Results sheet
Result sheet from 2024/2025
30/07/24
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Robertson miss the chance to go top but end up being thankful for a draw with a goal from veteran striker Dave Smith.
Manager Steve Dean kept faith with the starting eleven from last weeks derby defeat to Perth Green but warned that there could be changes if the lads do not improve on their attitude, as last weeks display showed they have the football ability but they let their inexperience show in letting their opponents wind them up and intimidate them and allowed their heads to drop once they conceded the second.
A number of players who have been substitutes in recent weeks have to count themselves really unfortunate that they have not been given the chance to impress in particular, Brian Johnson, Dave Smith, Darryll Donnelly, Callum Wade, Craig Lowther and Declan Tilson. The manager Steve Dean hopes that they will not become disillusioned, as a full squad is going to be needed with such a backlog of fixtures with at least another 13 league games and a cup semi and possible final still to be played.
Robertson started well and got off to a great start when Wayne Henry forced home a shot which the Allstars could not prevent from entering the net. Robertsons again were to rue their missed chances in a wind assisted first half. Veteran striker Dave Smith had to be brought in to replace Aaron Todd who was struggling with a shin injury after 35 minutes into the game. Wayne Henry, Dan Purvis, Dan Smith, and Christie Elliott of the starting eleven were probably the most consistent players on show in what was a lack lustre performance.
Allstars at the start of the second half equalised as a result of a mix up in the defence. Brian Johnson replaced Jonny Matthews after 55 minutes in the hope that a fresh pair of legs could make an impression on the game. But then Allstars took the lead with what looked to be a foul on Ryan Docherty the keeper.
Robertsons tried their utmost to get back on level terms but whether it was the strong wind that was affecting them but they never reached the standard of football they were producing pre Christmas when they would impressively pass the ball about. Thankfully Robertsons did eventually get back on level terms when Ian Hudson produced one of his trademark long throws and Dave Smith got on the end of it to force the ball home.
So in the end Robertson who have become renowned as the young guns of the league had to rely on two of the older heads of the team Wayne Henry and Dave Smith who were the only two Robertson players on show who were not teenagers to get the two goals, their combined ages being over 70 which is more than what four of the other players for Robertsons would be.
Next week is the Semi-final against the Premier league giants Boldon Shack manager Steve Dean is certainly going to have some selection posers whether to keep faith with the players who have been starting of late or whether he should bring in some of the players who have patiently been waiting in the wings. Of the outfield players who have played in the last few games a lot of the players will be looking at their own performances and asking themselves whether they really have been performing to their best abilities and are actually worthy of being considered as automatic choices for a starting place.