25th January 2022 Civil Service Strollers 0 Armadale Thistle 0 CSS on 3-1 on penalties

With little midweek football recently I decided to had to Christie Gillies Park tonight to watch Civil Service Strollers(CSSS) play Armadale Thistle in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup. Having seen CSS play well against Spartans on Saturday I thought it would be a good game with CSS likely to win comfortably. I was wrong ! I caught a 27 bus at Tollcross around 18.30 and got off at the top of Muirhouse before walking down to Christie Gillies Park. I arrived at the ground around 19.00 and showed my Fanbase electric ticket for entry. No programmes or team sheets were available as I entered the ground. I wandered round to the small stand on the far side of the pitch and met Alan. He had been at the Spartans game on Saturday and we had a chat about the game. I then headed to the fence at the end of the ground CSS were attacking where I met both Alex and Stuart. 

Tonight’s game promised to be an interesting fixture with CSS sixth in the Tier Five Lowland League and Armadale top of Conference Eight in Tier Eight. CSS made a number of changes to the side defeated by Spartans on Saturday. I had never seem Armadale before and with no programme, teamsheets, tannoy announcements or social media posts the sides remained a bit of a mystery. 

I have only seen one goal-less draw thus far this season and unfortunately this was the second. Highlights in the game were few and far between with neither goalkeeper wing seriously troubled. CSS had most of the play. Clear chances were few and far between. Armadales centre half was book in the first half for a late tackle. He repeated the offence with about an hour played and was walking off the field as the referee showed the second yellow and subsequent red card.The player offered a few opinions to the referee on the officials performance as he left the pitch.

For the second half I wandered across to the other side of the pitch and met Jim near the  dugouts. Jim gave me a copy of the latest Football Weekends magazine where he has an article included. Stuart also joined us there. After the final whistle a period of goal-less extra time was played before the match was decided on penalty kicks. The kicks were to take place at the goal towards the exit of the ground and we moved towards the exit  for a closer view of the action. Armadale scored with their first  kick as did CSS. Armadale then had their next two saved by Whyte in the CSS goal while CSS scored both of their kicks. Armadale's fourth kick was sent high over the bar putting CSS through to the net round by three penalties one. I found out later on Twitter that CSS penalties were scored by Strollers penalties scored by Mark McConnell, Euan Valentine and Alieu Faye.

After the game Jim offered me a lift Crewe Toll. I caught a 37 bus there to the West End than jumped on a 1 to get home around 23.00 after a not very inspiring match.

Teams

Civil Service Strollers: Whyte, ,Valentine, McConnell,  


Subs: Faye

Armadale Thistle:

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