Killie 10-11 Pre-Season

Killie 0 Valladolid 0

Pre-Season Friendly, Aug 5th 2010

A DRAW - no football, pretty much sums up this disappointing pre-season offering at Rugby Park. The Spaniards, relegated from La Liga at the end of last season, dominated possession with their passing game.

Killie stuck to their task of disrupting Real's domination without looking likely to trouble Paraguay's World Cup captain Justo Villar in the visitors' goal.

New signings Ben Gordon, on-loan from Chelsea, impressed on the left side of the home rearguard, linking well with another trialist, James Dayton, playing ahead of him. New signing David Da Silva also caught the eye, but the most-impressive home performer was trialist Momo Sissoko.

For all their possession Real had just two chances while Da Silva gave Villar his solitary piece of action with a weak free kick. just before the break.

Kilmarnock: Bell; Clancy/Kelly (71), Trialist (Ben Gordon), Wright/Fowler (57), Trialist (Momo Sissoko), Pascali, Hamill, Da Silva/Sammon (72), Bryson/Owens (79), Trialist (James Dayton)/Hay (71), Invincibile/Trialist (Kioyo) (57). Sub not used: Trialist (Letheren).
Referee: Euan Norris

Attendance: 3,100

Luton Town 1 Killie 0

Pre-Season Friendly, July 30th 2010

Luton Road Trip By Baz - Here

Torrington 0 Killie 16

Pre-Season Friendly, July 24th 2010

FOUR players hit hat-tricks as Kilmarnock ran riot against hapless local side Torrington last night in the final game of their pre-season trip to Devon.

Garry Hay sparked the rout for Mixu Paatelainen's side after five minutes when he fired home a superb free-kick.

Graeme Owens doubled Killie's lead two minutes later after a superb run from Mehdi Taouil.

Trialist Robin Shroot then lobbed home the third from 25 yards in the 13th minute and the same player struck again after playing a one-two with Connor Sammon.

Shroot then completed a quickfire hat-trick just after the half-hour mark before Owens also secured his treble after a fine pass from James Fowler six minutes before the break.

The scoring didn't stop after the interval as a rapid hat-trick from Sammon took Killie into double figures before Liam Kelly hit the 11th of the night with a 25-yard strike.

Portuguese trialist David Silva, who came on as a half-time sub, then hit a treble of his own, while Danny McKay hit a penalty. The scoring was completed by an own goal two minutes from the end.
 

Blackpool 2 Killie 2

(Killie lose 4-5 on Pens)

Joma SW Challenge Cup, July 22nd 2010

KILMARNOCK bowed out of the Joma Tournament in Devon last night after losing on penalties to Premier League new boys Blackpool.

The Scots produced a spirited display to come from behind twice in the 90 minutes but came up short in the shoot-out when Tim Clancy was the only one to miss.

Kilmarnock, who have been down in England's south-west since Sunday, started with four trialists in their side in the shape of French defender Mahamadou Sissoko and attacking trio David Silva, James Dayton and Francis Kioyo.

Blackpool sent out a strong side which included Scots duo Charlie Adam and Stephen Crainey, while former Rangers striker Francis Jeffers once again turned out as a trialist for Ian Holloway's side.

The Ayrshire side started well and Dayton saw an effort deflected behind for a corner.

At the other end, Cammy Bell had to produce a superb reflex save to keep out Gary Taylor-Fletcher's downward header.

Kilmarnock were holding their own in the opening exchanges but fell behind after 23 minutes when Jason Euell latched on to a fine through ball from Jeffers and slotted past Bell.

The Scots almost responded instantly but Jamie Hamill's dangerous delivery from the right just failed to find a taker.

Craig Bryson then saw a 20-yard strike saved by Blackpool keeper Matt Gilks before Jeffers went close with a similar effort for the English side.

Mixu Paatelainen's men finished the first half in the ascendancy with James Fowler screwing an effort wide after a surging run into the box.

Blackpool took Adam off at the interval and replaced him with former Hearts youngster Stephen Husband. But it was Kilmarnock who drew level within ten minutes of the restart when Hamill calmly rolled in a penalty after Clancy was upended by substitute Brett Ormerod.

