[Izulde]

Youth Candidates 2 U20s 0
A pretty dull game overall, though Tom Woods caught my eye with both scores, one on a PK. The actual senior team members stunk up the game, most notably Lucas Dinis as he tries to come back from injury.

Signings
MLR/AMLR Gordon Shearer (16) - 11 Work Rate, 10 Acceleration - Casual
DL/WBL Willie Forbes (16) - 13 Flair, 15 Teamwork and Work Rate, 12 Stamina - Ambitious
DC James Fraser (16) - 10 Heading, 15 Aggression, 11 Decisions, 14 Determination, 11 Jumping Reach
DC/DM/MC Murray Grant (16) - 15 Aggression, 10 Determination, 12 Flair, 18 Teamwork!, 11 Work Rate and Acceleration
AMCR/MC Ben McNiff (16) - 10 Corners, 13 Free Kicks and Aggression, 10 Acceleration - Spirited and Selfish
AMC/ST Matt Bell (16) - 10 First Touch, 14 Aggression, 17 Determination!, 11 Flair - 3.5* Potential
GK Ken McBrearty (16) - 12 Reflexes, 11 Agility
ST Tom Woods (16) - 13 Finishing, 14 Determination, 11 Off the Ball, 14 Teamwork, 13 Work Rate

vs Rhu Amateurs (13th)
G: Lucas Birnstingl
D: Paul Murphy/Murray Soutar/Connor Lyall/Kyle Rae
DM: Luidgi Hoareau
M: Sean Fleming/Barna Tott/Callum Hill
AMC: Lewis Kinnaird
ST: Jack Currie

One of my old favorite formations, the 4-1-3-1-1 DM. Some of our youth pulls will see action once they sign their contracts, but today is not that day.

62 - We've missed easy shots, and literally just stand there like slaw-jacked yokel dumbasses on this corner kick 0-1

75 - Murphy throws in to Tott for a gorgeous ground screamer down the pitch to Currie. He cuts in and delivers his 30th goal of the season. 1-1

90 - Hill draws a PK in the box, and Lyall converts past the sleepy-eyed keeper! 2-1

PotM Jack Currie and Barna Tott both post 8.2s to carry us in this ugly win.

@ Mingalvie Wanderers (5th)
G: Lucas Birnstingl
D: Paul Murphy/Murray Soutar/James Fraser/Blair Yule
DM: Murray Grant
M: Connor Lyall/Luidgi Hoareau/Callum Hill
AMC: Matt Bell
ST: Tom Woods

Many of our youth pulls are better suited to the roles in our formation than the old guard, so we're going to stick 4 of them in the lineup and see how they hold up.

11 - Textbook can of corn stop by Birnstingl and his ensuing rocket downfield evades a defender, falling to Hill with only the keeper to beat. Not liking his chances, he dribbles right out to the wing of the box, then centers. Two defenders box out Woods, but Lyall, who I think is making his ML debut, grounds it over right side, where Bell, widely considered the class of the new group, calmly drills in the debut goal!!! 1-0

16 - Grant taps back to Soutar deep in our half, the low-arcing rainbow connecting with Lyall outside the left half of the box. He taps it to center, and Woods uses his peerless finishing for his own debut score! 2-0

18 - Immediate answer as Fraser misplays the challenge 2-1

50 - Grant draws the red on a nasty two footed tackle. Shearer jogs on to replace yellow Hill, Hoareau drops to DM, and Tott trots on as MC. Soutar has trash this game, so he sits on the bench.

We hold on despite being down a man, carried by Connor Lyall's PoTM 9.0 and a terrific 7.6 debut from Matt Bell

8 games left and we're a ridiculous 20 points up on 4th place, 12 points ahead of 2nd. Why do I mention 4th place? Because the Top 3 teams promote, and so we're a hairsbreadth away from locking up promotion. Derek Gemmell and Sean Fleming earn their pink slips because they've been completely replaced by our stronger than expected youth crop.

We've also inked a DR/MR signing for the summer already who will take over at MR based on our extensive scouting of him.