Raith Rovers 0 v 1 Queen Of The South

Click here or read below for my match report of Raith Rovers v Queen of the South. It was published on the official Raith Rovers website.

Mistake Costs Rovers Dear

Raith Rovers fell to a close 1-0 defeat at the hands of Queen of the South this afternoon.

The Starks Park side dominated possession for the duration of the match, but were handed the sucker punch on the 75th minute when Raith goalkeeper David McGurn sliced a kickout straight to Queens and after some quick passes, Ryan Conroy slotted the ball home.

Raith’s passing was very pretty, but ultimately toothless. However, huge credit must be given to the Queens defence who stood tall and showed great determination.

The result is a blow for Rovers as second placed Dunfermline Athletic lost 2-1 to Greenock Morton, meaning the Kirkcaldy side missed a great chance to pull further clear of their Fife rivals.

Queens visited Starks Park after making two changes to their side. William McLaren and Ryan McGuffie replaced Allan Johnstone and the injured Rocco Quinn, while Rovers swapped Iain Williamson for Stephen Simmons, who had recovered in time from his calf problem.

It was the away side who threatened first as McLaren shot straight into McGurn’s arms, although Rovers created their own chance after good link up play between Gregory Tade and Jamie Mole found John Baird, but his long range effort flew over the bar.

The next twenty minutes saw some very attractive football from the home side, but ultimately their final ball was not good enough to penetrate the deep-sitting Queens defence.

With the home fans beckoning attacking football, Raith started to create a few opportunities. On the 26th minute Allan Walker drifted a free-kick into the Queens box only for Iain Davidson to head straight into David Hutton’s hands.

Three minutes later Tade made a lung bursting run forward but his shot was high and into the stands.

The end of the first half bore witness to more attacking play from Raith and Queens sat back, trying to  keep a clean sheet heading into half time. Craig Wilson, who made many great runs down the right, flew up the pitch, cut inside and his left footed shot drifted wide of the Queens post. Then moments later, Queens failed to clear their lines but a well struck shot from the edge of the box by Simmons was bulleted over.

The second half started off no different from the first, with Raith dominating possession, but Queens had the first opportunity on 59 minutes when Simmons blocked what looked to have been a goal-bound Queens shot.

However, Rovers regained possession and continued their mission of passing through the Queens defence. Unfortunately for the home side, David Lilley and his teammates were stubborn and Raith could only attempt long range efforts from Walker and Wilson, although the latter’s shot was just inches over.

Disaster struck for the Fifers fifteen minutes from time when McGurn, who had been a spectator for most of the match, sliced his kick-out only as far as Derek Holmes who headed the ball forward to McLaren and he set up Conroy perfectly to slot the ball past McGurn with ease.

Raith were stunned but vowed to battle on taking a more direct route, but ultimately Queens comfortably held out for victory.

The Lang Touners must pick themselves up quickly and prepare to travel west for a top of the table clash against fierce rivals Dunfermline next week.

Gratton Has Left The Building

Click here or read below for my article on why the Edinburgh Capitals head coach resigned from the club this week. It was published on http://www.britishicehockey.co.uk/.

Gratton Has Left The Building

Edinburgh Capitals head coach Brad Gratton resigned from his post on Wednesday despite being in only his fourth month in charge. So let the conspiracy stories begin...

One thing for sure is that the timing does seem a little odd. The Capitals last fixture was on Halloween where they fell 4-1 to the Sheffield Steelers in Edinburgh, yet Gratton handed in his resignation on Wednesday morning, just hours before the return fixture against the Steelers.

To add more fuel to the fire, the day after the 4-1 defeat to Sheffield, The Scotsman ran a story with the Canadian-born Gratton where he came out all guns blazing, claiming if the players didn't buck up their ideas “they will sit on the bench or in the stands. I will go down to nine guys. We're losing with fifteen and we can lose with nine." Clearly he was feeling let down by his players.

This backs up a theory amongst some fans that there was unrest in the changing room. However, Scott Neil, the Capitals owner gave a press release on Wednesday after the resignation, which indicated that Gratton actually felt “restricted by the resources” that Edinburgh could offer. So the question is, did Gratton feel that the lack of money and facilities available were holding him back, or was the problem the players?

