Cumbernauld Colts looking to bounce back at Selkirk

Cumbernauld Colts head to Selkirk on Saturday looking to pick themselves up after last week’s home defeat by Vale of Leithen.
Colts found it difficult to break down the Vale of Leithen defenceColts found it difficult to break down the Vale of Leithen defence
Colts found it difficult to break down the Vale of Leithen defence

Colts had hoped to chalk up their first victory at Broadwood after winning their previous two away games, but went down 1-0.

Co-manager Craig McKinlay said: “We warned the players not to take anything for granted after the two wins but we didn’t move the ball as well as we have in previous matches.

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“Hopefully we can get a reaction at Selkirk. They’ve been scoring a few goals but they’ve also conceded a few so we’ll go there and try to be as positive as we can.”

Having put in four encouraging Lowland League performances Cumbernauld Colts would have been full of optimism for a first home win of the season as they welcomed Vale of Leithen to Broadwood.

The home side started brightly enough with Kirwan at left back getting forward to deliver a fine ball into the six-yard box. Unfortunately there were no takers and the defence cleared for a corner.

From the corner Broadfoot flashed a good ball across the box, but again there were no takers in yellow which would be a feature of set plays on the day.

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At the other end Vale broke quickly on the left, the ball pulled back into the six yard area where it was half cleared to a free player, 12 yards out. The attacker fired with power towards goal, George diving to his right to make a superb one handed stop.

The Colts hit the crossbar as Kirwan crossed from the left, his effort drifting over the helpless ’keeper but coming back off the bar to be cleared for a corner.

The sides went in at 0-0 in what was a quite lacklustre first-half display from the home side

Vale took the lead early in the second half. Burns crept forward from his holding midfield role and elected to shoot from distance, his shot blocked away high. Benton misjudged the clearance which fell to the feet of the Vale player who, with the holding midfielder caught forward, was able to lift a ball over the top.

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Oliver was unfortunate to see the good cross from the left ricochet off his shins beyond George in the home goal who had no chance from six yards.

Grant showed his value in defence sliding in to make a wonderful tackle as the Vale forward should have made it 2-0 on the break

Colts had one chance to steal a point in the 92nd minute, the ball dropping to Espener in the box who struck first time on the turn, his effort crashing off the crossbar with the keeper beaten.

It was a bad day at the office for the home side who will certainly be hoping for a much better showing in next weekend’s tough away trip to Selkirk.

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