You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘Elgin FC’ tag.
Paul Hughes rounds Elgin keeper Humphrey Cholmondley to fire Brook Street into the lead.
Athletic were 4-0 up after only sixteen minutes through Paul Hughes (2), Aldo Pellone and Joe Anderson, and with the home side opting to ‘park the bus’ for damage limitation at this point, and with the game won and big games coming up for Brook Street, it is perhaps understandable that the visitors took their foot off the pedal.
However a half-time pep talk from Fermín Romero saw them up their scoring efforts and those bore immediate fruit when Alex Marker pounced on a defensive error three minutes after the re-start to put Brook Street five-up.
Paul Hughes completed his hat-trick around the hour mark and Diego Misuraca completed the scoring midway through the half.
Asked about what he said to the players at half-time, Fermín Romero replied, “We just went through the gameplan again and told the players what we thought they could do differently. Elgin were playing all out defence so we had vary our play to break them down”.
“No hairdryers were involved”, he added with a grin.
“We played well within our limits and I think after we went four-up we lost our way a bit and weren’t going in for the kill”.
“After the break we started strongly, quickly scored and that set us up for a better performance throughout the half, albeit we only scored another two goals after Alex’s”, he added.
“The most important things to come from the game were, we kept our winning momentum, set ourselves up nicely for a huge game against St Andrew Paisley next weekend, and possibly the most important things at this time of the season, we didn’t pick up any more injuries or suspensions. It was a good day all in all”.
In the other matches, Paisley Pirates won 6-2 away to Winbat wonderers, St Andrew Paisley snapped their two-game losing streak with a 7-0 win at home to Oboy shot, and despite looking to offload half their squad Badger Loyal won 6-2 in Inverness.
Brook Street hit eight without reply when the sides met at the LJG earlier in the season.
The Morayshire side went bottom last week following their 5-1 defeat away to Oboy shot last weekend and now look a good bet to make an instant return to Division V.
That said, Fermín Romero has prepared his side no differently this week than he would for a game against a top side.
“We prepare the same way every week whether we’re playing the team at the top of the league or the bottom. Not to do so would not only in my mind be disrespectful and also lure the players into a sense of false security. I want them to go out and win every game and I want them to work for it”.
Turning to this afternoon’s game he said, “We rode our luck a bit last week and got a lucky break at the end, but it kept up our positive momentum”.
He continued, “It’s important that we keep that going this afternoon as we’ve got three massive games after this. We certainly won’t be treating Elgin lightly and will go with our strongest side”.
He added, “Raúl Colen misses out after picking up the injury last weekend, but he is the only absentee”.
As tradition dictates Fermín refused to name his line-up, but it would seem likely that after last weekend’s display, Alex Marker may get the nod at wing-back in Raúl Colen’s absence.
Kick-off at Elgin FC Arena is at 16:30.
Brook Street players celebrate Adam Doyle’s first goal of the game from the penalty spot.
The home side had the game wrapped up before half-time with Adam Doyle firing in a hat-trick, two from the penalty spot, and the other goals coming from Joe Anderson and Mait Peterson.
Even with the foot off the gas in the second half Joe Anderson and Paul Hughes had both netted before Adam Doyle curled a peach of a free-kick with less than a quarter of an hour to go to wrap up the scoring and record his fourth goal of the game.
“The whole team played with flair and confidence today, a confidence that has perhaps been lacking recently”, admitted Fermín Romero afterwards.
“I think the players also played with a freedom and are starting to settle after the upheaval of players moving on, but lower crowds may also be taking the pressure off them as the fans’ expectations may be less for this season. I just don’t know”, he added.
“All we can do is keep doing what we’re doing and build and going by today’s performance I think we’re heading in the right direction”.
He continued, “That said, Winbat come here next week so we’ll see how we do against a better side”.
Winbat will come to the LJG next weeken on the back of a sensational 2-1 home win over Paisley Pirates this afternoon, while elsewhere there were big wins for Badger Loyal, 7-0 at home to Inverness and a 5-0 away win for St Andrew Paisley at Oboy shot.
Badger Loyal remain out in front on maximum pounts while St Andrew Paisley, Paisley Pirates and Winbat wonderers are all three back on nine points. Brook Street are on their own in fifth place on six points before a big gap already to Inverness and Oboy shot on one and Elgin who are still to register a point.
“Today’s match gives us the opportunity to get points on the board.”
Fermín Romero’s side have now lost two of their opening three league fixtures and have slumped to fifth place with any chances of promotion all but extinguished for this term.
However the Brook Street coach is certainly not throwing in the towel just yet.
“Yes we’ve had a disappointing start to the season, but we have to remember that the team is in transition and we haven’t been completely outplayed in the games we’ve played”.
“Today’s match gives us the opportunity to get points on the board against a side that have lost all their league fixtures so far. This is the type of game that can act as a confidence booster for the team and that is the way we will be looking on it”.
Brook Street have a full squad available but Fermín may be tempted to freshen up the line-up although naturally he is keeping his cards close to his chest.
This is Brook Street 