Next Match: Home v Middlefield SC

Our next fixture is a HOME fixture against Middlefield SC.

Usual arrangements apply where boys must be there no later than 10:00 for a 10:30 kick-off.

Colts 0 Newmachar 2

Today's match was played in pleasant conditions, but a fresh wind.

We went with a changed line-up for this match again as Alex was ill. Michael starting up front as Logan retained his No. 1 shirt after a fine performance last week.

Starting team : Logan, Chris, Reece, Ross, Jordan, Matt, Fraser & Michael. Stuart, Martyn & Craig were subs.

Newmachar kicked off but gave the ball away to Colts who proceeded to produce a ,lovely string of passing creating a shooting opportunity, only to be spurned whilst under no pressure.

Colts were producing some good movement when in possession, but were still failing to match any movement from Newmachar.

Colts created a string of corners in succession with the ball being delivered in well by Michael, but no-one following in the ball to capitalise.

Matt and Fraser were linking well in midfield and Jordan getting forward where possible, Colts were making the most of the game, but no composure was to cost them as they spurned several chances without testing the Newmachar keeper.

Chris, Reece and Ross were also keeping the Newmachar forwards at bay, with Ross and Chris pushing forward.

Craig replaced Fraser in midfield and was making his presence felt with some great tackles.

Colts were to pay the penalty late in the half by not closing down and allowing the Newmachar midfield player have a free shot at goal, placing it over the helpless Logan in goal.

Half time: Colts 1 Newmachar 1

Martyn replaced Matt and Stuart replaced Jordan.

Colts seemed more fired up for this half and were creating more chances and starting to close the Newmachar players down earlier.

Logan had a busy period with several fine saves in a short period, non of them troubling him.

Michael earned a free-kick deep in to the Newmachar half. Michael struck a fine placed shot, but the Newmachar keeper produced a fine save to turn the ball round the post.

Fraser replaced Michael and Reece moved up front with Stuart.

Deep in to the last few minutes Colts were cruelly punished after a tame shot that was closed down by a defender deflected high and looped over the head of the advancing Logan in goal.

Full time: Colts 0 Newmachar 2

Another lesson for Colts, thy must concentrate at all time and make sure they are first to every ball.

A better second half performance, but given the chance that were created, Colts should have got something from this match if the players only had a bit more composure.

Apologies if there are any missing points but it is difficult to try and memorise everything whilst refereeing.

Revised Fixture -Now HOME to Newmachar Colts

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Our next fixture is now a HOME fixture against Newmachar Colts.

Usual arrangements apply where boys must be there NO LATER than 10:00 for a 10:30 kick-off.

Colts 0 Culter Colts 3

Todays match was played in pleasant conditions, but slightly frosty under foot.

Craig was missing from his usual coaching role as he had other commitments sp Steve Argo stepped in top help out with the refereeing.

We went with a changed line-up for this match due to the low turn out at training with a lot of the boys having been at the home AFC match, and Martyn had been ill.

Starting team : Logan, Chris, Fraser, Reece, Jordan, Ross, Craig & Stuart. Alex, Matt & Martyn were subs.

The open exchanges saw Colts being pinned back into there own half and allowing Culter easy possession, but they were not causing any problems to the Colts back line. Colts were managing to exploit the high line Culter were playing, but Stuart passed up a few 1 on 1 chances to shoot early, but with no reward.

The game then settled with neither side making any clear chances, but both moving the ball around well.

Colts did create another 2 on 1 chance, but again Stuart decided to take the early shot, when an easy pass to Reece would have exposed the Culter keeper.

Matt replaced Stuart to try and gain some composure up front.

The change seemed to work with Colts creating a lot of good movement down the right through and Reece pushing forward, but the final pass did not reward the good play.

Chris and Fraser we dealing with the Culter attacks, but were being pulled forward by their good movement. Jordan, Ross and Craig were also doing well in midfield, with Craig making some good interceptions and good forward movement.

Colts got caught on the wrong end of a Culter counter attack with a good finish to open the scoring.

Logan had to deal with a few shots from distance, but nothing troubled him. He was growing in confidence and came to clear from ground to cancel a few Culter moves.

Half time : Colts 0 Culter 1

Craig was replaced by Alex, pushing Matt wide right, Fraser into the holding role and Reece up front.

From the kick-off Colts nearly got the equaliser after a good long ball, but the keeper did well to put round the post. The referee somehow awarded and goal kick (this was typical of the Culter referee, but no more word on that one!).

Again there was a periodof even play with neither team making anything of note, but it was obvious that Colts were getting slack and not keeping their shape.

From open play a Culter player got room to shot from distance. Logan left the ball thinking it was going wide, only for the ball to sneak in at the foot of his left hand post.

