ANNAN ATHLETIC 4 SHIRE 0

Shire’s promotion push was blown off track by a horror show at Annan. The team never recovered from a dreadful period at the end of the first half during which they conceded two soft goals and were lucky not to ship more.

Annan’s simple approach based on solid defence and quick counter attacks paid dividends while Shire’s midfield simply failed to compete. By full-time Annan’s four goal victory in no way flattered them. Instead, they will feel disappointed it wasn’t more.

As expected, Eddie Forrest was restored to the heart of the Shire defence after serving his two match ban. But Derek Ure was absent after fiancée Lana gave birth to a baby boy just hours before kick-off. His place went to Gary Kelly.

Annan were on a good run of form going into the game. They named the same team that won 3-0 at Montrose the previous weekend, and that meant a place for former Shire man Jamie Dunbar.

The Galabank pitch was barely playable at kick-off. It resembled a sticky toffee pudding in consistency and contained a liberal amount of sand to soak up as much of the moisture as was possible. Nevertheless, there were sections of the surface where the ball stubbornly refused to bounce at all.

The first action of the game raised hopes of an early Shire goal. Andy Rodgers was fouled 20 yards from goal giving David Dunn another chance to repeat his scoring exploits of the previous week. But, almost inevitably, his effort went miles over the bar.

After seven minutes Dunbar should have given Annan the lead. Mark Peat raced out of his goal to try and thwart Steven Sloan’s right-wing cross but failed and Dunbar, unmarked at the back post, somehow managed to head over what was an empty net.

The conditions were making meaningful football difficult and the longer things went on the more it started to resemble a game of pass the parcel. After 20 minutes Dunbar cut inside the Shire box but his weak effort was easily blocked by Michael Bolochoweckyj.

Andy Rodgers tried to run with the ball at his feet and proved only how difficult a tactic that would be not long after, although Craig Summersgill in the Annan goal had to look smart to race off his line and block any potential danger.

Twenty four minutes in Shire won the game’s first corner kick but Bolochoweckyj couldn’t direct his back post header from Dunn’s flag kick anywhere near goal.

Thee minutes further on Paul Hay sent a ball deep into the Annan penalty box which Andy Rodgers threw himself at but couldn’t get any power behind and Summersgill saved easily.

After 28 minutes Annan took the lead in smashing style. Sloan made progress down the right and whipped in a great cross towards Graham Bell. The home centre forward still had plenty to do to get to it but threw himself across Bolochoweckyj to send a diving header into the back of the net,

The goal settled Annan and after 32 minutes they really should have made it 2-0 but Bell, clean through with only Peat to beat, dragged his shot across goal and wide. By this stage Annan had forgotten about the pitch and were making a beeline for the Shire goal. After 34 minutes Sloan played Dunbar clear, his shot beat Peat but hit the inside of the post and came back out into play.

Three minutes before the interval Annan did get a second this time from the  penalty spot. Mike Jack surged into the Shire box and his progress was ended only by a challenge Craig Tully. Referee Steven McLean pointed to the spot and Jack himself scored from the spot.

Shire altered things at the break, switching to three central defenders at the back and putting five men into midfield. That gave them more of the ball but not a great deal more in terms of scoring opportunities, although Forrest should have done better than shoot wide from Craig Donaldson’s corner kick.

After 53 minutes Shire went for broke, taking off Brian Graham and Dean Richardson and replacing them with the attacking option of Colin Cramb and Marc McKenzie. Thee minutes after their introduction both substitutes combined to open up the Annan defence but Squib’s shot from the edge of the six yard box went into the side net.

But Annan still had chances too and Peat twice stopped Shire falling further behind by diving bravely at the feet of Jack to make a great save then by blocking Bell’s effort with his legs.

John O’Neil came on for his Shire debut after 61 minutes and tried his luck from 18 yards but the ball got caught under his studs and his chance was gone.

Although they had plenty of possession Shire never really looked as though they were likely to find some way back into the game. Andy Rodgers did manage to force Annan keeper Craig Summersgill into a full-length diving save from 25 yards but that was a rare piece of action for the home number one.

With Shire committing so much to attack there was always the chance that Annan would hit them with a smart counter attack. But the way they did concede a third goal was hugely disappointing, Scott Anson was simply allowed to waltz through a huge gap in the Shire defence and got inside the box before hitting a low shot past the exposed Peat on 82 minutes.

McKenzie did manage to get the ball in the Annan net in injury time but he was flagged offside by the standside linesman.

The home team saved the best until last. Jack picked up the ball in midfield and ran unchallenged towards the Shire goal before unleasing a tremendous 30 yarder high into the roof of the net which turned out to be the last kick of the game.

Annan Athletic : Summersgill, Watson, Hoolickin, Townsley, Neilson, Jack, Sloan, Anson, Bell(Adamson 74), Dunbar, Gilfillan(Jardine 89).

Shire : Peat, Hay, Dunn, Forrest(O’Neil 61), Bolochoweckyj, Tully, Donaldson, Kelly, Graham(McKenzie 53), Richardson(Cramb 53), Rodgers.

Referee : S. McLean

Attendance : 714.