Day Thirty One: Dundee United (Tannadice Park)

Dundee United v Hibernian

Sunday 30th January

Scottish Premier League

For the second match of our weekend double header we're off to watch see if it'll be Dundee United who extend Hibernian's losing streak to five games or if Hibs can stop the rot. To do that mind they'll have to score their first goal(s) of 2011.

We're lucky enough to be joined on the trip to Tannadice by two very good friends of mine, Magnus & Ross. Both of whom are 'Arabs, by that I mine they are both followers of the Dundee side. I've known both of them since the glory days at Mai Thai, you'd often find me giving them a lesson on the pool table.

Anyway after yesterdays cross wires over our departure time I've made sure I'm up bright and early to allow myself as much time to get over to Cramond. As is my norm I get side-tracked by the television and Andy Murray's Aussie Open final. It's a shame to see the big fella getting tanked in the first to sets.

I pick Ross up at 10.45am and then Magnus at 11am and for a change I'm early when I arrive at my folks house. After a quickly introducing my parents to my two mates, I make the obligatory check of her fridge for some tasty goodness and then it's time to go. I offer one of them the front seat as is only right and settle in for the drive north.

Tuning in to Radio5 live it's disappointing to hear that Andy has been beaten in three sets but he's a young boy and his time will no doubt come.

We find a parking space a make the short walk over to the ground. Magnus & Ross pose for the pre match photo, look how happy they both look standing there in their United scarfs. They then nip off to the club shop whilst I buy a programme.

I've asked Magnus to take us to the part of the ground where we'll get the best view and atmosphere. He takes us to the far side of the ground and finds us a seat pretty much on the half way line. I've asked him who I should keep my eye on today and he tells me young Johnny Russell is a decent prospect for the future. Time will tell I guess.

The crowd are a bit slow to filter in and tucked away on the far right hand side of the main stand are a small pocket of Hibs fans. A really small packet, in fact it's probably the smallest away support we've seen for a SPL match. They are the first to sing some songs and make a noise though.

I nip back inside and join the queue for the refreshment booth. Looking up at the price list, I'm shocked to find that a Scotch pie is going to cost me £2. This makes it the most expensive pie so far in our visits to grounds around Scotland. It better be bloody brilliant.

It's not. It's good though, not to hot but hot enough and it's got plenty filling but it is let down by the fact it's dry and lacks crunch.

The stadium announcer reads out the teams and it's surprising to hear that Riordhan isn't even on the bench The game kicks off and three minutes in a poor clearance by Hibs keeper Smith lands at the feet of Craig Conway, he play's a lovely long ball in to the box where David Robertson should have done better than volley it well over from ten yards.

Hibs found their rhythm and had a couple of chances of their own. First Miller, then Towell tried their luck.

Ten minutes in and Hibs have the best chance of the game so far. A clumsy challenge on Nish leads to a free kick which Galbraith gets on the end of eight yards out but his left foot volley goes just wide.

Looking around the stadium it looks like the ground has a different floodlight at each end of the opposite side. I mention this to Ross and he informs me that this is true and that the stand we sit in has no floodlights at either end but that it actually has a band of lights all along the front at the top. He also points out that the Directors Box is not above the dug outs as usual but it's located in the corner of the top deck of the stand behind the goal. Apparently that's where you'll find Lorraine Kelly on most match days, tucked up with her tartan blanket.

Dundee United took the lead after thirteen minutes when a long ball was headed into the path of Jon Daly, who completely unmarked, put the ball into the net off the inside of the post.

He should have doubled his sides lead a few minutes later but he could only apply the faintest of touches to the ball with his head and it went harmlessly wide.

David Goodwillie is getting a fair bit of stick from the Hibs regarding his up-coming court case and it's probably best that I don't repeat any of their chants . Ross, who was up at United's recent cup replay against Ross County, tells me that the home fans were singing 'You only score when they're sleeping'.

Five or so minutes before half time a great dummy on the half way line and Goodwillie is suddenly in acres of space on the right wing. It's a three on two situation and he has ages to pick out one of his two team mates in the box. You guessed it he only managed to fire it straight at the only defender.

The half time whistle blows and Colin Calderwood is going to have to give his side the full hairdryer treatment to try and get his side to turn this around. For all their possession the middle of the park they are crying out for a striker. My dad still finds it hilarious that Hibs paid Kilmarnock £100,000 for Nish. He really is rubbish.

It's the home side who are first to test the opposition keeper in the second half but Goodwillie again fails to make the best of his opportunity firing wide from the edge of the box.

Six minutes in and United go two in front when a David Robertson pass splits the defense and it's a race between Hibs defender Dickoh and United midfielder Conway to the ball. Conway sprints clear before blasting the ball past the Hibs keeper into the net.

Heads seem to go in the Hibs team, fingers are pointed and voices raised as they start to play the blame game.

Wotherspoon had a chance to get their Hibs head raised and his team back in the match moments later when he stole the ball from Kenneth near the half way line, he skipped past two challenges but shot straight at Pernis from fifteen yards.

This attempt on goal by Hibs had a bloke sat just a few feet in front of us raging, he started shouting that United weren't trying hard enough and that he could do better. God knows what he'd be like if they were losing two nil.

