Dundee 2 Shire 0

They may have lost this cup-tie, but Shire came out of it with their heads held high. No-one can fault the team for the superb effort they put in against a team just relegated from, and tipped by many to return to, the SPL.
There was a fair amount of worry abut what a Dundee side boasting a couple of former Scotland internationals could do to Shire, and they certainy started off as though they meant business. Within wo minutes Jackson was called on to make a great save from Steven Lynch's backheel. The Shire keeper made another fine stop from Tam McManus before a quarter of an hour was gone. Dundee should have taken the lead on 20 minutes. Lynch was clean through on goal with only Jackson to beat, but the Shire keeper forced him wide and, from a tight angle, his shot was blocked on the line by Jamie MacKay.
Dundee believed the goals were only a matter of time, and they weren't wrong. After 26 minutes Anderson scored with a header following a long throw-in. Six minutes later it was 2-0, although Dundee's Lynch was fortunate to get a second go after Gaughan blocked his first effort. When the rebound fell to the Dens forward from close range he made no mistake. Just before the interval, Lynch again tested Jackson, bt the keeper was equal to it.
The fear remained Shire would be swept away by Dundee's class in the second half, but that's not the way it turned out. Shire were far more positive, and after Ally Graham had sent Iain Diack clear in 48 minutes it seemed he would score, but Diack blasted over. Andy Brand came much closer on 61 minutes. He ran from the half way line to the edge of the 18 yard box before unlashing a shot which the Dundee keeper tipped onto the post. Then Derek Ure sent over a fee-kick from wide on the right which Paul Gaughan headed narrowly wide. Shire held the upper hand, but Dundee came back towards the end and Jackson was forced to make his best save of the game from Anderson's header.
Shire : Jackson, MacKay, Livingstone, M. Tyrrell, Gaughan, P. Tyrrell(Blair,53), Brand(Dymock,73), Thywissen, Diack, Graham, Ure(Gordon,80).

Two More Sign Ahead Of Dundee Cup-Tie

Two new players were added to the Shire squad just before the Challenge Cup First Round game with Dundee at Dens Park. Centre-half, Paul Gaughan, put pen to paper. He is an experienced player, having previously had long stints at Morton and Stranraer. Last season he was playing junior with Petershill. Paul played in the matches at Kirkintilloch and against Cumbernauld as a trialist. He has a Shire connection; his brother Mark played for Shire during the 1992/93 season.

Young midfielder, Stephen Blair, has also agreed terms for the coming season. Manager Dennis Newall has not hidden his delight at this capture. Stephen comes with an impressive pedigree in youth football, having spent two years on Rangers' books before joining the academy at Newcastle United.

Shire 3 Cumbernauld United 1

Shire rounded off the pre-season with a tough work out against Cumbernauld United at Grangemouth Stadium on Wednesday night. Dennis Newall used the game as a chance to test out a couple of the trialists he was hoping to sign in time for the weekend Challenge Cup game at Dundee.

The team got off to the best possible start, with a goal after five minutes. Andy Brand made a storming run down the right and finished it off with a cross which an unfortunate Cumbernauld player turned past his own keeper. It was fairly one-way traffic for the early part of the game and it was no surprise when Shire went 2-0 up on 15 minutes. Cumbernauld failed to clear a corner and the ball dropped out to the back edge of the penalty area where Carl Thywissen half volleyed a powerful shot past the stranded keeper.

Shire dominated but failed to add any more goals before the interval. A pep talk geed up the Cumbernauld players and, after Jackson had failed to hold a long-range effort, their number 11 pounced on the rebound to cut the advantage in half. That marked Cumbernauld's best spell of the match, although they seldom looked like equalising. Shire finished the game as a contest when Brian Gordon was brought down inside the box. Derek Ure scored the penalty and the Cumbernauld defender was sent-off under the "last man" rule. The match finished with a flurry of Shire substitutes, only Andy Brand played the full 90 minutes.

Shire : Jackson(Gillespie), MacKay(Trialist), Trialist(Trialist), Oates(McWilliam), Gaughan (Trialist), P. Tyrrell (Trialist), Brand, Thywissen(Gordon), Diack(Trialist), Graham(Dymock),Ure(Diack).

We're Back

Computer problems have meant this site has not been updated over the last few days. But we're back, just in case regular browsers thought the upkeep of the Zebra Diary was about to fold. This will not be the case, and now the season has started in earnest you can expect updates, hopefully, three times a week.

