Eaglesham Amateurs Football Club                      RED and BLACK

Rosehill Star 4-4 Eaglesham
Eaglesham B battled back twice to gain a point at Netherpollok against Rosehill Star in their debut match in Non Premier Division one.

Eaglesham went 2 behind, but Stevie Inglis pulled one back after a great ball from Byfield put the tiny hitman clear and he finished superbly from around 10 yards. Martin Hamilton equalised with a sweet lob shortly afterwards after Inglis, involved again had set him up. The little men combined well together throughout the match.

Rosehill then went 4-2 ahead with a goal either side of the interval before diminutive striker Inglis snapped up a lose ball to make it 4-3. The Hams sensed a point and a late stone wall penalty was awarded to them, after a forging run from defender Stevie King was halted unceremoniously in the Rosehill area. This allowed Eaglesham to earn a well earned point and supreme hat-trick from Stevie Inglis.

Look out first team strikers as Inglis is back and with an appetite that defies his severe lack of inches. (height wise that is wee man!)

Cox, S McMaster, D Hamilton, King, S Mackenzie (capt.) Dykes, Byfield, Dahms, Biggin (Anderson 45mins), Inglis, M Hamilton.

Eaglesham 5 - 2 Shawlands

HANDY ANDY FIRES HAMS TO VICTORY!

Eaglesham recorded their first league victory of the season after romping to a 5-2 win over visitors Shawlands on Saturday. The win takes the pressure off beleaguered gaffer MacDonald and topped a fine 7 days for the balding gaffer, after netting himself a leggy blonde for a new girlfriend earlier this week.

The Hams much celebrated youth policy may also have unearthed a new gem in young striker Andrew Biggin. Like his much celebrated and more famous uncle Christopher - who is currently filming a new series in Covent Gardens Andy may have to get used to life in the limelight. We don't want to draw too many comparisons between the two as one of them is a big fat annoying poof, but after scoring a hat trick we will let Andy off !

MacDonald shuffled the pack for this one in an attempt to grab the 3 points. A fine performance last week from the substitutes bench from Biggin saw the youngster promoted to a starting slot alonside the mecurial Maclaughlin. Hamilton M dropped to the bench.

Ian Shand who is rapidly turning into the bluey/pinky version of Makalele was again deployed in a holding midfield role which allowed the 70’s loving Manson to play further forward. Manson who again turned up in his kitsch car and multi coloured combats seems to enjoy the freedom that Shand allows him. The bespectacled Byfield played right with the scruffier of the Hamilton’s – Derek fielded on the left. At the back it was Anderson at left back, MacKenzie, the evergreen Baird, and ever tubby McMaster.

The opening stages were played out in a cagey manner with both teams searching for crucial points in what even this early on in the season could only be described as a relegation 6 pointer.

The game exploded into life after 25 minutes however when Manson drilled a long pass to Byfield, who’s first touch took the bookish striker flying past a defender's desperate lunge. Byfield looked up and swept an inviting cross which Biggin accepted as he poked the ball home. Shawlands were in disarray at this point as the Hams launched a series of raids on their goal. The second had been coming for a while and it was Biggin again who stumbled through a series of half hearted challenges and composed himself well before firing the ball past the stranded keeper.

Anderson & Shand had their hands full in repelling the two more dangerous Shawland's players and both stuck to their task well. Indeed there was really only one scare for the home defence as a dangerous ball flashed across Dykes’ goal. The young keeper had recovered from his thrashing last week at the pool competition to deservedly keep his place between the sticks.

The Hams knew they were going to be up against it in the 2nd period playing up the famous slope, and for the first ten minutes it looked as if Dykes goal was going to be in for a busy time of it. A couple of near chances for the away side saw Dykes called into action before the keeper with the dodgy clobber had no option but to pick the ball out of the net after being beaten all ends up by a wonder strike. Eaglesham had a golden chance to go 3 up when Hamilton D latched onto a slack pass back but the keeper saved with his feet and as Shawlands attacked down the right the ball bell fell kindly to a Shawlands player who rifled a bobby dazzler into the top left hand corner.

