The_Judge

Congratulations guys on coming from behind to claim your first league point of the season

Matchday 8 - 10th September - Stirling University (A): 1. Matt McGinley2. Fabio Capuano3. Bernard Coll4. Barry Russell (c)5. Craig Howie6. Kieran Gibbons7. Sean Winter8. Martin McBride9. Adam Strachen10. Ross McNeil11.Joao Victoria Stirling University 1 - 3 East Kilbride McNeil, Strachan, Winter.

East Kilbride FC youngsters catch the eye of Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock. East Kilbride FC pair Gavin Millar and Morgan Smith are spending this week on trial with Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock. The professional trial opportunity comes after U20 defender Josh Macdonald signed for Raith Rovers last month. Midfielder Millar, who has become a regular feature in Kilby’s first team, and under-20’s left back Smith both starred for EK’s U20’s in a match at Rugby Park in July, catching the eye of Killie boss Lee Clark and U20 head coach Paul Stephenson. The professional trial opportunity comes after U20 defender Josh Macdonald signed for Raith Rovers last month and Kilby gaffer Martin Lauchlan is delighted that the duo are getting such an opportunity. He said: “It’s no surprise to me that our young players are catching the eye of a team like Kilmarnock, the feedback the whole U20 team received after the game at Rugby Park in July was fantastic and Killie were very complimentary. They immediately asked when Gav and Morgan were available to go down for a week. This further highlights the strength of our player development system at K-Park”. Eighteen-year-old Millar has been in sparkling form for Kilby since making his senior debut against Celtic in February and Smith, at just 17, has also sampled first team action against Partick Thistle and Dundee in pre-season. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/east-kilbride-fc-youngsters-catch-8786095

Apologies, I meant that pre-season I was expecting you to be favourites IF you could keep your squad together. As you say that's not been the case and probably explains why you haven't had a better start.

In the interests of balance I would say that I haven't heard any such talk (of winning the league by a large margin). EK finished 5th last season and lost their top scorer (Jack Smith) to Stenhousemuir and one of their best midfielders (Anton Brady) to Queens Park). Monies gained from the Scottish cup run should have given them a large boost in terms of trying to bring in better players but let's be honest they haven't exactly signed Lionel Messi. I personally wouldn't see failure to get promotion as a disaster. It's tough to win the LL then beat HL winners over two legs and then beat a team already in league 2 but we've now seen (courtest of EC) that it's possible. The clip posted via Youtube by EKFCtv was the first time I've heard the new manager speak and he didn't appear to cross any lines in terms of disrespecting his opponents. I personally expected East Stirlingshire to be favourites for the title although a big part of that feeling was keeping together a squad who have been used to playing at league 2 level. There was little between the teams on Saturday as there wasn't in most of our games against Edinburgh City last season and at this level you only have to lose a couple of key players and you're vulnerable to anyone. That in essence is one of the reasons I've been enjoying the LL so much albeit EC ran away with the title last season.

Might be that the pre-match hype got to the players. Only a single early goal between them. I felt EK had the better of the first half and then ES the better of the second. Was impressed with your numbers 7 and 9 who, at the time, I believed were Andy Rodgers and David Grant.

Matchday 7 - 3rd September - East Stirlingshire (H): Not sure what was going on with the strange numbering system today but have recorded in the traditional format. 1. Matt McGinley2. Fabio Capuano3. Barry Russell (c)4. Dom McLaren5. Craig Howie6. Kieran Gibbons7. Sean Winter8. Martin McBride9. Adam Strachen10. Anthony Marenghi11.Joao Victoria East Kilbride 1 - 0 East Stirlingshire Winter.

Was up at the K park earlier, they believe you guys are bringing 50 - 60 so hopefully it'll be in the region of what John said above.

See you at Three

Competition for places is fierce but his chance will come

Matchday 6 - 31st August - Gretna 2008 (A): Gretna 2008 1 - 5 East Kilbride Russell [2], Victoria, Winter, Winters.

Some great finishes and a clean sheet for the substitute goalkeeper. Not sure what your connection to the songstress is though...?

Poor Selkirk, losing two games in one afternoon....no wonder they're bottom of the table

http://www.crowncarveries.co.uk/nationalsearch/scotland-and-northern-ireland/newfarmeastkilbride#_=_

Looking forward to next weeks game. I had you guys as title favourites so this should be our toughest test yet.

Matchday 5 - 27th August - Gala Fairydean (H): 1. Matt McGinley 2. Fabio Capuano 3. Bernard Coll 4. Barry Russell (c) 5. Craig Howie 6. Kieran Gibbons 7. Sean Winter 8. Martin McBride 9. Adam Strachen 10.Ross McNeill 11.Joao Victoria East Kilbride 3 - 1 Gala Fairydean Winter, McBride [2]. A decent performance and EK never really in serious trouble. Gala were better in the second half but their group of travelling supporters (mainly older gentlemen) felt the officials weren't giving their team a fair crack of the whip....and they couldn't be accused of bottling up their frustration!! Biggest whingers I've heard at K Park although as I say they did feel aggrieved.

Matchday 4 - 20th August - Preston Athletic (A): Preston Athletic 0 - 5 East Kilbride McNeil [2], Strachan, McBride, Victoria.

Football Nation East of Scotland Cup - 13th August - Gretna 2008(A): 1. Matt McGinley 2. Scott Stevenson 3. Bernard Coll 4. Craig Howie 5. James Brough [c] 6. Kieran Gibbons 7. Gavin Millar 8. Declan Hughes 9. Ross McNeil 10.Adam Strachan 11.Joao Victoria Gretna 2008 1 - 6 East Kilbride Victoria [2], Millar, McNeil, Winter, Osalodor. Unfortunate for Gretna to lose goalkeeper early on to injury and no substitute keeper on the bench.

Matchday 3 - 10th August - Dalbeattie Star (H): 1. Matt McGinley 2. Fabio Capuano 3. Barry Russell (c) 4. David Proctor 5. James Brough 6. Kieran Gibbons 7. Sean Winter 8. Martin McBride 9. Smart Osadolor 10.Anthony Marenghi 11.Joao Victoria East Kilbride 3 - 0 Dalbeattie Star Winter [2], Victoria. Sean Winter sent off for two bookable offences and it's fair to say both yellow cards were a joke!!

Matchday 2 - 6th August - Selkirk (H): 1. Matt McGinley 2. Fabio Capuano 3. Barry Russell (c) 4. David Proctor 5. James Brough 6. Kieran Gibbons 7. Sean Winter 8. Martin McBride 9. Adam Strachen {T} 10.Anthony Marenghi 11.Joao Victoria East Kilbride 6 - 0 Selkirk Victoria [2], Winter, Capuano, McNeil, Millar.

Hot on the heels of the Dalbeattie Star thread I thought I'd create one dedicated to EKFC (in addition to the existing thread showing match highlights). Summer holidays have meant I've missed all the competitive games up to this point and was particularly miffed at missing the Dalbeattie match due to family connections but so far it's been a strong start. Only managed home games last season but am hoping to have the odd excursion this time around. Matchday 1 - 30th July - Whitehill Welfare (A): Whitehill Welfare 0 - 3 East Kilbride Marenghi, Millar, Winter.

I was rooting for ICT but full credit to Falkirk....in that second half they made a real game of it and can be proud of their efforts.

You're joking surely....?

That was a superb strategy, you'd have switched off if you'd watched the first half ;0)

One high spot is the condition of the pitch.