Midlands Division One:-

AHSFP 3 v Logie Harp 1 Hercules Den, Arbroath Saturday 5th September 2008

The FPs welcomed back from injury Richie Fenwick, who was badly injured in a pre-seson friendly. Kris Ferrier was on the bench, but has still a bit to go in terms of fitness. The FPs played into a strong, cold wind and despite reaching the Tay Valley shield semi-final, had only amassed one point from their previous two league games. The FPs started off positively and were soon passing the ball with ease, and looking to catch Logie out down the flanks. Sharp was living up to his name, and his pace along with Herron's, combined with Galls scoring streak, seemed to be the best chance of a goal for the homesters. With the two Smiths in midfield controlling the game, and the defence looking solid, the FPs were in control. After a decent run from Mclaren, the ball broke to SHARP inside the Logie penalty area, whose shot squirmed out the hands of the Logie keeper and into the net, to put the FPs 1-0 ahead. The FPs had a succession of corners but were unable to convert their posession into goals, and Logie twice went close on the counter attack, with one effort wide of the goal and the other one saved by the alertness of FPs custodian Saunderson.

half-time AHSFP 1 - Logie Harp 0

The FPs started the second half slowly, despite playing with the wind, as Logie went on the offensive. The FPs eventaully got back into their stride, but Logie capitalised when their winger carved his way through the FPs right hand side , and finished with aplomb to level the scores at 1-1. Both teams were having a real go and the referee had a period of getting some basic decisions wrong, which added some spice to the game. The FPs then swapped Mclaren for Lyons, as the home team looked the most likely to score. The FPs were on the ascendancy but couldn't finish off some neat build up play, and the injured Munro was then replaced by Tough. The FPs made the brakthrough when Tough played in Sharp, who had made a diagonal run, and he beat the defender and cut the ball back for GALL, who jinked his way past the Logie keeper but hit the post with his shot, but converted the rebound to make it 2-1. Logie were then reduced to ten men after protestng about an FPs tackle that had went unpunished. The FPs kept their discipline but contrived to miss two "easy" chances, with Gall and Herron both volleying the ball wide from close range. Logie were concentrating solely on the referee and the FPs increased their lead after a Smith corner wasn't cleared by Logie, and the ball fell to GALL to make it 3-1. Logie lost another player for dissent as they went down to nine men. Parsley was then the victim of a stamping, and was replaced by S.Cargill in defence,as the FPs saw out the game on top.

full time AHSFP 3 v Logie Harp 1

This was easily the FPs best performance of the season to date, with the whole team playing with conviction and supporting each other, against a notoriously difficult opponent. The FPs showed good discipline and didn't react to any provocation throughout the game. The FPs are grateful to the match ball sponsor Arthur Cargil.

Team: P.Saunderson, I.Riddle, S.Parsley, R.Fenwick, G.Munro,G.McLaren, N.Sharp, G.Smith, D.Smith, M.Gall, P.Herron.

subs : K.Lyons, J.Tough, S.Cargill, K.Ferrier

MOM - Richie Fenwick

The FPs Alliance team were beaten 4-2 at Carlogie Park, by Carnoustie YM 'B', in the Alliance league. The FPs found themselves 3-0 down after twenty minutes, with all three efforts unstoppable. They showed great spirit though and and despite two own goals from Carnoustie, were unable to snatch a point, conceding a late goal.