At this point the home fans were fearing the worst but Eagleshams reponse was instant. Hamilton D made up for his earlier miss by feeding Biggin who spun round the defender and scooly slotted the ball into the corner. With the two goal lead restored Eaglesham began to turn the screw with Biggin riiping the visitors defence to shreds. The young striker was turning and running at the defence who simply didn’t know how to stop him. The fourth was created after a lung bursting run from Byfield who’s inch perfect cross was met by the bald head of Maclauglin who srteered the ball home. No 5 came two minutes later when substitute Hamilton M’s cross was handled in the box. Manson grabbed the ball and easily scored from the spot.

Shawlands netted a late consolation after Byfield tripped the ginger sub who was haring in on goal. With that the ref blew for the final whistle and the Hams had the points.

Overall a good performance from Eaglesham against long term rivals Shawlands. The midfield in particular excelled, but man of the match this week goes to hat trick hero Biggin.

Carlton (B) 0 - 3 Eaglesham (B)
No Quibble at Kibble as Pearson defies Old Father time

After winning their first game of the season last week, Eaglesham made it two on the trot with a comfortable 3-0 win away to last years foes & div 2 champions Carlton YM.

Steven Pearson carved his name into the Hammies record books after becoming the oldest player to appear for the second team. The sprightly 39 year old came off the bench to replace the injured McMaster and like his performance later that evening with GMTV star Kate Garraway, the big man was poetry in motion as he gracefully tangoe'd accross the pitch.

Last year these two sides were locked in a dramatic power struggle at the top end of the table, this year both sides were struggling after slow starts, with only one win between them being recorded.

The hams settled comfortably into this one despite making changes from last week. Martin Hamilton’s disappointing decision to retire from the game reduced numbers along with a late withdrawl from Manson who was suffering a hangov… err I mean the flu. Daham’s was back playing after his two week sabbatical and slotted into the centre of midfield. Thompson also returned after his respective huff (what is it with this team!) so Baird partnered the aforementioned Kaiser in the middle of the park due to his silky skills and unrivalled fitness. McMaster passed a late fatness....fitness test and took his usual place on the right hand side of defence.

Big Boaby was on the substitutes bench but sadly for the ladies of Paisley this was a new signing, and not Craig Mcmaster who was playing for the first team miles away.

Eaglesham lined up Cox, McMaster, Anderson, MacKenzie, Thompson, Baird, Byfield, Hamilton D, Dahams, McLaughlin, Biggin. Sub Pearson, Big Boaby.

After the initial sparring, Mclaughlin gave the Hams the perfect start on ten minutes when he latched onto a high through ball from Hamilton. The ball seemed to hold up in the wind and the balding odd job man poked the ball through the advancing keepers legs to put Eaglesham 1 up.

Both teams were struggling to adapt to the tricky surface with many attempted passes being mis kicked out of play and mis controlled. Things were getting so bad in fact, Scott McMaster actually passed to a team mate.

Dhams and Baird were beginning to dominate the middle of the park and despite the low sun the defence were rarely troubled. The only nervous moment for the visiting defence came when a deep cross from the right found the head of a home striker, however, the player seemed to be distracted by the big Cox rising to meet him and he headed tamely wide.

Baird then needed treatment for a serious nose bleed after spurning a glorious opportunity to increase the lead. The ageing veteran attempted to to lob the 6ft 7 giant from 4 yards but shot tamely into his arms.

Eaglesham did double their lead however with 5 minutes of the half remaining when Biggin cut through the Carlton defence and was brought crashing to the ground as he was ready to pull the trigger. The youngster picked himself up, dusted himself down and fired home from the penalty spot.

Half time 2-0.

The second half saw more pressure from Carlton, but long balls over the top and the odd cross were easily dealt with by Cox. The indicipline of the Carlton players saw a few heavy and late challenges usurping the dominant Hams. Several gaps began to appear in the home defence at this point - Biggin, the bespectacled Byfield and Hamilton D all came close to adding to the lead before a long clearance from the defence saw McLaughlin and the keeper clash. The ball fell kindly into the path of Biggin who lobbed the ball home for his 6th goal in 3 games.

Good steady performance & result from the Hammies with a crucial 3 points which lifts them to mid table. Man of the Match James Thompson