Blackpool restored their lead after 75 minutes when sub Lewis Almond drilled in a low angled strike after Frazer Wright was caught in possession. But Bryson levelled again for the SPL side with a superb solo effort ten minutes from time.

As a result of their Joma Tournament elimination, Kilmarnock are now likely to organise a friendly against local side Ilfracombe for tomorrow afternoon.

Blackpool: Gilks, Eardley, Crainey, Malaury, Adam, Jeffers, Evatt, Baptiste, Taylor-Fletcher, Euell, Vaughan. Subs: Ormerod, Southern, Edwards, Coin, Almond, Husband.

Kilmarnock: Bell, Hamill, Trialist, Wright, Clancy, Fowler. Bryson, Invincibile, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist. Subs: Trialist, Kelly, Hay, Old, Trialist, Taouil, Pascali.

Devon Road Trip By Baz - Here

Bideford 1 Killie 7

Joma SW Challenge Cup, July 19th 2010

Bideford were out-classed and out-run as Kilmarnock demolished them in the opening game of the Joma South West Challenge Cup.

Bideford come into the Joma South West Challenge Cup off the back of a good 5-0 win over the Royal Marines last weekend, so their confidence must have been pretty high. Further new trialist’s were in the squad tonight in the form of Simon Ingram and Shane Kingstone on the bench. Shaun Downing, Matthew Bye and Jamie Mudge were once again in the starting lineup.

And tonight we can confirm that Ian Down has left the club, stepping down to to play at his more loacal Liverton. But,he is still signed on as cover, so hopefully we will see him once more at the Sports Ground so that we can give him the applauded departure he deserves. Matt Andrew has taken over the captains armband, as he did on many occasions last season.

Kilmarnock, who narrowly escaped relegation from the Scottish Premier League are throwing everything they have got into the Joma tournaments, with a strict training regime whilst in the Westcountry, training twice a day on non-matchdays and once on a matchdays. Kilmarnock’s squad of 17 were comprised of 12 regular first team players and a number of trialists, keen to impress new manager Mixu Paatelainen, who replaced Jimmy Calderwoord last month.

The match was always going to go one way, but perhaps a little too much. From the kick-off it was a slaughtering, with Kilmarnock dominating every inch of the field. It took 16 minutes for them to open the scoring, after some suspect defending in the Bideford box, James Dayton had free reign from 9 yards to pummel home.

As Bideford struggled Kilmarnock were awarded a penalty after Chris Brown abruptly stopped an attack on the Bideford area, but Graeme Owens sent his spot kick way over.

For a brief second in the 32nd minute the game looked like it could turn Bideford’s way as Matt Andrew was brought down in the Killies area. Jamie Mudge stepping up to convert as Kyle Letheren was sent the wrong way allowing Bideford to equalise.

The score only stayed that way for 2 minutes when Mehdi Taouil’s corner was headed onto Manuel Pascali who bulleted past Draper. And a further 2 minutes on Kilmarnock were 3-1 up after James Dayton went on an impressive solo run, pulling the ball back between defenders before neatly slotting past Draper. Then on 43 minutes Killie were 4-1 up when Liam Kelly pounced from close range.

Half time and not much to report regarding how Bideford look as a team because they weren’t given the chance, but I must say Shaun Downing looked quick and effective at the back despite his Golliath task.

Mehdi Taouil made it 5 on 58 minutes when his edge of the area curling shot hit the back of the net despite Draper getting his fingertips to the ball. Then after some great goals, James Dayton scored the goal of the evening when his 35 yard lob over Draper was executed perfectly (81 mins).

Bideford searched for a consolation goal, going close on a couple of occasions, but Kilmarnock wouldn’t break and themselves scored, Mehdi Taouil scoring his second a minute before the end.

Full time and a great performance from Kilmarnock. The first time a Scottish club had ever played at the Sports Ground was a memorable one.

Kilmarnock: Kyle Letheren, Michael Doyle, Steven Old, Manuel Pascali (Mohamed Sissoko 65), Gary Hay, Graeme Owens, Mehdi Taouil, Craig Bryson (David Silva 65), James Dayton, Liam Kelly, Daniel McKay (Conor Sammon 65).