Ally Graham Signs

Dennis Newall's plans for the season were given a shot in the arm with the news that experienced striker, Ally Graham, has agreed to sign for Shire for the coming season. He brings a long pedigree as a proven goalscorer with a host of clubs over a long career. Last season he was with Queen's Park. Ally played as a trialist in Saturday's 5-3 win at Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, and although he failed to find the scoresheet he did enough to impress the management team.

"People have been crying out for a tall target man, " said the manager. "Now we have got one. Ally adds another dimension to our play and I am pleased we have signed him. It means we have competition in the forward areas, and that can only be a good thing."

It Looks Like Dundee

The SFA has refused to back Dundee in the Hassan Kachloul affair. Their decision confirms the Dens Park club's relegation and ends the uncertainty of Shire's Challenge Cup opponents. Unless Dundee decide to take matters to the courts, Shire will be heading for Dens Park this coming Sunday. If Dundee had been successful in arguing Kachloul had been an ineligible player, and had the SFA agreed to their request to dock Livingston league points as punishment, then Shire would have been travelling to Almondvale, as Livingston, not Dundee, would have been relegated.

Match Action From Kirkintilloch

Andy Brand Celebrates After Giving Shire The Lead

Big Ally Graham Waits For A Shire Corner At Adamslie Park

One Of Shire's Many Trialists Strives To Make An Impression Against Rob Roy.

Rob Roy 3 Shire 5

Shire recorded a deserved victory in their latest pre-season match against Rob Roy in Kirkintilloch. The team which started at Adamslie Park was much changed from the one which had lined up against St. Johnstone ad Stirling Albion, with manager Dennis Newall making good his promise to play more of the trialists who had been training with the club. Four unsigned players started the match, including the well-known face of Ally Graham and former Stranraer defender Paul Gaughan.

But it was recent signing Andy Brand who got the bandwagon going after six minutes, shaking off a defender to score with a superb angled drive after just six minutes. After 19 minutes Shire were 2-0 up, Iain Diack controlled a ball into the box and fired a hook shot over the stranded Rob Roy keeper.

Things got better on the half hour mark and this time it was one of the trialists who made an impression by netting the third. Diack whipped another dangerous ball across the box and although the midfielder couldn't direct it towards goal, he controlled it and chipped the keeper for the back end of the box. Shire were 3-0 up at the interval and had hardly been tested by the West Superleague team.

The changes were rung at the interval and Diack was replaced by Steven Dymock. This turned out to be an inspired choice as the striker, playing in right midfield, increased the Shire lead after 52 minutes, thumping home a superb half-volley in convincing style. That was Shire's high water mark in the game. The home team came back and one of their many substitutes took advantage of some dithery defending to score two scrappy goals, in 61 and 70 minutes.

Shire came right back and Dymock ghosted in unmarked at the back post to guide a corner home with another crashing volley in 71 minutes. Some gloss was taken off a fine display with the loss of a third goal in the final minute, but there was plenty for Dennis Newall to be pleased about, with a stellar performance from the forwards, solid stuff from the midfield, and a decent display at the back, until the late lapses.

Shire : Jackson(Gillespie), MacKay, Trialist, McWilliam, Trialist(Oates), Trialist(Trialist), Gordon, Brand, Diack(Dymock), Graham(Diack), Ure(Trialist).

Rob Roy Next Up

The next stage in Shire's pre-season preparations takes place at Adamslie Park in Kirkintilloch tomorrow. Shire will take on local junior outfit Rob Roy in the third of the team's four pre-season friendlies. Manager Dennis Newall will use the game to give some of the trialists who have been training with the club a run out. No fewer than six are expected to appear at some point. Scott Livingstone and Carl Thywissen will miss the game due to holidays. Neither of the Tyrrell brothers will appear; Mark's still suffering the effects of the injury picked up against St. Johnstone while Paul has a prior engagement. According to the Kirkie Herald the game is open doors, and has a 2:00p.m. kick-off.

Iain Diack Signs

Trialist striker, Iain Diack, has signed for the forthcoming season. He was, of course, on loan at Shire during December and January, scoring once in five apprearances. However, he returned to Morton at the end of his short Firs Park spell and eventually moved to Arbroath on a permanent basis. He was given a free transfer on the Gayfield club's relegation in May and has been training with Shire since the club returned from the summer break. Iain's featured in both pre-season games so far, scoring Shire's opening goal in the defeat against Stirling Albion.

Cup Tie Date Change

As anticipated, the Challenge Cup tie against Dundee at Dens Park has been moved back 24 hours to avoid a clash with Dndee United's SPL match with Aberdeen. The game will now be played on Sunday 31st July with a 3:00p.m. kick-off. It's Shire's first Sunday game in some time. Needless to say, the Sabbath has never brought the team good fortune in the past.