United had the chance to kill off the game on the hour mark when Goodwillie play's the ball to Robertson at the each of the box but his shot goes over the bar from the edge of the box.

Then it's time for second comedy moment of the weekend when a mis-timed shot from a Hibs player balloons high and wide of the goal and lands right on the back of the head of a female steward with her back to the ball. She's down straight away and takes a few moments to get back to her feet. She's helped off down the tunnel by two St.John's Ambulance volunteers.

With twenty minutes to go Goodwillie is replaced by Johnny Russell.

Ten minutes later and Dundee United force a succession of corners and its from the third one that they score their third goal. Shocking defending by Hibs who fail to clear the ball several times leads to a cross ball into the six yard box. Russell sees his header saved by Smith but is first to react to the loose ball and he toe pokes it home. Magnus turns to me and says ' told you he was worth watching'. If only he could do the same with lottery numbers.

This third goal is enough for many of the Hibs fans and they leave en-masse from the ground.

At this point I must point out Ross's comment about the linesman's barnet - He's got more highlights in his hair than Hibs have had all season. Brilliant.

In the dying moments of the game Hibs were unlucky not to get a consolation goal when Matt Thornhill's header was cleared off the goal line.

At the final whistle the cheers rung out from three sides of the ground, the fourth side was pretty much empty. Dundee United move level on points with Inverness in 5th place and if they win their four games in hand could rise to fourth. Hibs on the other hand are second bottom, only two points above Hamilton. Are they too good to go down? Five defeats in a row and no goals scored this year, you'd have to say they are in relegation form.

I'd like to thank Magnus and Ross for joining us today, good banter all round lads.

Thirty one down, eleven to go and it's Livingston v Brechin City on Tuesday if you fancy the trip.

The Statistics

Ticket: Adult £22, Concession £12.

Programme: £3.00

Attendance: 6215

Pie: £2.00 - The most expensive yet!

Pie Marks: 7.5/10

Man of the Match: Dad & Ross - Sean Dillon (Dundee United) Magnus & I - Craig Conway (Dundee United)

Score: Dundee United 3 v Hibernian 0

Mileage: 117 miles.

Fascinating Fact of the Day: Dundee United are the only British side to beat Barcelona every time they have played them in European competitions. They achieved home and away victories in 1966 and the 1986-87 season. The Barcelona side in this latter match included Gary Lineker, Mark Hughes and Steve Archibald.

Next Game: Braidwood Motor Company Stadium (Livingston

Day Thirty: Hamilton Academical (New Douglas Park)

Hamilton Academical v Kilmarnock

Saturday 29th January

Scottish Premier League

So it's the start of another busy week of football with three games planned for the next four days and today we're off to watch my dad's team, Kilmarnock, play at New Douglas Park home of Hamilton Academicals.

My dad has asked that I meet him at quarter past one at his house for the short drive over to Hamilton for the game. I'm a little surprised to get a call from him at five past one to question 'If I'm actually coming over the game today?'. When I remind him he told me to arrive for quarter past, he responds with a 'No, a quarter to!'.

Anyway by the time I get there twenty minutes later he's not best pleased. Ach well still plenty of time before kick off.

The drive to Hamilton takes fifty minutes and we park up a half mile or so from the ground.

As you'll be aware we normally sit in the home end but when either of our teams are playing we must sit in the away end. So after I get my dad to pose for the team photo, we make our way round to the 'Spice of Life' stand and join the Kilmarnock fans.

Hamilton's ground must be the only place to be hemmed in on two sides by two major supermarkets - opposite the main stand we have a Morrisons and opposite the away end we have an Asda.

Before taking our seats we partake in the usual pre match lunch, a Scotch pie each. It's not a bad effort, a little dry but tasty. Taking our seats we notice that there are definitely more away fans than home. Kilmarnock are on a great run of form recently, whilst Hamilton are bottom of the SPL and this may be one of the reasons for the poor home support.

The stadium announcer must have read the two team lists out about five times before kick off and each time he pronounces the names of one of the Kilmarnock subs - Willy Aubameyang, a different way.

Having a quick look at the match programme I'm disappointed to see that the referee in charge today is Brian Winter. He was the ref at the recent Partick Thistle v Falkirk cup game and he ruined that game with his stop start style. Here's hoping he performs better than that today.

It's a full one minute forty something before the referee blows the whistle for the first foul.

Clancy has the first opportunity for Kilmarnock when he's played through on the right wing and he has plenty of time to pick out a player in the box. Shame then his cross is to near the keeper and saved comfortably.

Ten minutes in and Clancy finds himself in space at a corner but his header from inside the six yard box goes just wide of the right hand post.

Jamie Hamell is the first name into the book for a soft challenge.

Hamilton finally manage to string some passes together in the Kilmarnock half but Dougie Imrie's shot goes well wide after twelve minutes.

Fifteen minutes in and Mehdi Taouil plays a great ball through to Conor Sammon. Sammon managed to hold of the challenge of the Hamilton centre half, McLaughlin, before chipping the ball over the out rushing Cerny in the Hamilton goal.

The Killie fans go wild and burst into a rendition of 'Feed the Fish and he will score', followed by a chorus of 'Sammon must stay'. Colin Sammon has scored 15 goals this season, Hamilton as a team have only scored 14 goals all season. He has already turned down a move to Scunthorpe United this month and my dad along with all the rest of the Killie fans can not wait until the end of the January transfer window.

