Tay Valley Shield Division One sem-final:-

AHSFP 1 v Dundee Shamrock 4 Hercules Den, Arbroath Saturday 12th September 2008

The FPs started this game in a positive fashion, and proceeded to play their best football of the season to date. The FP passing had Shamrock on their heels, but the FPs failed to convert their dominance into goals. They eventually took the lead when D.Smith corner was headed home by GALL to make it 1-0 to the FPs.The FPs build up play was good, but they lacked an end product. With the FPs wingers McLaren and Sharp on song, it seemed the FPs would add to their goals but some woeful finishing from Lees, Gall, Sharp and Mclaren gave Shamrock a lifeline.The Shamrock keeper was having an inspired game and the as the half was about to end , a long ball over the defence allowed the Shamrock forward to slip his shot through to level the scores at 1-1.

half-time AHSFP 1 - Dundee Shamrock 1

The FPs substituted Munro with Humphreys at half-time, but the FPs had lost their momentum and Shamrock came back strongly in the second half. The visitors took the lead after some fine play down their left wing resulted in a low shot , to make it 2-1 to the Dundee team. The FPs struggled to get their passing game going and lost their shape, and as their confidence drained away, Shamrock pulled 3-1 ahead after the FPs struggled to clear their lines .A D.Smith shot from inside his own half from the restart, gave the FPs some impetus, but it was short lived. Riddle limped off to be replaced by Ferrier, and the FPs tried to fight back, but it wasn't the FPs day as their composure in front of goal deserted them. The referee then showed some bizarre decision making by awarding two successive corner kicks to the FPs, but whistling for infringements inside the Shamrock penalty area, and awarding Shamrock two successive free kicks, on one occasion without the corner kick being taken ! This didn't improve the FPs mood, and wiht time running out, Parsley suffered a head knock as he was bundled off the ball by the Shamrock forward, and Shamrock sealed the game with their forward rounding Saunderson to make it 4-1.Herron was introduced but had little time to make any impact on the game.

full time AHSFP 1 v Dundee Shamrock 4

This was a bitter pill for the FPs to swallow, and whilst the scoreline is a harsh reflection on the standard of football the FPs played and chances created in the first half, Shamrock weathered the storm and converted the majority of their opportunities in front of goal, to clinch their place in the final.

Team: P.Saunderson, I.Riddle, S.Parsley, G.Smith, G.Munro,G.McLaren, N.Sharp, K.Lyons, D.Smith, M.Gall, S.Lees

subs : J,Humphrys, P.Herron,, K.Ferrier

The FPs Alliance team were beaten 3-1 at Michelin Park, Dundee by Michelin Athletic 'A'. The FPs only played in patches and it was another own goal which gave the FPs a lift, but injuries to T.Smith and S.Cargill capped a bad day for the club. The FPs are requiring additional players for the second team as the squad has had a succession of injuries this season. Training is every Tuesday and Thursday, 6.30 pm at Hercules Den.

Fixtures for Saturday 20th September 2008 :-

Midlands Division One :-

AHSFP v Bank Street Athletic 2pm KO Hercules Den

Alliance League

AHSFP 'A' v Broughty United 'A' 2pm KO at Hercules Den

All players meet at 12.30pm sharp tomorrow at Hercules Den .