2002/03 Seasons Reports



Famous Grouse Scottish Cup 8th Round
SS Peter & Paul 2 v 0 Eastvale

This quarter final match was played on a tight and very bumpy surface, Eastvale took the upperhand straight from the kick off, Kerr found himself onside inside the box but his shot was well saved, SS Peter were content to use the high ball this ploy created a half chance but the ball drifted wide. Mcleod saw a free kick brilliantly saved and Craig Lamont shaved the post with a low drive. Sellars saw his volley drift over. the second half opened in similar fashion Kerr had a sht blocked Sellars forced the rebound goalward but it was cleared off the line, Syme saw a two volleys just clear the bar.
Then SS Peter were reduced to 10 men following a bad challenge, Eastvale seized the chance to press home the advantage, but following 3 successve corners, SS Peter hit on the break and forced a corner, the ball broke 25yards out the first shot was blocked, but therebound was crashed into the topcorner, Eastvale responded, Craig Lamont headed just wide , SS Peter counter attacked again and scored a second aided by the surface. Dennis then produced an overhead kick that was brilliantly saved. Eastvale wish to thank the large travelling support who backed the team for the whole 90 minutes it was appreciated.



Famous Grouse Scottish Cup 7th Round
EASTVALE 2-1 St. Patrick's

Eastvale knew victory today would send them into the quarter finals and there attitude and desire to reach the last eight was evident straight from the kick off. A Free Kick from Kennedy found Syme who spun inside the box his shot was parried and hacked clear. Mcleod produced a great run down the left and his shot from inside the box flashed wide of the upright. Kennedy produced a great ball for Curran who rose above the defence to bullet a header goalward but it drifted over. The pressure finally told as Syme eluded his marker to set up Douglas who crashed the ball home. St Patrick's game back at the Vale defence who resisted the pressure until a corner from the left was headed goalward and deflected in for the equiliser.
The half finished with Vale on top. The second half opened at a frantic pace as both teams went in search of the lead, with Eastvale looking more likely to score. Winn broke free on the right and Douglas's header drifted wide, Winn produced a great cross for Syme his first time Volley flashed past. Mcleod broke down the left and was fouled, Syme 30 yards out unleashed a shot into the top corner. Eastvale had their tails up, Mcleod hit a shot that was deflected wide, Garry Lamont had a header blocked on the line. St Patrick's tried to break the Vale defence in the final minutes but their were rock solid. Backed by a great crowd Eastvale progressed, Appologies for no report last week. this was due to illness.



Famous Grouse Scottish Cup 5th Round replay
ABERFORTH RANGERS 1 V 2 EASTVALE

This match was played in excellent conditions at Grangemouth Stadium,backed by a large travelling support, Eastvale took the game to their opponents, Mcleod was causing problems down the left and was fouled , from his freekick Craig Lamont bulleted a header into the top corner. Douglas and martin went close, Curran had a header saved as Aberforth were put under pressure.Eastvale were comfotable until a loose ball was played into their box and was squeesed home, Aberforth pressed for a second but Kinnear made a double save under extreme pressure. Sellars then beat the keeper but his shot drifted wide.
The second half was evenly balanced until Kerr was introduced, he made the keeper save well from two efforts, after an altercations which saw both teams reduced to 10 men, Eastvale took the upperhand. Sellars had a low drive deflected wide. Douglas beat the keeper as his shot clipped the post. Craig Lamont saw header brilliantly saved. Kerr headed against the inside of the post, but the move of the game saw Sellars and Mclead combine down the left to set up Kerr who rolled the ball into Craig Lamonts path and his low drive sent Eastvale into round 6 with 2 minutes left. Eastvale a very appreciative of the large support who traveled to the game and backed the team.



Famous Grouse Scottish Cup 5th Round
EASTVALE 2 ABERFORTH RANGERS 2

Eastvale again faced stiff opposition in their quest for cup glory, and Douglas almost opened the scoring in the first minute with a header that just went over.Aberforth then produced a spell of play that showed their pedigree, a quick break down the right and the cross was struck home, a similair move produced goal number 2 all inside 15 minutes,worse almost followed they were awarded a penalty, but Kinnear produced a great save.Eastvale rallied an d McLeod saw a fierce free kick deflected with the keeper beaten, Syme saw his free kick saved.Aberfoorth broke again and an angled drive hit the bar.
Eastvale pushed during the rest of the half, Craig lamont saw a shot scrambled off the line. The expected 2nd half onslaught from Eastvale produced the goods insde 5 Minutes, Craig lamont switched the ball to Mcleod and from 20 yard he unleashed a shot into the top corner.Lamont the had two efforts blocked as the one way traffic continued.Mclead had a free kick saved,Curran went close, Martin flashed a header wide, before he turned the defence, inthe box his shot hit the post and Craig Lamont knocked in the equiliser.Kerr was introduced and his first time volley hadthe keeper scrambling,Aberforth were not finished and in the final minutes,Kinnear denied the on ushing striker to send the game into a replay.