Miguel goes close to doubling Killie's lead with a shot that goes just wide. Salmon then has a shot saved by the keeper, who then does well to get up and save the rebound at the feet of Miguel.

Just before the half hour mark Jamie Hamill gets his second yellow card and his marching orders for a really soft challenge on Flavio Paixao. The Hamilton players rolls about on the floor but gets up as soon as he sees the referee reach for his back pocket.

I knew Brian Winter would play his bloody part.

You don't know what you're doing, sing the away fans.

Billy Reid, the Hamilton manager, wastes no time and takes off a defender and a midfielder and replaces them with a striker and attacking midfielder. He's obviously looking to push on and take advantage of the extra man.

Mixu Paatelainen, the Killie boss, responds by taking off an attacker and sending on new loan signing from AC Milan, Willy Aubameyang. The announcer tries his best, bless him.

It's a full thirty minutes before Hamilton have their first shot on goal but Wildig's deflected effort is saved easily by Bell.

Five minutes before the break the Hamilton fans think they've equalised but the linesman has flagged for offside before Casalinuovo puts the ball in the net.

Every time Paixao touches the ball for Hamilton the whole of the Kilmarnock end boo. Loudly.

The referee gets an even louder boo as he walks off at half time.

Five minutes into the second half and all the Kilmarncok fans laugh as one as the big Accies centre half stumbles and falls backwards over the advertising boards on the far side of the pitch. When he doesn't get up and a press photographer starts frantically waving for assistance we all feel a little guilty.

The game continues as both the Hamilton physio and the St.John's Ambulance crew assist the Accies player. It's several minutes before the player is strapped to a stretcher and carted off around the pitch. He does receive a warm round of applause from all supporters.

Back on the field Taouil races down the left wing and with some majestic footwork makes space for himself inside the box to fire a shot on goal. Cerny does brilliantly well to make a diving save to his left.

Sam

mon then breaks into the box to get on to the end of a long ball and he does really well to get his foot on the ball and swing a cross over, Cerny again does well to pluck it one handed from danger.

Hamilton are having more and more of the possession but I've sort of forgotten that they have a one man advantage as the Kilmarnock players are working really hard to shut down the spaces and press the Hamilton team.

With fifteen minutes left the referee finally does something that the Kilmarnock fans can cheer at when he books Paixao for persistent diving.

Sammon loses the ball cheaply on the half way line and the ball is feed to Antoine-Curier who unleashes a thunderbolt from the edge of the area and the ball flies past Cammy Bell into the bottom corner. It's an undeserved equaliser but my god it was a belter.

Five minutes to go and a Hay corner bounces across the six yard box before Kelly puts his head on the end of it. The ball just clears the crossbar.

The game finishes one each. The draw is unfair, Kilmarnock had their chances and probably should have taken at least one of them. Hamilton tried hard and hopefully they'll continue to try hard, get some points and finish above Hibs.

Talking of Hibs, we're off to Dundee tomorrow to see if they can finally score a goal this year and win a game. Magnus and Ross, two United fans, are coming with us and I'm guessing they'll be hoping not.

The Statistics

Ticket: £22 for, £10 concession price for him.

Programme: £2.50

Attendance: 2690

Pie: £1.60

Pie Marks: 6.5 / 10

Man of the Match: Dad & Me - Colin Sammon (Kilmarnock)

Score: Hamilton Academical 1 v Kilmarnock 1

Mileage: 80 miles

Fascinating Fact of the Day: Hamilton were the first side Scottish to sign players from behind the Iron Curtain, when in 1971 they signed 3 players from Poland.

Next Game: Tannadice Park (Dundee United)

Breaking News: East Stirlingshire blame Royal Mail

East Stirlingshire kicked out of the Scottish Cup!!


As a result of fielding an illegible player in last Wednesday's fourth round game against Buckie Thistle, East Stirlingshire were today informed by the Scottish Football Association that they have been expelled from the competition.


The SFA informed the club that keeper Michael Andrew's loan extension documents had not been received, meaning the player was ineligible. The Scottish Football League also confirmed that they too hadn't received the necessary paperwork and as such, the three points they got for beating Arbroath 5 - 3 in an eight goal thriller on Tuesday night.

East Stirlingshire's Chairman Les Thomson stated that they sent the documents in the post way back on the 21st December and that his club have been let down by the middle man. He went on to say "Everyone knows what happened at Christmas time - there was a backlog of mail. Some of it reached it's destination, some of it didn't".

So unless they appeal it appears that it will be Highland League side Buckie Thistle will now have the chance to reach the quarter finals.

I'll be sure and keep you informed of any further developments.

Day Twenty Nine: East Stirlingshire (Ochilview)

East Stirlingshire v Buckie Thistle

Wednesday 19th January

Scottish Cup 4th Round

Tonight it's the second of this week's football midweek double and we're going back to Ochilview Park to see East Stirlingshire entertain Highland League side Buckie Thistle. The winning side will progress to the 5th round and a home game against Brechin City. Buckie Thistle are currently sitting top of their division and must fancy their chances tonight.

After another joyous day at work, it's a quick nip home for a change of clothing before I make the short drive over to my folks house. My dad's already reversing out the drive when I turn into his street; one of these days I'll make it on time.

BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound programme provides the entertainment on the drive through to Stenhousemuir. Tonight's show includes a debate about the proposed league changes with a host of Premier League chairmen; Neil Doncaster, Chief Executive of the SPL, Jack Traynor and, in what surely must be for laughs...Chick Young.

I'm sitting on the side of the argument against a ten team SPL1 and a twelve team SPL2; I agree things have to be done to spread the wealth though. Did you know that the SPL sides take £2.2m of the £5m available on sponsorship for the League Cup?

Tonight we are revisiting Ochilview Park as East Stirlingshire as currently play their home matches at Stenhousemuir's ground. We've seen them on the road a few times this season and, from what I can remember, they always have a decent support with them, noisy too.

We make our way over to the ground about thirty minutes before kick off. The first thing that greets you as you pass through the turnstile, is the large refreshment hut. Last time we were here the pies were average at best and we've been deliberating in the car whether or not the same supplier is used for the Shire's home games. Only one way to find out I guess.

Whilst we admit that it's unlikely to be a different supplier, we both agree that the scotch pies on offer tonight are an improvement on our last visit. So much so that we dive back in for seconds.

The stadium announcer is a hoot. Instead of reading out tonight's teams he's more interested in rambling on about how the Shire are the 39th best side in Scotland, He gives a breakdown of both sides' recent league matches and what the club have planned for Burns Night.

The crowd of 630 are a noisy bunch and there must be about 150 or so who have made the long trek down from Buckie for the game. They must have been as surprised as anyone when the saw their side run out wearing what can only be described as the most mis-matched strip we've seen this season: green socks, green shorts and blue & red striped tops.

Turns out the referee thought their all white away strip clashed with the home side's black and white hoops, so they have to wear East Stirlingshire's away top instead.

Both sets of fans are in fine voice, especially the group of twenty or so teenage home fans sat up the back of the stand.

The game starts and both teams settle quickly. The home side's right back Donaldson is the first to fire an effort goal-wards, but his shot two minutes in clears the cross bar. Just after ten minutes Dunn fires a ball across the box but Mcguire just fails to make contact for the Shire.

The young boys behind us are fair enjoying themselves and we get a burst of Knees up for The Shire, with each and everyone one of them with their knees right up.

Twenty three minutes in and the Buckie fans behind the goal are calling for a penalty. The referee gets his decision spot on and waves play on; there's nothing wrong with a gentle shoulder barge.

Buckie's Sutherland goes close on the half hour mark, with a shot that just goes wide, before Weaver has a similar effort for the home side.

The away keeper then rushes from his box in a race with the striker to reach the ball, the striker wins the ball and strokes it goal wards. It's only a last ditch header that clears the ball for the corner.

With just a minute to go until half-time the balance of the game swung in the home side's favour, in bizarre circumstances. A stray pass between two Buckie players results in Ian Murray being shown a straight red card after he threw a punch at his team mate Graeme Stewart. What a stupid thing to do in such an important game! Not one of his teammates go to talk to him as he made the long walk of shame. The home fans helped soothe his pain by asking him if he was Shire in disguise.

Incredibly, as the teams walked off at half-time, two home players started fighting but this was quickly stopped from developing by the rest of the side and whilst I was in the queue for a half time cup of soup my dad informed me that two folks were kicked out of the ground for fighting on the far side of the stadium. Must be something in the water up here!

The second half kicks off and although the home side had a man advantage it did not improve their skill in front of goal. For all their possession, when it came to the final shot a succession of players failed to hit the target and at least force the keeper into a save.

With half an hour to go a Stewart header goes just over the bar for Buckie. The home fans are getting a little nervy and urge their side on for the opening goal.

As the game went on the home side started to use the space provided by the extra man and you could see the away players begin to tire. They even managed to get a few efforts on goal and call Main into action.

With six minutes left Main made a brilliant two handed diving punch save from an Alexander Walker shot, which came from twelve yards to keep the sides level.

With time running down I asked my dad who his man of the match was? 'For that last save amongst the others I'm going to award it to Buckie's keeper Kevin Main.' - Nothing like jinxing someone.

With only two and a half minutes of the ninety left, the keeper had a howler. He came diving out to pounce on an easy cross only to see the ball squirm out of his grasp and land right at the feet of East Stirlingshire's Kevin Cawley, who lashed the ball into the top corner.

There is no time for Buckie to get the equaliser and they game finishes one nil to the hosts. Buckie probably deserved a draw for all their hard work, especially after playing a full half with ten men; I hope they make Murray make his own way home as a form of punishment.

As we make our way out of the ground I got talking to the young bloke who was sat beside me during the game. It turns out he's a Kilmarnock season ticket holder, just like my dad. They sit on opposite sides of the ground however. When I ask him why he's at this game tonight he tells us that he has been at a game in each of the previous rounds in this competition. He has even managed to get a programme from every single game so far, all except Fort William versus Galspie. Apparently they didn't bother to produce one for that game.

No games now for me until the 29th January, when we're off to see Hamilton play Kilmarnock and then on the 30th we're being joined by Ross & Magnus, two Dundee United fans, for the trip to Tannadice to watch them play Hibs.

