Match Report

Annan Athletic completed their scheduled pre season friendly matches away to Linlithgow last Saturday where both teams had to be content with the honors even in a one all draw. It was a stiff test for the young Annan side who had to battle till the endto secure the draw . Murphy had a squad of 18 players at the game a mixture of signed players and trialists.

Annan made the early running and Scott McLean tested the home keeper with a free kick in the 15th minute , ten minutes later McLean picked out Christain Nade with a perfect cross with Nade’s header from four yards bringing out a magnificent save from the keeper.

Scott McLean’s 25 yard free kick in the 34th minute went narrowly past the post. Annans pressure finaly paid off in  the 36th minute when Nade finished a good run down the left to pick out one of Annan’s trialists who side footed the ball into the net from 4 yards.

As the match progressed towards half time the home team started to put their game together  and right on the stroke of half time Taylor produced a good save to tip the shot over the bar and from the corner Ross Allum headed the ball into the net to square the match.

Several substitutions were made at half time , but it was the home team who looked to be forcing the game to Annan but in the 68th minute Russel Currie was unlucky when he drifted past his marker to finish with a low shot which struck the upright. Linlithgow then missed a golden opportunity when Sonkur was penalized for a foul and a penalty  was awarded which was superbly saved by Lyle Azis.

It looked as if justice was done as it was a controversial decisionthat was awarded against Annan who were denied what looked like a stone waller in the final minute as Russel Currie home in on goal to round the keeper who appeared to foul the Annan striker before Currie was yellow carded for diving.

All in all this was a very competitive match for both sides before Annan’s opening game in the Betfred Cup against Dumbarton at Galabank on Saturday 3-00pm kick off this is followed up with a visit to Palmerston on Tuesday 16th July to play Queen of The South , On Tuesday 23rd Morton visit Galabank and finally Annan conclude their Betfred Cup matches with a short journey up to Fir Park  Motherwell on Saturday  27th July.