Squirrels Finally Lose

The trip down to Leeds last Friday was a pretty uneventful one, certainly nothing that a bucket full of ice and cans of Budweiser couldn't put right! Sadly for my two fellow travelers they had no such escape as they were sharing the driving, and they had to suffer listening to my singa-a-long-a-baz CD's the whole journey. Nothing wrong with a bit of bad taste music to warm the cockles of your heart before a big day out, but I'm not sure that young Fergie would agree with me on that.

We arrived at Leeds University around 5.30, just around the same time as the majority of the other Killie players. They had opted to motorway it all the way whereas we had went via Scotch Corner and avoided the heavy traffic by coming in from the top end of the city where Boddington Hall is situated.

The sun was beating down and the grounds surrounding the university bar was littered with bodies lying around getting tanked up. The British Cup final was the only game on the Friday night with the Worldnet tournament matches being the next day, so there were only two teams of players not on the bevy, that being two times winners Erin Hibs and the Squirrels of course.

The final was due to kick off at 7.00pm but ten minutes prior to the game there were still no changing room facilities available and both teams had to get kitted up by the side of the park. The more cynical among you may surmise that if it hadn't been two Scottish teams playing that things would have been more organized, but the bloke in charge claimed that there had been a cock up by the University. He promised that there would be something set up before the end of the game. Not a great start to the most important game of the season.

Killie were missing a few players due to other commitments and manager John Kirkland had to shuffle the pack for the starting line-up. Gordon Brown (no, not that Gordon Brown) started in goals with Kirkland and Yeates in front of him as the central defensive pairing. Dick was moved out from his normal centre half position to right back and McFadzean switched sides to left back to cover for the absent Burgess. On the left wing was Reid and on the right Ferguson with Kiltie and Cowan pulling the strings in the middle. The pair up front charged with scoring goals were McKay and Scott and that left Hannah and Harper as the teams only two substitutes. Hibs started with a full compliment, all of whom looked young and fit, so Killie were at a disadvantage straight away.

Five minutes into the game Hibs had their first, of many, chances when their number 10 picked up the ball on a run into the box but McFadzean slid in and managed to clear. Two minutes after that saw Killie have their first chance of the game. Cowan picked up the ball wide right and sent a lovely cross to the back post but although Reid connected his shot was straight at the Hibs goalie. The Squirrels were acquitting themselves well but they couldn't stop Hibs taking the lead in the tenth minute. Hibs won possession at the half way line and fed the ball through to the number 10 who was wide on the left. He picked up the ball in space and ran in unchallenged to slide the ball past Brown. Advantage to the Edinburgh side.

The heads went down a wee bit at this point and Hibs started piling on the pressure but the back four were managing to soak it up. In the 20th minute Hibs sent a long ball over the top to their onrushing striker who was clean through on goal (note to referee - that's offside) but Brown was equal to the challenge and the chance was lost. The same player had a similar chance a minute later but that time he pulled it wide, so wide it was nearly a throw in. The Squirrels, buoyed by their resolute defending, countered straight away. Cowan picked up the ball in his own half and found Ferguson wide right. Ferguson hugged the line all the way up the park and cut back and crossed into the box. Kirkland arrived early and met the ball with his head, but the looping header ended up in the Hibs keepers hands, so no change in the score.

Hibs still dominated the play, having a few shots on target in the process, and it wasn't until the 32nd minute that Killie produced their next effort. Ferguson, who had been causing Hibs problems down the right flank, spotted McKay in the centre and sent in a great cross in. McKay controlled well and slotted the ball through to Scott, but he failed to hit the target. It was of no consequence because the linesman was flagging for offside anyway. McKay was in the thick of things 3 minutes later again. He beat two defenders on his way through to goal but crashed it off a third and the ball went out for a corner.

The resultant set piece was arguably Killie's best move of the game. The ball was whipped in high to the back post and was met in the air by a leaping Ferguson. His bullet header had goal written all over it as it flashed towards the top corner, only to drop slightly at the last second and bounce off the Hibs defender covering the post. It was clear at this juncture that it wasn't going to be the Squirrels day, but much credit to them, they never gave up the ghost at any stage and deficit remained the same going into half time.

Manager Kirkland's hands were tied a bit because he had so few options on the bench. Scott made way for Dave Hannah to give a bit more presence up front but the rest of the side remained unchanged as they took the field for the second half. Despite the lateness of the evening the sun was no less cruel and both teams looked heavy legged and the second half was played at a much more serene pace. Both teams asked for and gave no quarter but despite being a hard fought encounter, the referee had an easy game and did not have to take any names.

Only five minutes into the second half Hibs scored a freak goal that knocked the stuffing out of the Squirrels. Brown tried to punch a well-taken Hibs corner but the ball only got as far as McFadzean's head and bounced off it and into the net. It would be unfair to blame either player, it was just one of those things, but it set the tone for the rest of the half. From my garbled tape-recorded musings (they should not have a bar so close to the pitch) it appears to have been pretty much one way traffic from there on in. If it hadn't been for some fantastic saves by Brown, especially one right at the death, the score line could have been much higher. Harper came on near the end and Scott re-entered the fray but there was simply no way back for the Squirrels.

The Killie team had put on a good show and were applauded off the park, even by some yahoos, but their season's exertions had ended in vain. Still, they should be proud of what they have achieved, especially beating Millwall away from home in the semi-final. Millwall won the IFA league totally undefeated, so that was some scalp for the boys from Kilmarnock and they are all looking forward to next season's competition, and a place in the Worldnet tournament. Ian Cowan won the Man of the Match awarded by the organisers and from a personal point of view Brown, Yeates and Ferguson were stand outs on the day and that's no discredit to the rest of the team whose efforts are to be commended.

Some of the lads were staying overnight but the majority of us hit the bar for a few hours (those not nominated as drivers of course) and then started the long journey back home. We stopped off in what looked like a wee village for the obligatory trip to the kebab shop and the pub for a few beers for the journey back (Kris needed something to drown out the 'music') and a friendly barmaid obliged us with a dozen bottles of Stella, just the ticket for the perfect end to the day and a few tunes on the way home...roll on next year!

Season Ticket Update

We've finally got the leaflet drop organised and there should be one coming through your letterbox next week. After a quiet period sales are on the up again and the leaflet drop should act as a big boost. We spoke to the club on Monday and they will be doing their best to promote the offer all the way until the first home game of the season on August 16th. There's plenty of time to join the record number of Killie season ticket holders but don't leave it too late or you'll miss the best seats. If you're looking to get paired up call us on 0774 771 8754.

Goodbye Mr. Heath

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank outgoing Chief Executive David Heath for his sterling work over the last couple of seasons. As a Killie fan David tried that little bit harder to communicate with the fans and having seen the duties he covered we know Davie Mackinnon has a hard act to follow. We worked closely with David during our "125 campaign" for cheaper season tickets and there's no doubt that without his support the groundbreaking offer may never have seen the light of day. There were several personnel changes throughout his two year stint but David ensured there was a continuity regardless of the changes all around. All the best mate and we still hope to see you at Rugby Park every few weeks…unless you take that Celtic job of course! One last thing, now that you're leaving, are we allowed to tell the Dundee story?

Read the B&H column in the Kilmarnock Standard every week