The Statistics:

Ticket: Adult £11, Concession £5

Programme: £1.50

Attendance: 630

Pie: £1.30

Pie Marks: 7.5 / 10

Man of the Match: Dad - Andy Low (Buckie Thistle) Me - Martin Charlesworth (Buckie Thistle)Final Score: East Stirlingshire 1 v Buckie Thistle 0

Mileage: 49miles

Fascinating Fact of the Day: In the 1920's, an architect was commissioned to build a new stand at the ground. It was only on the opening day did he realise he'd forgotten to put in any staircases.

Next Game: New Douglas Park (Hamilton)

Day Twenty Eight: Partick Thistle (Firhill)

Partick Thistle v Falkirk

Tuesday 18th January

Scottish Cup 4th round replay

Tonight we're delighted to be joined on our trip to Maryhill by my mate Richard. He's been my friend for a very long time, as I remember our first meeting was in the store room of the Schuh store in Edinburgh. We quickly bonded over our taste in music, The Stone Roses, and before you know it we're ............... years down the line. The stories I could tell.

Richard and I meet my dad in the lay by outside my work for the journey over to Maryhill in Glasgow for the 4th round replay between Partick Thistle and Falkirk. The two sides had drawn two each a week a go at Falkirk. A 86th minute equaliser by Kris Doolan has given Partick another chance to progress to the 5th round and a game at St.Johnstone.

As is expected we get stuck in the rush hour traffic on the M8, but it doesn't dampen spirits as we're having a right banter in the car whilst listening to the Sportsound on the radio. The traffic gets busier as we near Glasgow city centre. We end up, through no fault of my fathers, taking the wrong turn of off the motorway. He blames Google maps. It doesn't matter though as before long we're back on track and on parking a short stroll from the ground by just after 7pm.

As is traditional tonight's guest gets to pose for the pre-match photo outside the ground. My camera failed to bring out the best of the wide angled shot I took of the large Partick Thistle sign so you'll have to do with the Richard flicking through tonight's programme outside the Club shop.

Talking of programmes, if any knows where I can get a copy of the Hearts v Hibs New Years day programme I'll be very grateful. It's the only ground we've been to this season where we have been unable to buy one.

Back tonight though. At the ground you have to buy your ticket from a port-a-cabin before you can go in through the turnstiles and I'm pleasantly surprised to find it's only £40 for the three of us. It's still two days till pay day so yet again I've got to scrounge a tenner of the old man.

The main stand is closed, there is nothing wrong with it but it is only opened when they expect a large crowd (editor's note courtesy of Dad: so it can't be in much use!!!). Instead then we make our way to the stand on the far side of the ground. Taking our seats we get our first look at the pitch and what a sight it is. Glasgow Warriors, who play rugby in the Magners League, share Partick's ground and you can tell it. The pitch, although not as bad as Motherwell, is in a bit of a state.

After we've decided on the best seats available I decide it's time for dinner. Three scotch pies please. Richard shows his naivety and gives the pie a whopping nine out of ten score. My dad and I are quick to shoot this down. Mine is soggy and if it didn't come in a silver pie tray I'm sure the bottom would have fallen out of it. Richard stresses that due to his meaty content he's sticking to his score.

The Falkirk supporters whilst limited in size are a noisy bunch,. It's shame though that the two sets of supporters are so far apart but the banters on the go from the start. Falkirk sing What a shitey home support, the home fans respond with We can Count you!!

The game is only 36 seconds old when referee Brian Winter awards the first free kick of the evening. The referee will continue throughout the course of the game to infuriate both sets of supporters.

Partick Thistle take the lead after only 5 minutes. Kris Doolan plays a brilliant defence splitting ball to the feet of Chris Erskine and the tall left winger strides clear of Chris Mitchell and his shot from the edge of the box squirms underneath the diving Olejnik in the Falkirk goal. The home fans go wild.

It takes Falkirk almost twenty minutes to get an effort on goal, a Compton free kick is floated into the box and McLean throws his left leg at the cross and manages to hook the ball goalwards. He gets a little to much on the it and the ball clears the crossbar.

Partick continue to play good football on their way to the Falkirk box but once they get there they dilly dally too much and try to do an Arsenal and walk the ball into the net.

An off the ball incident is missed by the near side linesman and the referee and admittedly me but judging by the swearing and raised voices around me the Partick fans didn't. It seems that Falkirks number nine Finnegan may have swung a punch.

Scott Fox keeps his side in front with a brilliant diving save to his left from a Murdoch shot from the edge of the area.

Compton is booked after twenty five minutes for a tasty challenge on Partick's player Cairney.

Erskine has a touch of the Peter Crouch about him, he doesn't look like he's going to be good with the ball at his feet but he does well on the left wing dragging the centre half with him and neatly nutmegging him to the delight of the home fans. He squares it but finds no players making a run into the box.

Out of the blue the boy behind us screams 'I fucking hate you Steven Pressley!'. I don't know quite how the Falkirk manager has done it but he seems to have wound up all of the home fans.

On the half hour mark the linesman flags for a foul on a Falkirk player, the referee award the free kick, the home fans scream more abuse. Imagine then how they would have reacted if from Mitchells free kick Finnegan had got his header on target rather than over the bar.

Winter awards a soft free kick to Partick and as he marks out how far back the wall should be the crowd count along with his steps. Richard points out that his wee legs take shorter and shorter strides as the crowd get louder. Cairney's effort flew just wide from twenty five yards.

