngster Dougie Wilson is now fit again.

We end the month with a visit by near-neighbours East Stirling and an uninspiring display sees us slump to a 2-1 loss.

Having worked hard to climb the table it is galling to suffer three consecutive defeats, all by the same 2-1 scoreline, and fall 6 points behind the second promotion place. It was no real consolation that midfielder Craig Brown was voted Young Player of the Month, although he was pleased with the recognition.

retired_amyslack

March 2006

We travel to Dumbarton hoping to get back to winning ways and having made and missed a host of scoring chances in the first half we finally take the lead through a penalty tucked away by defender Stephen Swift. Substitute Kieron Durkan doubles our advantage before the home side narrow the gap but we are able to hang for a 2-1 win.

Our run of away games continues with a trip north to Elgin. Bannerman puts us in front in the first half but we are pegged back from the penalty spot before the break. Fortunately Elliot gets a late winner to give us a 2-1 victory.

Another Bannerman goal gives us the lead at home to Stranraer but then we have centre back Calum Hill sent off for two bookable offences. With time ticking away we then lose another centre back as Chris McCormack succumbs to injury. With no further defensive cover we are playing two makeshift centre halves and we finally concede a late equaliser for a 1-1 draw.

Celtic have a comfortable 4-0 win over Aberdeen in the League Cup Final to secure the first domestic trophy of the season.

We end the month with another road trip, this time to struggling Arbroath. A goal from winger Chris Geddes is the high point of an otherwise poor display and despite the best efforts of keeper Myles Hogarth we concede twice to lose by another 2-1 scoreline.

In the UEFA Cup, Celtic make an exit, losing 2-1 to Spartak Moscow on aggregate but Rangers fare better, defeating PSV 3-2 overall.

Our rather patchy form is compensated to some extent by the competitive nature of the division as all of the promotion contenders are taking points off one another. This means that at the end of the month we sit in 4th place, just three points off second place.


April 2006

The visit of bottom club Berwick Rangers brings us some success as the Bannerman-Elliot strike pairing both find the net in our 2-0 win.

Rangers gain a good 1-0 win at Anderlecht in the first leg of their UEFA Cup Quarter Final.

An abysmal performance at league leaders Montrose sees us suffer a 4-1 thrashing and our chances of promotion are looking increasingly slim.

A vibrant 3-3 draw at home to Anderlecht takes Rangers into the Semi Finals of the UEFA Cup.

A trigger-happy referee issues half a dozen yellow cards in our 2-1 defeat of Dumbarton, Dougie Wilson scoring both of our goals.

Rangers are drawn against Liverpool in the UEFA Cup and the first leg ends in a 1-1 draw at Ibrox.

If we are to have any hope of promotion then we have to beat Peterhead in our final game of the month. An inspired first half sees us reach the break three goals to the good, Elliot, Bannerman and Hill the men on target. The second half produces no further scoring and we gain a crucial 3-0 win.

Another win for Montrose confirms their promotion leaving four teams fighting for the second place with just two games remaining. St. Mirren are 2nd on 54 points, we follow on 53, just above Peterhead on goal difference, with East Stirling 5th on 51 points.