Shire 2 Stirling Albion 4

In many ways this was a far better performance from the team than they managed the previous week against St. Johnstone. But for all that the midfield looked more solid and there seemed to be far more in the way of penalty box action, it was the loss of some soft goals that cost them dear. Shire started with much the same team as the St. Johnstone game; the only changes were for the injured Mark Tyrell and the holidaying Scott Livingstone. In came Andy Brand and a couple of trialists.

The game took a while to settle, but Shire clearly had the uper hand and might have been a goal in front had Carl Thywissen been a fraction lower with a cracking drive from the edge of the box. But, as always seems to be the way, it was Shire, having dominated, who fell behind two minutes from the break. A simple cross and a free header was the combination which proved their undoing.

After the interval new keeper Aaron Gillespie came on as did Steven Dymock. Within two minutes Thywissen should have brought the scores level but his shot was well saved. They did manage to level things with a great goal on 59 minutes; Dymock cleverly flighted the ball to trialist , who shrugged off a challenge to score.

But Albion regained the lead in 69 minutes with another free header from a well-taken free-kick. A defensive muddle allowed one of Albion's many substitutes to make it 3-1 in 77 minutes and a minute later Gillespie was left red-faced when he let a long range free-kick slip through his grasp for number four. With the last kick of the game Paul Tyrrell pulled back a goal with a great strike from the edge of the box.

Shire : Jackson, Gordon, P. Tyrrell, MacKay, McWilliam, Oates, Brand, Thywissen, Trialist, Trialist, Ure . Subs : Dymock, Gillespie, Trialist.

Johnny Walker Leaves Firs Park

Shire midfielder, Johnny Walker, has left the club to join Tayside Junior side Carnoustie Panmure. The financial bait placed before Shire's most experienced player was just too great for him to turn down. The former Rangers and Hamilton Accies man joined the club in October, making his debut at as substitute against Cowdenbeath. But it wasn't until the Scottish Cup tie at Morton that he started a game. He was a regular starter after that, althoiugh ne blotted his copybook in what turned out to be his last ever game by being sent-off against Peterhead in the last game of the season. In total Johnny made twenty starts and three substitute appearances.

New Keeper Signs

The squad has been further bolstered by the arrival of a back-up goalkeeper. 21 year old Aaron Gillespie was with Sauchie Juniors last season and will initially be used as a reserve for Derek Jackson. Manager Dennis Newall says his search for more new players continues, with an experienced centre-half now his main priority. At least one more of the trialists currently training with the club could put pen to paper soon.

CIS Cup Draw

Shire will play Queen's Park in the first round of this season's CIS Cup. The game will go ahead at Firs Park on Tuesday 9th August. It's only three seasons since the clubs were drawn together in the same competition. On that occasion, Queen's Park won 1-0 with a last minute goal at Hampden. Shire took revenge a week later by winning the league encounter 2-0 at the same venue. The draw for the second round is seeded, so a team from either the bottom half of the SPL or from the First Division awaits the winners.

Dundee Or Livingston ?

Club officials still admit there is a degree of uncertainty about our Bell's Cup opponents in what will be our first competitive game of the 2005/06 season. Shire were drawn against Dundee, but that could change if the Dens Park club wins its appeal in the Hassan Kachloul affair. The SFA Appeals Committee, which includes Shire Secretary Les Thomson, will decide if Livingston broke the rules by playing the Moroccan as an amateur, and if they should be deducted points as a result, relegating them instead of Dundee. If they do it could mean Shire making a trip to Almondvale rather than Dens.

But, Shire say they have had no official word from the SFA or the SPL on what the implications are for this meeting of the Appeals Commitee. They have also had no communication from Dundee about the date or kick-off time should the match be played at Dens. Dundee United have a home SPL fixture with Aberdeen scheduled for the same afternoon, so it is possible the police could intervene and ask one or other to change to either an early start or a Sunday afternoon.

More Signings

Two more players have put pen to paper ahead of Wednesday's pre-season match with Stirling Albion. Brian Gordon and Graham McWilliam, were the trialists who featured against St. Johnstone and have now signed for the season. They are both 19 years old and were full-time in St. Mirren's youth set up until the end of last season. Brian is a left sided defender/midfielder while Graham can play at the heart of defence. Manager Dennis Newall has described them as an asset to the club.

The manager is also hopeful a back-up goalkeeper for Derek Jackson will be signed this week, and he has also welcomed back Jamie MacKay. Jamie was given a free transfer at the end of the season, but Dennis has had a change of heart and invited him back for pre-season training. Assuming there is no problem re-registering, Jamie will stay at Firs Park this coming season.