The last ten minutes of the half were very scrappy and Pressley will have his work cut out to turn things round at half time.

Whilst Richard was downstairs getting the half time refreshments my dad and I had a chuckle as 3rd prize was read out for the half time draw - 3rd prize is a weeks holiday in Tunisia. (editor's note (for future readers): Tunisia had slid down the rankings as a holiday hot spot in the previous 24 hours due to a revolution and emergency flights out for tourists)

The second pie was a little better than the first but it was never a nine out of ten effort.

Falkirk came out much brighter at the start of the second half and within forty seconds a Finnegan header went just wide.

Five minutes in and the linesman and referee were up to no good again when awarding a free kick for a fair challenge. Twaddle was incensed and got a booking for his outburst towards the linesman. Two minutes later he booked Falkirk's McLean for diving straight through a Partick player. If the first challenge was worthy of a yellow then the latter should have been a red.

Finnegan continues to nip away at the Partick players, he's a sly bugger always having a go when the referee has his back turned.

Falkirk are awarded a free kick at the edge of the box and in the moments before they take it my dad and I debate whether we actually want Falkirk to equalise. We decide that we don't, we don't want extra time and penalties, we don't want to watch the teams struggle to string two passes together and we certainly don't want to endure further dodgy decisions by the referee, whose stop start method of controlling the game has taken all the enjoyment out of the game. We're delighted then when the ball is blasted into the wall and cleared away from danger.

With fifteen minutes left Erskine again skips away from defenders and finds himself in a two on one situation. As has been Partick's failure all evening, he decides to attempt a pass when a shot is by far the better option. He fluffs the pass, the defense clear the ball and the crowd groan.

With five minutes to go Finnegan has a chance to take the tie into extra time but his shot from six yards goes wide of the post.

With two minutes left Buchanan can wrap things up for Partick as he is clear on goal. Guess what happened next? That's right he decided to pass the ball into the middle rather than face up to the responsibility of a shot on goal.

I must admit I find the Falkirk managers tactics a bit strange. He hasn't thrown forwards on in the hunt for a goal, he hasn't sent his defenders forward, he seems to have not grasped the concept of a cup game and his team are out. The referee has blown for full time.

All in all it's been a terrible second half, the first half wasn't much better. The referee has probably provided the most entertainment and Richard wanted to give his man of the match award to him for at least giving the Partick crowd something to shout about.

As we walk back to the car Richard points out that never has he seen a team who have been more in need of a right winger. Every Partick attack came down the left hand side. On this showing Falkirk are in dire need of creative midfielder and a striker and finally a manger who is willing to take some risks.

The drive back through to Edinburgh is much quicker than our journey through and the news that Ayr United have beaten Hibs goes down well. It's just a shame Ross County couldn't have put Dundee United out too.

I've really enjoyed having Richard with us at the game and I hope he can make it again before the seasons up. If any of the rest of you fancy joining us, we're off to East Stirlingshire v Buckie Thistle tomorrow and then to Hamilton on the 29th January.

The Statistics

Ticket: Adult £15 , Concession £10

Programme: £1.50

Attendance: 2,024

Pie: £1.60

Pie Marks: 6.5 / 10

Man of the Match: Chris Erskine

Final Score: Partick Thistle 1 v Falkirk 0

Mileage: 96 miles

Fascinating Fact of the Day: When they were founded Partick Thistle didn't have their own football strip and had to borrow a strip from West Scotland rugby team and since then they've played in red and yellow as a reminder of this.

Next game: Ochilview Park (East Stirlingshire)

Day Twenty Seven: Stenhousemuir

Stenhousemuir v Alloa
Sunday 2nd January
Scottish Division 2

After a period of two weeks without a game the matches are coming thick and fast now and we're off to our second game in two days today with a trip to watch Stenhousemuir play Alloa Athletic.

If we're lucky we'll be joined by my dad's mate Malcolm and his friend Peter at the game. Malcolm's my honorary Uncle seeing as he's a friend of my dads from way back. He's also a life long Stenhousemuir fan.

I meet my dad at his house at 1.20pm for the drive over to the Ochilview and we get to Stenhousemuir about ten past two. It is absolutely freezing outside so we stay in the car until twenty minutes to kick off before venturing outside into the cold.

After my dad poses for the pre-match photo, we make our way into the ground and decide to sit in the Norway Stand. It's named in recognition of the Norwegian branch of the Stenhousemuir Supporters Club - formed in 1992 by three blokes in Oslo.

After finding our seat I leave my dad to go hunt out a programme, a half time draw ticket and a pie before the game starts. The queue pre-match for the pie stand is already massive, hopefully a good sign as yesterdays effort at Tynecastle was a bit of a let down.

As I reach the front I get a tap on the shoulder and hear a voice asking 'where are you and your dad sitting then?'. I turn around to see Malcolm has made it to the game after all. I return to my seat with two pies for me and my dad and his face lights up to see his mate join us. As for the pie he reckons it's a seven out of ten, too crusty for him. I'd have given it slightly higher marks but he's in charge of the pie rating.

It's Davie Irons first game in charge of Stenhousemuir, he was only given the job on the 30th December. He's not had much time to get to know his players but he'll be hoping for a good performance from them today to lift them away from the wrong end of the table.

