Garnock Campus

Troon F.C. Development Team versus Troon Academicals
Friday 2nd October 2020
Pre-Season Training Match

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS – NO ENTRY TO SPECTATORS

MATCH REPORT by Richard Henderson

Troon’s Development Team took on an entirely new challenge this week, as they faced our fellow Troon side Troon Academicals in a training match at Garnock Community Campus. Multiple trophy winners Accies are one of the top IFA sides in Scotland, and are looking to regain their Championship in the coming season, so facing them was going to be the strongest opposition yet faced by Thomas O’Ware’s troops so far in their first pre-season, but it quickly became apparent that the youngsters were more than up to the task.

A very competitive opening to the game saw both teams match up pretty well in the middle of the park, but the first chance broke to Accies’ Steven Logue who was thwarted by a smart tackle by Lewis McDowall just as he was about to pull the trigger. The first chance for the youngsters came on 15 minutes as Under-19 prospect Euan McKenna drove into the box and was chopped down in the box, only for the Troon players to be left aghast as the ref signalled for a corner. However, justice was served a few minutes later as a penalty was awarded for a probably softer collision on Joirdan Vernon, with Jordan Lusk rounding off a superb week for him personally by slamming home from the spot. Accies drove on seeking an equaliser, but the youngsters were moving the ball about very well and midfield maestro Dale Galloway produced a moment of sparkling quality on the half hour when he looped home a 25 yard strike to double the lead. Just six minutes later Under 19 winger Tyler Burns, who was making quite an impression in an unfamiliar left-back position, found space wide on the left flank to pick out Vernon who had escaped his marker in the box to head past Fraser Queen and round off his 19th birthday in style. Queen was to prove a solid last line of defence just a few minutes later, when a magnificent snap shot from Lusk looked to be heading for the bottom corner when the Accies keeper somehow pulled off an amazing diving save to deny the Troon starlet. A dazzling performance from the Academy youngsters was very nearly rounded off by the excellent Declan Macaulay, who had moved inside to rifle a long-range effort off the crossbar from 25 yards.

HALF-TIME: TROON F.C. DEVELOPMENT TEAM 3-0 TROON ACADEMICALS

Both teams took advantage of the break to make a host of changes, which unsettled the pattern of the game a little & Accies were clever enough here to turn this to their advantage, showing their quality to threaten Under 19s keeper Jamie Kerr’s goal. Kerr was making his first appearance for the Development Team & was showing no sign of nerves, as he confidently came & claimed a through ball at the feet of Fraser McNab when he appeared second favourite. But the young team were to extend their lead on the 57th minute, when Burns surprised everyone by coming inside from the left flank and unleashing an unstoppable right foot shot which nearly took the net off. Accies were to work their way back into the game on the hour mark, as summer addition Gordon Stewart showed why he is so highly regarded to force his way through to the 18 yard box and acrobatically fire home to reduce the deficit. Troon replied in the best possible way by restoring their advantage just three minutes later, and it was that man Burns again who was to loop in an effort from distance for number five. The rampant young team continued to push forward in swashbuckling style and sub Todd Henderson unleashed a right foot strike which Queen followed well to turn over the bar to safety just a few minutes later. This act of defiance from the keeper spread & the former IFA Champions of Britain went searching for another goal. With less than 20 minutes to go, Stewart threatened the youngsters goal again and Kerr was called into action with a superb double stop to keep them at bay. Accies midfielder Junior took advantage of this pressure to score his side’s second with 9 minutes remaining, but this end to end second half witnessed another first as our Under-19 forward David McMenemy netted his first goal for the U20s when he found space to net our sixth and final goal of the evening with a smart finish. Not to be outdone, Gordon Stewart sealed his personal double with four minutes remaining, racing on to a pinpoint through ball to confidently stroke past the advancing Kerr with a first time effort to round off en enthralling half of football.

Even some minor handbags at the end wasn’t enough to distract from a fantastic match between two very good sides, but the youngsters rightly received the plaudits from the former treble winners after the match, with both teams getting a brilliant workout to set both up for the new season after a long summer. All the best to Troon Academicals for their new IFA League campaign, and thanks for the game again!

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