The first game of the month is our League Cup Final tie against Partick Thistle.
League Cup Final
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And just days before the final this happened.
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We lose our star man and most creative influence in the team days before the biggest game of our season. Nightmare.
And that wasn't the only one...
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We are going to be without 6 first team players.
Here's how the two teams line up
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I set up with a 4-1-2-3 formation using young Mark O'Hara as a shield for the two centre backs.
And so it begins, the roar from the crowd is deafening as we enter the field.
A few of the young lads are looking really nervous but I know what they are capable of and hopefully they do too.
KICK OFF
1 min - Partick Thistle kick off and instantly hit the ball out wide to try and get at the young full backs but Barbour cuts the ball out and plays a lovely ball down the line to Kiltie who gets past his man and swings a ball in to the back post where Laudrup is waiting, he connects with the header... SAVE! The Partick Thistle goalkeeper catches the ball.
19 min - Partick Thistle are really keeping hold of the ball well and beginning to run us into the ground. Once again they get the ball out wide to have a run at the full back and this time they have success running past Barbour likes he doesn't exist and swinging a ball in to where Lawless the Partick Thistle winger is waiting... 1-0 He makes a perfect connection with the header and puts us a goal down. 1-0
22 min - We respond well after the goal winning the ball back with ease and retaining possession. This time Cairney steals the ball in the centre of the park and sprays a ball out to the explosive winger Greg Kiltie, instead of crossing this time he drives into the box where he goes past one man, past another... Tackled! But the ball falls to Lee Miller as he hits a first time shot... GOAL!!! We equalise almost instantly and we are right back in this. 1-1
37 min - Higginbotham is really giving O'Hara a tough time. This time he waltzes past him 25 yards out and is pulled back, free kick. Higginbotham is going to take it himself, he puts the ball down and lines himself up... He hits it over the wall and towards the top right corner... SAVE! Samson leaps like a Scottish salmon and palms the ball away. We are still in this game. 1-1
HALF TIME
51 min - It's been very even since the restart, both teams very cautious about taking any chances. Partick Thistle pick the ball up in defence and knock the ball out wide to winger Alho who comes inside and shapes to shoot, curling the ball towards the bottom corner. SAVE. Samson gets down low and holds the ball, what a keeper.
59 min - We have a corner kick. Laudrup swings the ball in towards the penalty spot, Connolly catches it on the volley and it's flying in! BLOCKED. Higginbotham is standing on the post and he clears! He's really been a thorn in our side.
77 min - The ball goes out wide to Lawless who comes inside on his right foot and heads for the 18 yard box before releasing a thunderbolt. Samson dives to his left and tips the ball onto the post and out for a corner, he's really keeping us in this game.
FULL TIME
The game finishes 1-1 and heads to extra time, will there be a winner or is this going to penalties?
EXTRA TIME
112 min - O'Hara picks the ball up in midfield for about the 50th time today. He drives in to the Partick Thistle half and nobody can get near him, he's still going! He hits a shot towards goal... JUST WIDE. A whisker away from giving us the lead. I hold my head in my hands. :O
PENALTIES
Nobody scored during extra time so we go to the lottery that is the penalty shoot out.
Who will be the hero today...
Partick Thistle will be taking the first penalty.
Bannigan steps up and smashes the ball in to the top corner, Samson had no chance. 1-0
Cairney does exactly the same. Buried it! 1-1
Up steps Higginbotham, there's no way this guy will miss the way he's played today... He scores. 2-1
Laudrup up next for us, he slots the ball in to the bottom corner just past the keepers outstretched leg. Close. 2-2
Booth makes his way to the spot. SAVE! Samson saves the penalty. Still 2-2
Ashcroft to put us into the lead... 2-3. Calmness personified, lovely penalty. 2-3
Osman, Goal. 3-3
Young Barbour steps up to take the next one. Right down the middle... GOAL! we take the lead again 3-4
Alho to take the next one, he's already scored today can he do it again. If he misses we have won! 4-4. He hits an unstoppable penalty into the top corner.
Our final penalty taker will be loanee Ben Davies who is only playing due to injuries. He's shaking like a ******** dog I can see it from here. Please. GOAL!!!!!! He's done it! WE WIN THE CUP.
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I'm so proud of the lads, we performed admirably. We were missing so many first team players but still managed to achieve our goals. This is what I got into management for, this is what it's all about!