It's Alloa however who are first to test the oppositions keeper as a cross is floated into the box and Noble hits it side footed towards goal. The home keeper, Brown, does brilliantly to turn it on to the post and although the ball rebounds to an Alloa player, he can only manage to put it past the post.

Up the other end of the park, a great ball from Stevie Murray releases Paul Quinn and he's through on goal one on one with the keeper. He takes a shot first time and Robertson did well to save it with his legs.

Twelve minutes in and a moment of indecision from the Stenhousemuir keeper gave us the first goal. Brown waited and waited for the ball to reach the box so he could pick it up and Noble nicked in front of him and took the ball round him and tapped it in to the empty net. Looking back I bet the keeper wishes he blasted the ball into the stand.

Three minutes later and Alloa are two up. McGowan is given far too much time to waltz down the left wing before cutting in onto his right foot and smacking a low drive into the bottom right hand corner. Things aren't looking good for Irons first match in charge and the fans sitting around us are more than a little critical of their teams performance so far.

A little later Alloa's Michael Dunlop reacts to a Quinn challenge on one of his teammates by getting right up in the face of Quinn and they have to be separated by the referee. The home fans try and wind up Dunlop by asking if he's left his handbag on the sidelines. The games got a bit of an edge to it now as there are a few tasty challenges flying in.

Bryan Prunty has the chance to kill the game of just before half time but his shot hits the inside of the keepers leg and goes behind.

Throughout the first forty five minutes we've had some old boy behind us commentating on the home teams performance. My dad reckons the Stenhousemuir board could have saved themselves a bit of money and got this boy into manage the team as he's got more than enough to say about things.

At half time I find out that yet again I don't have the winning ticket for the half time draw and that buying a second pie at Stenhousemuir is not a great idea. The second effort is nasty, so nasty in fact I don't bother to finish mine and so bad my dad knocks half a point of his original rating. The home made Lentil soup on the other hand is bloody brilliant.

Both teams come storming out in the second half and its the home side who have the first effort. Grant Anderson has a good run down the wing and his shoot from a tight angle is saved well by Robertson.

It seems as though those in charge at Ochilview can't have paid the electricity bill recently as the lights in the main stand keep flickering on and off. My dad reckons this may be a ploy to get the game abandoned.

A corner for the home team and the home fans give the cheer for Stevie Murray to use his height. I think this may be a sarcastic chant as Murray's only about 5ft 3 tall. My dad says this was the usual chant when Murray played at Kilmarnock earlier in his career. He'd probably been the only decent player on show for the home side so far and he's got a great left foot on him.

Remember the Alloa player Dunlop I mentioned earlier, well he crumpled to the floor after a soft challenge and a woman in the crowd shouts 'Come on Shrek, up you get'.

Alloa score their third goal with ten minutes to go and again the home keeper is at fault as he's beaten at the front by a fierce shot from David Gormley.

Sat a few rows in front of us are a group of young boys here with their Stenhousemuir supporting fathers. One of them leans over and asks his dad 'Can we go now?'. His dad responds with a 'have faith, there's still ten minutes to go'. Wishful thinking I'd have to say as his team have offered so little going forward in the previous eighty minutes.

Three minutes from time and they do at least get a consolation goal as Murray beats two on the left wing before sending a deep cross to the back post, it's met on the half volley by Anderson and he smashes it into the Alloa net.

Straight from the restart the home side win a corner and from this Gary Thom heads in at the back post. The unbelievable comeback may just be on.

The referee puts an end to things just as Alloa restart by blowing the whistle for full time. It's the right result in the end as apart from the last three minutes Stenny have offered little going forward and Alloa played the better football throughout the game.


The Statistics

Ticket: Adult £11, Concession £6
Programme: £1.50
Attendance: 459
Pie: £1.30
Pie Marks: 6.5 / 10
Man of the Match: Dad, Malcolm & Peter - Stevie Murray (Stenhousemuir). Me - Stuart Noble (Alloa Athletic)
Final Score: Stenhousemuir 2 v Alloa Athletic 3
Mileage: 49 miles
Fascinating Fact of the Day: The first floodlight game in Scotland was played at Ochilview in November 1951 when Stenhousemuir played Hibernian

Next Game: Falkirk Stadium (Falkirk)

Day Twenty Six: Heart of Midlothian (Tynecastle Park)

Heart of Midlothian v Hibernian
SPL
Saturday 1st January

So here we are in 2011, I'd like to wish you a very Happy New Year.

I meet my dad at Roseburn for the short walk round to the ground. We quickly realise that we've met at the Hibs end of the ground as we're engulfed by the green and white. It's a short walk round to the ground but its not long before I'm feeling the effects of a long night of drinking at Under the Stairs celebrating New Year with friends and the fry-up Emma made this morning is now sitting uneasily in my stomach. Still the Edinburgh derby always has a bit of bite to it and I'm sure the cobwebs will soon blow away.

After the all important photo and an unsuccessful search for someone selling a programme we make our way into the ground. As this is one of the biggest games of the season for Hearts we haven't been able to get seats right beside each other, I'm in seat 4 row P and my dad's in seat 1 row P. Luckily for us the girl sat in seat 2 is here with her dad and kindly moves to allow us to sit together.

