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Brook Street have been drawn away to Division IV side Lime Tree United in the Third Round of the Scottish Cup. The tie takes place at United’s 20,200 capacity ground, De Kuip, next Wednesday with a 10:30 kick-off.
“They had a big win in Dundee at the weekend, and we’ll have them watched in their match with Maroon Warriors this Saturday”, said Marcus when the draw was announced. He added, “It looks like they field their first team in the Cup games, so it should be a decent match”.
Marcus went on to say, “Although we will go into the match as favourites, we’ll be taking nothing for granted. While the league is our main focus and we field the reserves in the Cup, it’s a nice distraction to have a long Cup run at the start of the season. I’m sure it is no different for United, and they’ll no doubt be going all out in front of their own fans”.
Jake MacConnechy scores his fourth goal of the match to make the score 8-0.
Jake MacConnechy hit the net four times and Darren Slayter twice with our other goals coming from Emanuel Bohucký, Oleg Zhigalov and Federico Amado.
“We totally deserved our win”, said Marcus, adding, “We showed real professionalism in atrocious conditions and kept our cool despite some dodgy tackling from the home side”.
One recipient of a bad challenge was Garabed Palasyan who had to be helped off in the second half.
“Garabed’s taken a sore one”, admitted Marcus, “but we’re hopeful he’ll be ok for next week. The weekend will probably come too soon for him though”.
He continued, “It was a good old fashioned cup-tie though with a muddy pitch and played in torrential rain. We also gave our fans plenty to shout about too”.
“We’re happy just to get through without too much damage and with another clean sheet. To be honest though, I don’t think Zee even touched the ball and is unlikely to have such a quiet game for a long time”.
Oleg Zhigalov wheels away to celebrate levelling the scores with nineteen minutes played.
Jabbas opened the scoring with only five minutes played, Martin Slováčik’s speculative effort somehow finding it’s way into the net, but with only nineteen minutes gone, Oleg Zhigalov simply had to redirect Nemanja Jankovic’s cross to tie the game.
Three minutes later and Brook Street could have been in front, however with the home goal at his mercy, Maranaj Batusha took a rush of blood to the head and sliced the ball wildly past the upright, much to his embarrassment.
The miss was to prove costly just two minutes later when Ciprià Andreu broke through the middle to fire Jabbas back in front.
This goal merely served to fire up the Brook Street players, and the lead only lasted four minutes before Onésimo Murube slammed home the equaliser.
Yann Schories was the next player to try his luck about seven minutes before the break, however his shot curled the wrong side of the post.
Nemanja Jankovic would have fired Brook Street into the lead but for a fine stop by home keeper Enmanuel Tornero midway through the second half, and this save could have been crucial had Paul Larquier been clinical in front of goal eight minutes from time. However the shot squirmed past the post and the sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.
“We were far to lax in front of goal this afternoon which could have proved particularly costly for us”, admitted Marcus at full-time.
“It looks like we’ll be concentrating on shooting practice in training this week”, he concluded wryly.
Brook Street Man of the Match: Onésimo Murube – he led the line well and worked tirelessly. Thoroughly deserved his goal and an 8.5 rating.
Brook Street will travel to Lothian in the Scottish Cup Second Round, having been paired with Division V side Rig5 Rockets.
“It’s another manager-less side for us, so we should have no difficulty in progressing further”, said Marcus when the draw was made.
“Games like this give us the chance to try out different things with out any real risk, so it’s really a win-win for us provided we don’t pick up any injuries”.
He concluded, “However, it’s the league that is our main focus, and while a Cup run is a nice distraction, it’s of secondary importance”.
Paul O’Healihy completes his hat-trick from the penalty spot in this morning’s Cup tie against Lisbon Lions 67.
Paul O’Healihy hit four goals and José Eransus two, with our other goals coming from Nemanja Janković, Andy Harte, Onésimo Murube and Jake MacConnechy.
Marcus was pleased with the display, but admitted he was glad to have the game out of the way.
“Although the First Round is always just a formality, it was good to get this game under our belts as we gear up for the league opener on Saturday”.