Colts kept pressing, but with little decisions going our way the boys fight and spirit seemed to go at this point. Martyn replaced the tired Jordan.

Colts resorted to shooting from distance with a few shots from Matt and Ross but none to trouble the keeper.

Whilst pushing to get back in to the game Ellon were caught again with a scrapy goal which killed the game as a match.

Full time Colts 0 Culter Colts 3

A reasonable start to the match, but Colts seemed to tire and loose concentration far to quickly and his needs to be resolved if we are to get anything from our matches. Some good performances, but a few of the boys need to pick themselves up and get back to the performances they are capable of.

No Michael this week as he was away during the school mid term break.

Next Match v Culter BC Colts (Home)

This week we have a home match against Culter Colts.

The match will be at the usual place and time, Deer Park kick off at 10:30. All boy to be there no later than 10:00.

Donside Juvenile 5 Colts 0

We travelled to Millbank to play Donside on a clear and pleasant morning, a rare occasion for February.

Given the previous good performance against Stoneywood we went with a near identicle starting team, with the only change being Logan replacing the abscent Michael in goal.

Strarting line up: Logan, Alex, Chris, Reece, Jordan, Matt, Fraser & Martyn.

The game kicked of with Colts going straight on attack with Fraser making a good run down the right but failed to deliver a cross into the box.

From the resulting kick-out Reece played the ball with a raised arm whilst trying to clear the ball up field. The Donside free kick was delivered from the half way line straight to the Colts back post, but fortunately there was no Donside player to capitalise. A clear warning of what Donside was capable of.

The game then seemed to settle down with both teams having chances, but the better of them falling to Donside.

Donside took the lead from a corner needlessly given away by Colts. A great cross to the back post was headed home well by the attacking Donside player.

Again the game seemed to settle with Fraser, Matt and Jordan getting chances to get forwad, but each failed to make anything of their crosses to the hard working, but isolated Martyn up front.

Logan had to deal with a few long range efforts, but these did not trouble the returning keeper.

Reece, Alex and Chris were dealing with most of what Donside had to offer, but eventually they found a way through and scored a second.

For the next 15 minutes neither team had any clear chances with both defences playing the better with Alex and Chris getting forward for Colts and Reece sitting deeper to cover them, something that seemed to work quite well.

Ross replaced the tiring Jordan on the left and made a good start with a good run forward, but his shot lacked conviction.

In the dying seconds of the half Donside were awarded a penalty for what seemed to be a good tackle by the Colts defender when he cleared the ball, but the Donside attacker went over in the challenge. The kick was put away confidently, leaving Logan no chance.

Half Time : Donside 3 Colts 0

Fraser was replaced by Craig at half time.

The second half was a lot closer in terms of chances and possession. Colts were making good progress down both wings with Craig doing chasing every ball, and Ross back to his usual self taking control of the ball and surging forward on every occasion. Colts were struggling to deliver a ball in to the strickers though.

Stuart replaced the struggling Martym who had run his socks off.

Matt was getting some good possession in the middle of the park, but perhaps made a few wrong decisions, but he will learn from this and be better for it.

Chris and Alex again were well on top in defence and seem to have settled back in to a good partnership in defence, with Reece playing wel in a deeper role than normal. This was allowing Chris to push forward to get after the Donside midfield and give them no time on the ball.

On the odd forray up beyond the Colts defence, Logan saved well at the feet of the attacking Donside stricker.

With 5 minutes left Reece was replaced by Fraser, pushing Craig back to the defensive role and Fraser returning to the wide role.

Donside got a fourth when Colts were slow to react from a Donside throw and a nothing ball into the box was not cleared and Donside scrambled the ball home.

Fraser was again getting forward but he could not make any telling balls in to Stuart. When Stuart did get the ball he was holding it up well, but Colts were slow to get forward to help.

In the dying minutes Colts were pushing everyone forward for every hrow and corner, of which they had several, but were to pay the penalty as Donside finished off the scoring on a swift counter.

Full Time : Donside 5 Colts 0

Overall a good performance from Colts, especially defensively, but as they failed to create any clear chances they paid the price. A good performance by Donside gave them the deserved victory, however the score did not reflect the true picture of the match.

Keep up this level of performance and we will get the result we deserve.

Match Cancelled : Home v Banchory Lions

Today's match was cancelled on Saturday evening due to the lying snow and forecast for either more snow or heavy rain for Satuday night into Sunday morning.

The early cancellation was for the benefit of the visitors with them having to leave early on Sunday to get to the match.

With hind sight this match could have gone ahead as the pitch was OK, but heavy going, with the snow gone and no rain. I'm sure that no-one would have expected this.

Lets hope for good weather for the coming weekend for our trip to Alford to play Donside Juvenile.

Directions and arrangements to follow.