Our seats are right at the back of the main stand and although it's a great view of the pitch we can't quite see the rest of the stadium although we can certainly hear the fans in what must be close to a full house. The Hearts fans are warming up with a few blasts of "You're going down, you're going down, Hibs are going down" to the away fans - a reference to Hibs lowly league position. We also get treated to all three verses of the Hearts, Hearts glorious Hearts song.

The game kicks off for the first New Years Day derby in thirteen years bang on 12.30pm and it's Hibernian who are first to test the oppositions keeper. A free kick just outside the box is taken by the Hibernian favourite Derek Riordan, it clears the wall but is straight at the keeper.

Six minutes in and the referee Calum Murray has a major decision to make when Hearts Ian Black and Hibs Ian Murray go up for an aerial challenge and the Hibs captain leads with his elbow and catches his opponent full on the neck.

The Hearts fans, players and bench are all screaming for a red card. I'll be honest both my dad and I thought it should be red too. The referee however only gives him a yellow. I reckon if the game had been going maybe twenty minutes longer he would have given the red card.

Black looks like he's really injured, in fact he looks like he's out cold but after a few minutes of treatment off the pitch he's back on the pitch.

Fifteen minutes in and Hearts should have scored. Good work by Templeton on the left as he put a ball across the six yard box and somehow Kevin Kyle put it back at the back post.

Hibs settle down and Duffy sees his half volley from the edge of the box pushed round the post by MacDonald.

It's a fairly scrappy affair so far, Hearts have a lot of possession but are creating few chances whereas Hibs seem happy to soak up the pressure.

Hearts centre forward Kyle missed two great chances ballooning both chances over with his left foot and only a fantastic challenge by Dickoh stopped a wonderful Templeton run into the box.

It's at this point where I decide to head off and buy us a pie before the half time rush. I'm not looking forward to it and feel the need to buy a soft drink to wash it down with. Thank god I did as the pie is nasty. My dad sums it up as 'far too salty, dry and with some weird spice in it'.

Back to the game and Dickoh missed a great chance to put Hibs in front when the ball fell to him from the corner but from ten yards out he hit it past the post. Just before the break Skacel had a shot from outside the box but keeper Brown saved well.

The first forty five minutes finish all square and to be honest it looks like we could be in for our second nil nil draw in a row.

During half time we are informed by the stadium announcer that unfortunately not all the toilets are working due to frozen pipe issues and if you need a flushing toilet you can walk round to the side of the stadium. What the announcer has done here is basically say 'If you need a poo walk this way'.

Hearts have a great chance moments into the second half when a Calum Elliot shot on the turn is forces Brown in to a great one handed save. Eight minutes in and only a goal line clearance by Thicot stopped a Skacel header open the scoring.

Hibs seemed to be happy to settle for a point and given there current league position a point away from home against the third placed team in Scotland.

The Hearts fans give us a burst of 'All Hibees are gay', possibly the strangest football song in history.

A Skacel free kick from the side edge of the box forces Brown into a wonderful save on the hour mark.

Despite all the Hearts pressure it's Hibs who go the closest to scoring with twenty minutes left. A Riordan free kick is flicked onto the back post and Dickoh, in acres of space, only managed to slide in and hit the ball into the side netting. It's the best chance of the game and he really should have scored.

Hearts were pushing too many men forward in search of the three points and they were almost caught out again when Hibs broke quickly out of defence and a fantastic ball from Riordan found substitute Nish in space and although his shot beat the keeper it also beat the post.

The game only had eight minutes left when Hearts missed the easiest chance of the game when sub Novikovas crossed and the ball found its way to fellow sub Gary Glen on the six yard line all alone as he got his foot to the ball. The Hearts fans beside us were on their feet ready to celebrate but somehow he hit it past the post.

Four minutes to go and the deadlock was finally broken as Novikovas skipped past two Hibs players on the left wing and sent a deep cross over to the back post where Kyle's forceful header had just enough power on it to beat Mark Brown at the back post.

The home support went wild, there's obviously nothing like beating your fiercest rivals in the local derby as proven in the next song sung. Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to f*ck the Hibs on New Years Day!'

To their credit Hibs didn't give up and they were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty in the last minute when a Riordan cross struck the arm of Bouzid inside the box, the referee thought otherwise.

When the referee blew for full time I thought the roof of the main stand would come off with the noise of the home fans. Hearts may yet split the 'Old Firm' this season but they'll have to perform better than this, and as for Hibs they may still get relegated but I don't see it happening. Still rather them than Aberdeen!!

The Statistics

Ticket: Adult £26, Concession £16
Programme: Couldn't find anyone outside selling programmes, so I'll have to get one from the Hearts shop in town at a later date.
Attendance: 17,156
Pie: £1.60
Pie Marks: 6.5 / 10
Man of the Match: Dad - Liam Miller (Hibernian) Me - Adrian Mrowiec (Hearts)
Final Score: Heart of Midlothian 1 v Hibernian 0
Mileage: 7 miles
Fascinating Fact of the Day: (This one's just for you dad) Kilmarnock won the 1964-65 Scottish League Championship at Tynecastle Park on the 24th April 1965. The only time they've won the league and both my dad and Uncle Raymond were at the game.

Next game: Ochilview Park (Stenhousemuir)