Very enjoyable day out in a relaxed location. Great for those with young children, as you could wander about anywhere and the grassy bank on the far side from the stand was nicely angled to provide an excellent view.
First half we were very sound defensively with Bud in goal and Ashcroft and O'Reilly at centre back mopping up everything. Reading looks a good acquisition at left back. You could see that he was an experienced player who knew what to do. Trialist right back (Cammy Logan?) also impressed and took his goal very well with a shot into the roof of the net when anything lower might have been saved or blocked. Lawless looked up for it. McKay eased himself back in to playing football with some nice touches. He was not particularly penetrating but did combine neatly with Falconer to set him up for the first goal. Main disappointments in the first half were Diack, who kept falling over and never got into the game, and Mackenzie. I was willing Zander to do well in centre midfield, but he kept losing possession.
Second half was a different game entirely with mainly a different team. The young goalkeeper Cameron has a bit to do yet to become a confidence inspiring back up for Bud, and sadly was at fault for the Glenafton goal, allowing himself to be dispossessed by their striker, who trundled the ball into the net. McBeth tried to co-ordinate the defence, but there were some shaky moments with his young colleagues. Further up the park we were much sharper in midfield and attack, Stanway was very prominent in winning possession and driving the team forward, and seemed to be embracing a leadership role. Fitzpatrick had one electrifying burst where he ate up ground on a defender, but was a bit quiet apart from that. Chalmers was excellent and the go to player through whom most effective attacks were directed. To me the main and perhaps surprising encouragement was young Thomas Horn at centre forward. Unlike Diack, he gave the defence no peace and was up and at them the whole time. Took his goal brilliantly, powering past the goalkeeper and firing home confidently from a challenging angle. Unlucky not to score more. It would be great to see him really kick on this season.
Not the most robust of games, just an understandably gentle easing in, but several encouraging signs to keep us all optimistic!