News Detail » SAFA Select v SAFL Select Match Report
SAFA Select v SAFL Select
Challenge Match
Sunday 1st December 2013
SAFA Select 5 SAFL Select 1
GOALS
SAFL - Ryan Halpin 31st minute
SAFA - David McKay 43rd, 61st & 63rd minute
SAFA - Ross Wilson 75th minute
SAFA - Jamie Broadfoot 83rd minute
The visitors dominated the majority of the first half and deserved to go ahead in the 31st minute.
Looking decidedly shaky the Scottish defence gave away a free kick in a favourable position just outside the 18-yard area and Alistair McCabe stepped forward with a shot that beat the defensive wall and left McGilvery scrambling to push to safety, unfortunately it fell into the path of Ryan Halpin, who made no mistake with a low drive in at the back post.
The SAFL continued in positive fashion and McGilvery was happy to see a ball skim his cross-bar. This signalled some fine tuning by the Scottish Select manager as he introduced players from the bench.
Eventually the home side got a grip of the situation but they required some help from the visitors. Losing the ball around the half-way line the SAFL still had an opportunity to recover but a stray pass was collected by David McKay who broke clear before finishing in style.
This was a timely goal for the home side coming only minutes from the interval; Indeed a dispirited SAFL nearly lost another goal a minute later when McKay got in with a header but keeper Scott Urquart pulled off a wonder safe.
Into the second half more personnel changes from both managers as the purpose of the game was to give the players a show case to excel and for a while both sets of players had moments of joy but just after the hour mark David McKay converted a quick double and claim a deserved hat-trick thanks to good work from his team mate Michael Mullen.
This settled the game, the contest was over with a fourth goal when Ross Wilson cracked home a rebound off the SAFL keeper and then with ten minutes remaining the predatory Jamie Broadfoot made it five with a trade mark goal from inside the 6-yard area.
Spirited to the end, the visitors nearly had the last word when McCabe saw and attempt go over Longmuirs cross-bar. The SAFL manager Sandy Buchan was upbeat after the game, naturally disappointed after his team’s bright start but happy with his players display and attitude before, during and after the game.
Bruce McNaught, the Scottish Manager was also happy that he had another opportunity to have good look over other candidates for his squad prior to important games coming up in the New Year and that his team came through a sticky period to win the game.
SAFA Select
1 Andrew McGilvary
2 Lance Pearce
3 Pater Gilhouley
4 Mark McCormack
5 Gary Gaitens
6 David Donaldson
7 Kevin Foringham
8 Ewan McRae
9 Michael Mullen
10 Alan Diack
11 Jordyn Sheeran
12 Ross Cambell
14 Jamie Bradley
15 Ross Wilson
16 Gary Dickson
17 David McKay
18 Jamie Braodfoot
19 Jordan Longmuir
SAFL Select
1 Scott Urquart
2 Thomas Wilson
3 Alistair McCabe
4 John Paul Seagrave
5 Kevin Williams
6 Mylot McAlley
7 Lewis Cameron
8 Kyle Young
9 Ryan Halpin
10 Marc McCallum
11 Suni Chatterjee
14 Scott Gold
16 Donald Campbell
17 Andrew Forrest
19 Scott O'Donnell
20 Christopher Connelly
Comments from the SAFL Officials and team squads.
SAFL select manager Sandy Buchan was disappointed with the final outcome but could look back with pride at a superb first half display. He still has 5 or 6 to add to today's squad and is looking forward to our next match.
SAFA boss Bruce McNaught was very complimentary in his appraisal of the SAFL select and reckoned that first half was the toughest his squad have encountered so far this season. He and his assistant Gary Hamilton will now step up their efforts with a fixture a month before setting off to the European Regions cup in June. We wish the SAFA select the best of luck for the rest of this season.
The pitch at Colville Park was in excellent condition as was the after match hospitality. The referee and his assistants were provided by the SFA and all 3 had excellent games. We'd like to thank all concerned for making the SAFL squad, officials and traveling support feel so welcome. We look forward to the next encounter.
Official Photos here by John Rodgers (Scottish Amateur FA Publicist)
