09 Dec Ruari Paton start for Hibs reserves and scores in 1-1 draw
The Hibernian Development Squad drew 1-1 with Falkirk at the Oriam in the SPFL Reserve League on Monday afternoon.
Grant Murray’s side were on top in the early knockings of the game and eventually the pressure bore fruit as Ruari Paton showed predatory instincts to follow-up an effort that rebounded off the post to put his side in front.
More chances followed before Falkirk tried to get a foothold in the game with Paddy Martin making two simple stops.
In the 32nd minute the visitors did level when Kevin O’Hara picked up a loose ball from a slack pass and threaded in a trialist who picked out Tom Dallison who scored from 10 yards out.
The second half was an evenly contested affair which threatened to swing Falkirk’s way after Sean Mackie saw red for a second yellow, but this sparked Hibernian into life as another series of chances were not taken.
That could have been punished by Falkirk in the dying embers of the match as Marky Munro tested Martin with a long-range drive which he tipped over the bar.
Speaking following the game, Grant Murray said that they started brightly and that he was pleased with that, but he rued the chances missed in the game.
The profligacy of the team in front of goal coupled with the defensive errors at Falkirk’s goal left him frustrated after the game.
The Assistant Coach, who also manages the Development Squad, is looking for them to learn from the lapse in concentration that led to the Falkirk goal and improve for their next match.
He said: “We started the game brightly. I’d said to them that they hadn’t had a game in a few weeks and they needed to start the match in a good manner with energy. I thought they done that.
“In the first half we created a lot of chances and had a lot of the ball, but we maybe weren’t clinical enough and the end result showed that. We had chances to go two or three goals in front, but we didn’t make the most of the opportunities we had.
“In football, it can come back to haunt you and it certainly did. We lost a sloppy goal and it was a situation where it went to a corner and we didn’t deal with it, so it was 1-1 at the break in a game that we dominated.
“What needs to be rectified is the concentration levels. We need to make sure that we are fully focused and punishing teams at all times.
“Games are won and lost in both boxes and at the back end you need to really concentrate. I thought we were sloppy leading up to the corner, we can deal with that, but there was a slack pass and a missed clearance that lets Falkirk level.
“The concentration levels need to be high at all times and especially when the ball is in play.
“Every game is a learning curve for the players and they will learn from the experiences.”
Hibernian Development Squad: Martin, Donaldson, Mackie, Stirling, Trialist, Waugh, I.Murray, Campbell, Allan, Paton, Gullan. Substitutes: Dabrowski, Blake, Shanley, O’Connor.
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