Over the weekend The Caledonian Braves opened their 2024/25 season in style, by recording a comprehensive six goal victory over Gala Fairydean Rovers.
At a sunny Alliance Park, Lennon Walker and Ross McNeil bagged a brace apiece, with Cammy Breadner and Reg McLaren also getting in on the action.
Ricky Waddell was delighted with the performance of his side: “I thought we were energetic in the frantic moments of the game, I thought we were the better side in those moments.
“I was pleased in the main, but I still think we can be cleaner and tidier on the ball. It was a bit of a scrappy game at the start, but we worked our way through well.” The deadlock was eventually broken after half an hour, when Ross McNeil rose to meet a Breadner corner. The skipper headed home with a deft finish, to score our team’s first goal of the season.
A second goal was chased with the same hunger, after another Ross McNeil header bounced off the post, with the rebound being cleared off the line. However, it didn’t take long for the ball to find Lennon Walker, who was waiting patiently at the edge of the box. Lenny’s sweet half-volley trickled into the bottom corner, to make it two to the Braves.
In the second half, he Braves came back in force, as Cammy Breadner scored directly from a corner, catching the opposition ‘keeper off guard
at his near post. Two minutes later, Lennon Walker would double his tally for the afternoon. The debutant received the ball across the box and slotted it in with another tidy finish to make it 4-0. The boys were in full swing!
Ross McNeil would return to the scoresheet once again, to head home a rebound, after a shot rattled back off the bar. Reg McLaren would be put the icing on the cake, when he added a debut goal of his own from the bench. The powerful striker spun the ball round his marker and carried it forward, before firing past the keeper with a cheeky travels to seal a 6-0 victory.
“We can look on it fondly and then come Monday”, added the gaffer post-match. “We’ll need to look at the things we didn’t do quite as well.” “I hope the fans enjoyed it today, I think there’s more from us to come and we can be even better!” The Braves will be back in action next week, when they make the short journey to face Lanarkshire rivals, Albion Rovers. Man of the Match – Lennon Walker