In an interview published today, The Scotsman managed to get a few words from Gratton as he left. He revealed that he felt the players he had signed could have done a decent job in the Elite League. “I've brought some quality players in here...this group of players has talent.” He then spoke of how he wished “it was a better situation” as “things have not been happening”.

He surely must have known the lack of resources that Edinburgh have for a professional ice hockey team before he accepted the job and his “over the last few weeks, things have not been happening” comment could possibly point to player problems and unrest. If he is adamant that the quality of player is there, then the indication would be that the players were unhappy at something.

This is all pure speculation, but the press release from Neil bemoaning resources could quite easily be a diversion away from dressing room problems. Either way, it has been a disappointing start for the Caps, sitting in 8^th place out of 10. One things for sure, if there is a problem in the dressing room, it needs to be sorted soon or the playoffs will be an impossible target.

Neil may bring in a new coach, or he may try and appoint one of the current players as player/coach and use the extra funds for another player. Slovakian born Martin Cingel could be the perfect choice. He is now in his ninth season at the Capitals and despite his lack of coaching experience, he knows the club through and through. Whether he wants it or not is another question.

Children Collide - Theory Of Everything [Album Review]

Click here or read below for my review of Theory Of Everything by Children Collide. It was published on www.puregrainaudio.com

I reviewed Children Collide's debut album The Long Now earlier this year and felt that with a few extra touches, they could become Australia's best band of today. I gave that album a 9/10 rating and when their follow up album Theory Of Everything was announced to arrive on Australian shelves on August 27th this year, I realised I had become a little sceptical that they could somehow step up another level. Incredibly, they have.

The album starts off in unspectacular fashion with "Future Monks", but when it gives way to lead single "Jellylegs" you can't help but be blown away. The melody and power that this song possesses is nothing but perfection. The ultimate pop-rock song.

There are a few odd moments on the album which add a bit of individuality, as seen on track three "Asleep On My Feet". An unsuspecting intro suddenly cuts into an angst ridden rock song, but although caught out by the sudden change in pace you can't help enjoying it.

"My Eagle" is a return back to pop sensibility and was selected well by the band for their second single. Inevitably, John Mackay's vocals in the song will cause comparisons to Aussie sensations Wolfmother, but I can assure you "My Eagle" is far more satisfying than anything off Wolfmother's latest effort Cosmic Egg (which really should have been entitled Cosmic Trash).

"Arrows" can draw comparisons to a typical Stereophonics effort, but again Children Collide spice things up with the epic "Loveless", proving that the band have more up their sleeve than just loud rock music.

There are twelve tracks on the album and thankfully Children Collide keep up their form right until the last seconds. The final three songs are arguably just as good as the first three, which is quite incredible. Many songs at the end of albums could be described as 'leftovers', but with "Inventions", "Into The Sky With Ivy" and the Sonic Youth-esq "Seven Forks" you could easily be excused for wanting to listen to the whole album again, straight away.

It will take something spectacular to displace Theory Of Everything as the best rock album of the year.

Rating: 9.5/10

Ceremony - "Someday" [Song Review]

Click here or read below for my review of "Someday" by Ceremony. I was published on www.puregrainaudio.com today.

Some of you may have forgotten about Ceremony after they released their debut long play Rocket Fire in April this year. So I'm here to remind you of their brilliance.

"Someday" hit the music waves on January 26th, but despite it's relative modernity you could find yourself taken back to the eighties. New Order's much over-looked debut album Movement is the work that comes to mind when listening to "Someday". Like most early New Order songs it is noisy with distorted and ridiculously reverberating guitar licks. Thankfully, like New Order's efforts it is not overpowering and the solid synthesizer-esq bass helps smooth over the cracks. The accompanying thin drumming and almost emotionless voice of Paul Baker gets as close as it can to Movement without totally ripping it off. Although it must be said that seeking Ceremony's originality isn't helped by the fact that New Order released a song called "Ceremony"...

Enough of the comparisons.  Ceremony have their own sound and are (just) unique enough. Any fans of shoegaze really should give Rocket Fire a good hard listen and if not, at the very least try "Someday". It has plenty of melody packed together and I doubt many would be left disappointed after three blissful minutes. There is also the added bonus of actually being able to hear what Baker is singing, a rarity for a shoegaze band. Most singers appear to sing at their microphones through a brick wall.

Sure, there has been more than enough soft but noisy bands recently, but Ceremony are definitely one of the best.

Run Time: 3:25

Rating: 8/10