Famous Grouse Scottish Cup 4 Round
Coatbridge CC 2 v 4 Eastvale

This game finally went ahead at the third time of asking, played on a very heavy pitch in blizzard conditions.Eastvale showed no sign of the recent enforced lay off as they took the game to Coatbridge, to successive corners from Mcleod were cleared off the line, before Craig Lamont sent Martin into the box , he was brought down,Kinnear planted the kick in the top corner. Douglas the forced the keeper to make a good save. A Winn header was headed off the line. Coatbridge broke down the right the move produced a shot that hit the bar and broke to a forward to score. The conditions eased a start of the second half and saw Coatbridge take the lead.
Eastvale stepped up a gear and Martin found Syme who produced a cool finish, befoe he then stole the show with a right foot freekick into the top corner.The traffic was one way, Kerr was introduced and his first shot on goal drifted wide, Mcleod produced the pass of the game to Kerr who controlled the ball before rifleling it into the top corner. McLeod and Kerr went close before Sellars saw his shot scrape the post with the keeper beat. Eastvale now play Aberforth Rangers on Saturday, and would like to thank the supporters who travelled and supported the team in dreadful conditions.



Glendale Plastics League
Eastvale 1 v 0 Star Hearts

This match was played in a very heavy pitch following the weeks weather, Eastvale enjoyed most of the possession with Star looking to hit on the break. Syme had the first two efforts on goal that were both well saved, the Star forwards were breaking at pace and very mobile but the Vale defense coped. Martin the flashed a header wide, Craig lamont tried from distance, before Sellars rifled in a corner from 10 yards to open the scoring. The second half was played in a similar vein, Lamont went down the left and his effort crashed against the bar, Kinnear had to look smart to stop a Star effort.
Allan jinxed inside the box and appeared to be brought down in the act of shooting, no penalty given. Ramsay and Kerr were introduced and both were instrumental in increasing the pressure Ramsay was providing telling passes only to see last ditch defending save the day.Kerr produced a wonder save from he keeper from 10 yards. In the final minutes Kinnear produced a good solid save to ensure Eastvale went back to the top of the league.



GLENDALE PLASTICS LEAGUE
BALLINGRY ROVERS 2 V 5 EASTVALE

Returning after the xmas break Eastvale faced fellow title contenders at a windswept Glengraig, Eastvale intentions were clear right from the start when Syme hit a shot staight from the kick off that had the keeper scrambling, this was to set the tone for the first half, Syme conducting the midfield and found the rest of his teammates in a similar mood as Ballingry were heemed in their own half. Syme crashed in a free kick which saw the keeper turn away for a corner, the first of five successive corners which saw Sellars hit the bar with a header, from the rebound the his overhead kick was turned behind, the ball being hacked clear on several occaissions, but the deadlock was broken when Syme spun free in the box to crash home the opener, Syme then produced a superb corner for Douglas to score from close range. Winn saw a header well saved. Syme saw a 40 yard freekick just pushed over by the keeper.
sellars crsaw a shot beat the keeper but headed clear as Vale ended the half on top. Ballingry hoped the slope would allow them to reduce the deficit, Eastvale came out all guns blazing. Douglas, Sellars and Curran combined to allow Curran to side step two defenders before cooly slotting home number 3, Kinnear's first real involvement was to slot home number 4 from the spot. And with 25 minutes left Sellars produced a top class finish, lobbing the keeper from 25 yards. Ballingry were down and out, the introduction of Kerr saw him denied three times by the keeper as he destroyed the centre backs. Winn saw a an effort saved and Allan's shot from the rebound blocked. With 10 minutes left Ballingry were awarded a soft penalty and scored a second thanks to a deflection in the dying minutes.