He continued, “We also go through it without picking up any injuries or cards which was most important. The last thing we want is to have players out of Saturday’s match needlessly. Now I can fully focus on our preparations for the jabba’s game with the knowledge that I have a full squad to select from”.
When asked at the press conference if 4-5-1 was going to be the regular starting formation Marcus said, “Although we have been playing 4-5-1 over the close season and today, I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s my formation of choice”. He continued, “However, it does give us additional options which could be brought into play if I thought it would help our cause”.
Also joining Marcus at the press conference was four goal hero Paul O’Healihy. He was asked how the players felt following the game, the big Irishman said, “We’re all just happy to be playing again. When we’re not involved in play-offs, it makes for a long close-season, and we were raring to go”.
He continued, “No doubt some of us will have sore joints tomorrow, but we’re now looking forward to Saturday’s match with jabbathehut even more. As the gaffer said, although the First Round is really like a training match for us, it’s good to get it out of the way without anyone picking up knocks. It’s a good way to start the season as it’s never too strenuous, and we can save ourselves a bit for the league starting”.
Elsewhere, all the other sides in the Division made it through to the Second Round with the exception of jabbathehut who, as seems to be customary, failed to field a side against their First Round opponents and consequently forfeited the match.
In the First Round draw for the Scottish Cup this lunchtime, Brook Street have been paired with Division V.71 side Lisbon Lions 67. The tie takes place in the west next Wednesday with a 10:30 kick-off.
Marcus said, “They finished fifth in their Division and are currently managerless. We won’t take them lightly, but I know that man for man, we have a far superior team and I will be expecting us to show that”.
Makeshift centre-back Ezequiel Alexandrino breaks through the visitors’ defence to double our lead.
All three goals were scored in four first half minutes. Germán Olmos Ribas drilled home the opening goal in the twenty-seventh minute, before Zee doubled our lead two minutes later. Ye Weixuan then pulled a goal back with thirty-one minutes played, but the visitors were unable to break through again and Brook Street held on to record the win.
“It was a good workout for the players”, said Marcus, who continued, “We played 4-5-1 again and our fringe players have had a run out before the Cup kicks off next Wednesday”.
He added, “More importantly, we didn’t pick up any injuries so it was a good morning’s work all round”.
Igor Bulatov
“Igor’s injury has not responded to treatment, and with a further lengthy absence likely, he has taken the very difficult decision to retire from playing”, said a club spokesman.
Igor himself said, “It was the hardest decision of my life, but I know that it is the correct one”. He continued, “I probably knew deep down that my career was over before the specialist gave me the bad news, but it didn’t make it any easier. I’ve had a good career and I have no regrets”.
During his eleven-season career with Brook Street, he played 107 competitive matches for the club, scoring 37 goals in the process.
The club this evening confirmed that we will host China League Six side Ajiao in a pre-season international friendly match on Wednesday.
The match will kick off at 10:30 as usual, and will be our only outing prior to the first round of the Scottish Cup a week on Wednesday.
Following this afternoon’s Qualifiers, there will be a total of three new teams in the Division next season. Joining auto-promoted sides Vines Cross and Blue Order will be sooside athletico who edged out Schwarzeneggers Allstars 3-2.
Much Rucking In The Marsh secured their Division III status with a comfortable win, but there was to be disappointment for jabbathehut who missed out on promotion, losing the Division II qualifier against morgan united.
So in a repeat of last season, Brook Street will kick off the season with a trip to face jabbas, before we host new boys Vines Cross in Week 2.
The full list of Brook Street league fixtures for next season is:
Week 1: jabbathehut (a)
Week 2: Vines Cross (h)
Week 3: Carbrain FC (a)
Week 4: kaos c.f (h)
Week 5: sooside athletico (h)
Week 6: Blue Order (a)
Week 7: Much Rucking In The Marsh (h)
Week 8: Much Rucking In The Marsh (a)
Week 9: Blue Order (h)
Week 10: sooside athletico (a)
Week 11: kaos c.f (a)
Week 12: Carbrain FC (h)
Week 13: Vines Cross (a)
Week 14: jabbathehut (h)
This is Brook Street 