Team: Gray, Ayiku, Nyadu, Blyth, Cunningham(Robertson), Weare, M.Smith, Fearn(c), Alexander, Fleming, Foley
Subs not used: Patience, Nairne

After two heavy defeats to start the season Fountainbridge had a lot to prove against Leith Persevere in Dalkeith. Manager John Gray was looking for a reaction from his team after the awful showing in Mayfield on Thursday against Athletico Star, and The Bridge players certainly gave him that reaction. A far more confident display from Fountainbridge saw them dominate most of the 90 minutes against Persevere, the only thing missing was points on the board - although there is no doubt the player's performance merited at the very least one of those.

One enforced change from Thursdays team was in goals, as both Fountainbridge goalkeepers were unavailable head coach John Gray stepped up to play between the sticks. In a re-arranged formation Kofi Nyadu returned to the starting line-up to partner Chris Blyth at centre back, Kevin Cunningham started at left back and Isaac Ayiku on the right side of defence. In midfield Cameron Foley and Ian Fleming took up wide positions and Mark Smith, Steve Weare and captain Barry Fearn made up the central three. Up front was top scorer Keith Alexander to make up the 4-5-1 formation that The Bridge started with.

The game started fairly evenly with both sides getting a few touches of the ball on what was an awkward surface. However the long ball over the top from Persevere soon caught out The Bridge. The Percy number 10 managed to take the ball towards goal and squeezed it past Gray to open the scoring.

As has been the case in previous weeks the opening goal knocked the stuffing out of Fountainbridge a bit and the long balls through started to cause more and more problems. A ball played over the top of the defence seemed to be covered by Isaac Ayiku but a misunderstanding between him and stand in keeper Gray allowed the attacker to nip in and loop the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net. Another high ball saw Leith attack down the right wing and the Fountainbridge defence went to sleep thinking the ball had gone out of play. The ball arrived in the box and Chris Blyth was adjudged to have used his hand to control it much to the annoyance of the Fountainbridge centre back - however the referee wasn't having any of it and awarded the spot kick and booked Blyth for dissent. The Persevere number 9 sent Gray the wrong way to make it 3-0 and seemingly had the home side cruising.

Although the score line suggested the game was one sided Fountainbridge were actually playing some decent football and had been unlucky up to this point. Steve Weare flashed a deflected shot just wide of the Percy post and Alexander has been unlucky when he just couldn't get the ball out from under his feet. But the break did eventually come when captain Barry Fearn received a lay off from Keith Alexander and the midfielder hit a fantastic right foot shot that sailed past the Percy goalkeeper and into the net. A wonderful strike that got Fountainbridge back into the game and suddenly it was game on once again. The classic counter attack unfortunately followed and just as it seemed The Bridge were really settling into a game Persevere broke and once again the defence was caught flat footed as the attacker turned Chris Blyth before neatly finishing past John Gray. The half time whistle sounded with Fountainbridge 3 goals behind, but they certainly didn't deserve to be. Although stand in keeper Gray did prevent the score line being worse when he turned a Persevere free kick round the post.

Half Time 4-1 Persevere

After regrouping at the break Fountainbridge came out looking hungrier than ever and took the game by the scruff of the neck. The midfield three of Smith, Weare and Fearn began to run the show as suddenly gaps were appearing in the Persevere defence. It wasn't long into the second half when the deficit was cut, Alexander once again supplying the assist with a superb cross into the box from the left and Barry Fearn arriving with impeccable timing to volley home past the despairing keeper from close range to make it 4-2. The game really was being controlled by the visitors now and Mark Smith should have cut Persevere's lead again when he was played clean through, but he dragged his right foot shot agonisingly just wide of the post with the keeper beaten.

Dave Robertson replaced the tiring Cunningham as The Bridge looked to push further forward and in a slight reshuffle Cameron Foley moved into left back and Robertson took up a position wide on the right. The substitute almost had an immediate impact after racing away down the right he let off a stinging right foot drive that the Percy goalkeeper had to tip over the bar. The wait for the Fountainbridge third wasn't long though as - from the resulting corner kick - Alexander whipped a teasing left foot cross into the area that was attacked superbly by Barry Fearn who bulleted his header into the net to complete his hattrick and make the score 4-3, with 20 minutes still left to play.

The Bridge threw players forward to desperately try and get the equaliser they deserved, and it seemed that it must come when Alexander raced into the box before setting up Fleming. The striker hesitated though before cutting the ball back again to Alexander who hit his shot against the Leith defender and out for a corner. At the other end John Gray palmed a free kick over the bar and Kofi Nyadu headed off the line as Fountainbridge almost got caught as they pushed for the fourth goal. It wasn't to come though and the referee blew the whistle to the relief of the Persevere team and the dismay of the Fountainbridge players. A third successive league defeat for The Bridge, but a much improved performance from everyone.

Full Time 4-3 Persevere

Managers Comment(Well Laurie's comment):
After the embarrassing defeat on Thursday night it was fantastic to see Fountainbridge dominating a game like that. Apart from a spell on the first half when the defence looked a bit shaky it was all us and a draw was the very least the team deserved from the game. The long ball over the top once again caught the defenders out in the first half and the Persevere goals were certainly avoidable. If we can just try and get the ball down and pass it around for the first half an hour we put ourselves in a really strong position to go on and win the match. Another fantastic second half though and from John in goals up to Keith in attack each and every player put in a great shift. No weak links at all and I may actually decided to sit out more games in the future...

I hate to have to pick out individuals when we put in such a great team performance, especially when everyone had a good game. I thought Kofi was very good at the back once he got settled and looked strong and composed especially in the second half. Isaac looked a real threat going forward and when he needed to he was back in a flash as well. Barry was immense in midfield and led by example, scoring three terrific goals and doing his fair share of tackling, passing and running. Steve Weare got stuck in really well and Mark showed a lot of nice touches and made some excellent runs. Cammy caused their defence so end of problems with his running down the wing and he looked far more comfortable in midfield than he has in defence. Up front another tireless display from Mr Alexander maybe didn't see him get on the score sheet but getting three assists just goes to show their is far more to his game than just goals.

So it's a tough one but I'm going to have to for Barry as man of the match. He led the team fantastically and to get three goals from midfield is very, very impressive. All three goals were expertly taken and on top of that he ran himself into the ground tracking back and played some nice passes throughout the 90 minutes.

M.O.T.M. – Barry Fearn

(Man of the Match)

Laurie.

Player Ratings :
GK – John Gray (7 out of 10)
RB – Isaac Ayiku (8)
CB – Chris Blyth (7)
CB – Kofi Nyadu (8)
LB – Kevin Cunningham (7) ( Davie Robertson (7) )
RM – Cameron Foley (7)
CM – Steve Weare (7)
CM – Mark Smith (8)
CM – Barry Fearn© (3 goals) (9)
LM - Ian Fleming (7)
STK – Keith Alexander (8)