GLENDALE PLATICS LEAGUE
Fair City 2 v 3 Eastvale

Eastvale were forced to make several changes for this match, but still made a dream start when Douglas lobbed the keeper from the edge of the box. Ramsay,Sellars and Douglas were causing problems as Fair City had to absorb real pressure and defended desperately at times, the got a break after a superb save by Kineear fell kindly in the box and was dispatched for the equiliser, eastvale were still the more likely team to score for the rest of the half. From the restart Fair City took the lead from an offside postion, Eastvale chanelled their anger direct into their play.
Winn and Thomson began causing problems down the flanks and a foul on thomson set up the equiliser. Sellars found space at the edge of the box to turn a send a shot into the top corner. Eastvale were in total command and took the lead when a drive by Ramsay was deftly flicked away from the keeper by Curran into the opposite corner. Kerr, Douglas and Ramsay all went close as Eastvale retained top spot in the league.



Scottish Cup 3rd Round
Eastvale 3 v 1 Uddingston Anvil

Both Eastvale and Uddinston paid their respects before this match to Geordie Gardner who followed Eastvale until he passed away on Thursday, a fitting tribute to a real gentleman. The match was played on a heavy pitch and conditions for free flowing football were not evident. Eastvale went on the attack eary, Curran Sellars and Douglas all tested the keeper who made several good saves. Uddingston were content to attack on the break and Kinnear made a ggod save down to his left. Sellars almost opened the scoring with a low drive the keeper was beaten but the ball slid wide. Uddinston were content to soak up pressure and play offside to frustate the Vale attack.
The second have saw Ramsay and Winn combine to set up Douglas, but a desperate tackle blocked the goalbound shot. Kennedy outstripped the Anvil defence when he ran from deep beat the keeper with a deft chip but the ball spun wide. Anvil were awarded a freekick and stunned Eastvale by heading in from close range. Vale responded within minutes, Syme outfoxed the defence and was brought down, Kinnear slammed home the penalty, With the game inside the last 10 minutes Eastvale's class showed. Syme's expertly taken free kick was headed home by Winn. Then the icing on the cake as Gary Lamont produced a corner of real quality for Curren to rise and bullet a header into the top corner, fairytale stuff for Curran. Eastvale were into round 4 of the cup.



Glendale Plastics League
Eastvale 8 v 1 Lomond Victoria

With this being the only league game to be played Eastvale had the chance to go top of the league and they made no mistake and did it in style. With 2 minutes on the clock Winn oustripped the defence down the right and crossed for Craig Lamont to Bullet home a header, Lomond pounced on slack defending but the shot rattled the post. Craig lamont continuing his good form out jumped the defence to head home a Sellars corner. Eric Archibald saw his net bound header cleared off the line. Jamie Allan turned the defence inside the box only to see his effort brilliantly saved. Sellars did get on the score sheet to send Eastvale in at half time with a confortable lead.
Eastvale pushed straight from kick off and a superb one touch move saw Sellars crash home a volley from the edge of the box, Douglas then found space in the box to blast home number 5. Ramsay the produced a graet cross for Allan to score his second. Reid then piled on the misery as he finished off a well constructed move. Allan the score from close in . Lomond vics score a well executed consolation goal. As eastvale went to of the league in defence of ther title.



PCS Cup 1st Round
Eastvale 2 v 1 Ballingry Rovers

The two teams meet for the second time in 2 weeks, with a Fife Cup tie just a round the corner. Playing against the wind Eastvale settled quickly with Alan Archibald setting up the free running Craig Lamont who was causing problems for the Ballingry defence. Ramsay and Sellars combined for Sellars to hit a shot just wide, Curran tried his luck from distance it went just over.Ramsay outstripped the defence but shot over. Balfour caused a few scares in the Vale defence, but the could do nothing to his 50 yard wind assisted shot that sent Ballingry in at half time infront. Eastvale opened the second half brightly and Ramsay beat the defence but the keeper saved the shot.Curran showed good skill and composure in the box but the Volley on the turn drifted over.
Alan archibald almost beat the keeper from distance but the keeper scrambled back.Ballingry hit on the break but Kinnear made two great saves. Kerr was introduced and his impact was immediate,his flick allowed Sellars to out fox the keeper and equilise. Kerr was casing real problems but an accidental clash saw him carried off. Allan emerged from the bench and saw Curran flick to Sellars, Sellars shot hit the post and Allan knocked home the winner to send Eastvale into Round Two.
Dougie Briggs