We travelled to Arbroath looking to do the league double over Portcullis, having already beat them 4-3 at home, at the start of the season.

This would be our 5th game against the team from Arbroath, in the 4 seasons I've been with the Firies. In the previous meetings, all League games, we had won 3 and drawn 1, scoring 15 and conceding 8. We'd won our last 2 outings at Arbroath 6-2 and 4-1 respectively.

With 9 regulars missing through injury or unavailable, Kev Rankin was brought in to start up front, after putting in a good 45 on Monday in a friendly against East Craigie JFC. We travelled with a squad of 12.

As we lined up for the ko, it was very calm with little or no wind. The only downside was the pitch, with it's uneven corner on our left side of our box.

We started well, dominating possession of the ball and dictating play all over the park. Portcullis were limited to getting the ball and when they did, it was mostly a long ball played as far up the park as possible, with little threat to the Firies goal.

With 6 minutes on the clock, Ritchie picked up the ball on the left and as he went past his marker, he was taken out. However, his reaction earned him a yellow card, as he bounced the ball off his opponents head. This set the tone for the day, with one team looking to play football and Portcullis looking to take players out if they couldn't win the ball fairly.

Over the next 10 minutes, we kept control of the ball and had several attempts at goal, but most were pulled shots, heading past the post or over the bar, never really troubling the keeper. Within this spell of play, Ritchie collected a loose ball inside the penalty and as he went past the Portcullis defender, he was simply bundled over, but the Referee saw nothing in the challenge and waved play on. Stonewaller of a penalty but not for us!

2 minutes later and the same defender cleaned out Sean, wide on the right, making no attempt to play the ball. Horrendous challenge and how the Referee never sent him off is beyond me. Dangerous and rectless, but ok against the Firies!

Over the remianing minutes of the half, we played some great football, moving the ball quickly, making great supporting runs and controlling the game, but unable to cash in on the chances we made. Closest for us were Kev with a good effort from about 2o yards, which the keeper tipped over the bar for a corner and a good free kick from Pates, which the keeper did well to push past his right hand post.

Millar had 2 saves to make in the first half. The first from a ball played into his near post under the bar, which he took under pressure from an Arbroath forward and the second was from a long range effort near the end of the half, when he did well to get down low and push it away from goal for a corner.

HT 0-0

I've never seen such a dominant performance by us without scoring. Some of the football we played was absolutely brilliant and but for some decent goalkeeping, we could easily have been 2 or 3 up at the half. No changes at HT.

We were straight back at it after the restart and were immediately on the front foot, putting their defense under pressure. As the ball was played back across the edge of the box from the right, Pates caught it on the money and rifled the ball goalwards. The keeper did really well to get a good stop on it, but Kev was alive to the rebound and adjusting his body, he powered the ball past the diving keeper and into the net. 0-1 to the Firies and no more than we deserved. Great finish, but better was come from the Firies no.10.

Over the next 10-15 minutes, we continued to play with an authority, which Portcullis couldn't cope with. Their only answer was to break up our play by what ever means possible.

On 63 minutes, Millar launched a ball down field. It took a dflection off one the Portcullis midfielders and broke into space on the left for Sean to run into. As the Firies forward cut across his marker, the ball broke off the defender and shot across towards the right side of the box. Sean did really well to chase across, beating their left back to ball, before crossing the ball into the middle of the box, where Kev was on hand to head home from about 5 or 6 yards. He did really well to adjust his positioning again, as he needed to get some power on the header, to make sure he beat the diving keeper. 0-2 to the Firies and a fabulous finish for the Firies no.10.

We were now spraying passes all over the park and every player in a red top wanted to get on the ball, at every opportunity. We were relentless going forward and could've easily added more goals, if it hadn't been for their no.1. Our best 2 chances in this spell came from Joe. The first came from a long throw from our left, when the Firies Captain timed his run to perfection, only to get too much on it and see it fly inches over the bar, with the keeper struggling. His second, was a clever, curled effort, from about 22 yards, which almost beat the keeper, low down at his left hand post. He did well to turn it away for a corner.

With time running out, we sealed the points on 78 minutes. Millar's quick kick down the left, found Sean, who took control of the ball and ran at the Portcullis last man. He twisted and turned his man just inside the box, before firing the ball low into the keeper's right hand corner. Sweats always on when he does his turn in the box, but more often than not he comes up with the goods. 0-3 to the Firies and game over. Just a quick note on this goal. This is the Firies forwards 17th of the season and his 90th in my time at the Firies. Worth pointing out.

A couple of minutes later and Billy came on as a replacement for Sean up front and what an impact he could have had. Within minutes Billy picked up the ball on the left and as he twisted and turned, he left the Portcullis defender lying in a heap, inside out and not knowing which day of the week it was. Moments later and a good cross ball into the box, found the Firies Legend about 8 yards from goal and looking likely to get our 4th of the day, but the Firies man bulleted his header wide of the goal and the chance was gone.

FT 0-3 and another 3 points in the bag.

Verdict - A really good performance today. Our control of the game was really pleasing to watch and some of the football played was outstanding. I can't remember a game, where we had so much of the ball, dictating the pace and crontolling the game throughout the 90 minutes. We pressed really good, whenever we lost the ball and every player, was happy to recieve the ball, but also worked hard to create options for the player in possession. We were positive for the whole game and we kept playing knowing we would get further opportunities in the game and when they did come along, the 2 strikers didn't let us down. Finally, it was great to keep a clean sheet. Millar did what he does, but it was good not to let them in throughout the game.

Man of the Match - A lot of good performances by men in red today, but it's going to Kevin Rankin today. Kev had a good 45 against East Craigie JFC on Monday and he followed it up today, bagging 2 goals for all his efforts. Both finishes were good but I thought he did really well on the 2nd, having to adjust his positioning to get the power on the header. Well done Kev!