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- 09-10 Pre Season Recap -
Killie 1 Burnley 0
(Aug 6th, Rugby Park, 19:30pm KO)
THE last time these clubs met, in 1960, Burnley had just been
crowned champions of England, while Kilmarnock had been runners-
up to Hearts in the league and Rangers in the Scottish Cup. That
game was at the Polo Grounds in New York and Kilmarnock won 2-0.
 Forty-nine
years on, at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock were again too strong for
this generation of Burnley players, who are preparing for life
back in England's top flight. Owen Coyle's newly-promoted side
made the early running in this friendly, which quickly developed
into a fast, open game; which, with 11 Scots in the starting 22
(six-five to the home side), had sufficient 'bite' to make
things interesting.
Goalkeeper Cameron Bell impressed with his handling as the
Lancashire outfit pressed, but it was actually the home side who
created the first real chance in 27 minutes. Jamie Hamill
blasted in an effort from fully 30 yards, but Burnley defender
Clarke Carlisle diverted the shot for a corner.
 Kilmarnock
were in the ascendancy at this point and on the half hour a
superb crossfield ball from Gavin Skelton gave Danny Invincibile
a sniff of a chance, but his control let him down.
The home side again came close in 34 minutes when Craig Bryson
was upended by Stephen Jordan on the edge of the Burnley box.
From the set piece skipper Garry Hay's 25-yarder seemed
net-bound, but Brian Jensen produced a brilliant flying save.
Then, as Burley countered, Bell made a superb leap to pluck a
dangerous Wade Elliott free kick off the head of Chris McCann at
the back post.
The visitors threatened again in 49 minutes. Jensen's clearance
from hand was met first bounce by Steven Fletcher, out-jumping
Frazer Wright on the edge of the box. Bell was already coming
off his line and in no man's land, but was relieved to see
Fletcher's header drift wide of the empty net.
Skelton, impressive in midfield for Kilmarnock, fired a
25-yarder inches over, although Jensen appeared to have the shot
covered. The visiting keeper was less lucky just before the
hour, when a breakdown in communications left him helpless as
Carlisle headed a long punt forward by sub Ryan O'Leary back
passed him and into the net.
Substitutions spoiled the final quarter as Burnley could not
break down a resolute home defence
Kilmarnock: Bell; Hay (Clancy 70), Wright, Ford (O'Leary 46),
Bryson (Pascali 78), Invincibile (Flannigan 46), Skelton, Old,
Sammon, Hamill, Burchill (Owens 58). Subs not used: Robinson,
Fowler, Kelly.
Attendance: 3,331Sandy Ferguson's Match Pic's are -
HERE
Swansea 4 Killie 1
(Aug 1st , Swansea, 3pm KO)
(Pic supplied by
Hugh Cuthill)
 Swansea
City winger Mark Gower scored a 30 minute hat-trick
 as the Swans
eased to a pre-season friendly win over Kilmarnock at the Liberty
Stadium. Gower, who scored his first Swans goal last week in a 2-0
win over Palamos, fired in a 34th minute penalty after Nathan Dyer
was brought down. He completed his treble after the break before
Kilmarnock striker Conor Sammon headed in a 74th minute consolation.
Young striker Chad Bond completed the scoring with an 81st minute
header.
 JJ
on the Swans Post Match...
"It
was an excellent workout for the boys and I'm not too
disheartened by the result. We had a nightmare journey on
Friday. We left Kilmarnock at 9am expecting to get to
Cardiff about 3pm. Dave Jones had arranged for us to use
their facilities and he was waiting for us. We got caught in
traffic and didn't arrive until 7pm but Dave, who I've known
for years, waited to let us in and we had an hour and a
half's training. We didn't get to the hotel until after 9pm
and it definitely took its toll on the boys. Swansea are a
quality team and are a week ahead of us in their
preparations so I can't be critical. I'd like to thank the
fans who made the journey down - they were magnificent. It's
always nice for them to get a weekend away like this"
Killie 2 Partick
Thistle 3
(July 29th, Rugby Park, 19:45pm KO)
  On
target Hammil (above) & Skelton as Killie blow a 2 goal lead, inside
the last 5 mins. Hammy missed a penalty also!
Crowd 1,832 with 240 Jags in
attendance.
Raith Rovers 1 Killie 1
(July 28th, Starks Park, 19:45pm KO)
Raith were
playing marginally the better football, but it was Kilmarnock who
nudged in front in the 25th minute.
Rait h
failed to clear their lines properly at a corner and the ball fell
kindly to Danny Invincible (above out of picture) who
struck a well-controlled right-foot shot past the despairing left
hand of Garry O’Connor and into the back of the Raith net.
The same Killie player almost increased his side’s lead two minutes
later when he cut in from his left wing and hit a cross-cum-shot
past O’Connor, but Dougie Hill raced back to clear.
Just before the break, Williamson should have done better after good
interplay between Craig Wilson and skipper Iain Davidson ended with
the latter hitting a telling cross into the box, but the striker
could only head tamely into the hands of Killie keeper Cameron Bell.
As the second half began, the Raith fans were becoming increasingly
restless as their side failed to string passes together and were
struggling for cohesion. And it was that man Murray again who came
to the home side’s rescue when he made another outstanding block to
deny Fernandez.
However, Brown was helpless three minutes later when Invincible cut
in from his right wing and shot towards goal, but luckily for Raith
he hit the side netting.
The home fans finally had something to shout about in the 64th
minute when Wilson fashioned a cross into the Killie box which
picked out skipper Iain Davidson, but his diving header flew
straight into the arms of Bell.
As the match reached its latter stages, both sides made a number of
substitutes and it was one of them, Lee Bryce, who levelled for
Raith with two minutes to go. He was sent through on goal by Tom
Graham and scored with an exquisite lob over Bell.
Raith boss John McGlynn said, “It was a good exercise for us with
some outstanding performances from Dougie Hill and Grant Murray.
“Murray was selected after Mark Campbell suffered a freak injury
when a garden slab fell on his foot on Monday night.”
Kilmarnock signing target Mark Burchill was at the game, but unable
to play due to a hold-up in paperwork.
Attendance—962
Kilmarnock—Bell, Hay, Fowler, Wright, Ford, Taovil, Invincible,
Skelton, Old (Flanagan 70), Fernandez (Pascali 70), Hamill (Owens
32).
Sandy's Match Pic's are HERE
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