St. Johnstone Match Reaction

The first pre-season match of the 2005/06 campaign brought mixed blessings for Dennis Newall. The Shire boss declared himself reasonably happy with the work out at Grangemouth Stadium, despite the 4-1 defeat at the hands of St. Johnstone. However, even this early in the season he has injury worries to contend with; Mark Tyrrell limped out of the game during the first half and may require treatment.

"As an exercise, I thought it was worthwhile," said Newall. "The one thing which pleased me was our fitness levels. When you consider St. Johnstone are a full-time team I thought we held in well against them. " But he was nevertheless disappointed at the manner of the defeat. "We have to cut out the kind of mistakes which led to their goals, but, apart from that, it was a worthwhile run out for the players."

Newall has revealed he is still in the chase for at least three experienced players, although they are considering their options at the moment. He is hoping to make at least one more signing before the next bounce game, which is against Stirling Albion at Grangemouth on Wednesday night. The two trialists who featured from the start against Saints will stay part of the Shire set up for the moment, and some of the younger players who are currently training with the club and who did not get a chance against St. Johnstone will get an opportunity to play in the three remaining bounce games.

Shire 1 St. Johnstone 4

Shire's first pre-season match was a useful run out for the players undermined only by the sloppy defending which gifted St. Johnstone four goals. Dennis Newall put a pretty familiar team out onto the pitch at Grangemouth Stadium with only new signing Steven Dymock and two trialists unfamiliar faces for the supporters who turned up.

The visitors included a number of experienced first teamers and it took them just eight minutes to take the lead. Stephen Oates gave away a free-kick right on the 18 yard line and, rather predictably, the ball was fired directly into the net. Shire picked up, though, and Scott Livingstone was unlucky not to equalise with a decent effort a few minutes later.

However, Paul Tyrrell gifted the Saints possession in the middle of the park and they waltzed through a gaping hole in the Shire defence to make it 2-0 after 25 minutes. Things got worse when Mark Tyrrell appeared to go off injured and he was replaced by Jamie MacKay. The midfield were trying manfully to get a toegrip on the game and a couple of half chances came Shire's way before a goal brought hope on the stroke of half-time.

Dymock, whose positional play as well as a couple of runs bode well for the future, got his head to a back post cross and the ball looped over the Saints keeper into the net.

After the interval Shire's other close season signing, Andy Brand, made his appearance. The game itself became typical pre-season stuff, again not helped by mass substitutions on both sides. Saints finished Shire of with two goals in the space of a minute. First, the defence failed to cut out a run to the by-line and the ball was crossed for an inrushing Perth player to scramble the ball over the line. Then a long-range effort took everyone by surprise. Paul Tyrrell had a good chance to reduce the leeway but he mis-timed his header. Overall, the main positive was the performance of Dymock, the negative was the rather dithery defence.

Shire : Jackson, Livingstone, Trialist, Oates, Trialist, M. Tyrrell, Thywissen, Walker, Ure, P. Tyrrell, Dymock. Subs : MacKay, Brand, plus some trialists.

Make Wooden Spoons History

As thousands of people prepared to march through Edinburgh demanding world governments "Make Poverty History", Shire commenced pre-season training determined to make wooden spoons every bit as much a thing of the past.

Manager Dennis Newall and his new assistant, Gordon Wylde, welcomed twenty players to the first hard slog ahead of the new campaign, among them well-known faces and some new ones, including recent signings Andy Brand (left)and Steven Dymock.

The Mood was one of optimism . "Definately", said Newall. "We know where we went wrong last season and have learned from it. We want to bring in a better quality of player and are trying to do that, but only time will tell whether we can do that."

The squad, some of whom are still on holiday, can expect a tough time over the next few weeks with two, sometimes three training sessions every week.

The first practice matches start the week after next. St. Johnstone will be Shire's first opponents at Grangemouth Stadium ."We have four games," said Newall. "Each of them will be hard in their own way and should give us a test before the season opens. The Dundee game will be a cracker, but that's still some time away, what we have to do first is get the team into shape. We have a decent nucleus from what was here last season and will attempt to build on it."

He's also determined to get the team fit and ready for the start of the league campaign. "It'll be an easy pre-season for me, but a tough one for the players," he joked. "What killed us last season was getting off to such a poor start. We have to make sure we get points on the board early and see where that takes us."

As well as old faces like Scott Livingstone, Derek Jackson, Johnny Walker and Carl Thywissen, there were a number of young hopefuls, discarded by other clubs who are hoping to revive their careers with the club. These trialists will be given an opportunity to shine in the weeks ahead.