EBC 4-1 Windlaw
A poor performance saw Windlaw leave Hamilton battered by the wind and the home side after going down 4-1 to EBC. If this weekend's game against Bannerman beats the weather, Windlaw need to bounce back quickly after failing to win any of the last two league games.
SSML Update - ACK Utd Resign From League
The club received an email today stating that ACK Utd have folded and have resigned fom the league with immediate effect. It comes as a big surprise as ACK were competing well and were right in the thick of the title race, aided by a 4-2 win at barlia back in October. As they failed to complete two thirds of their fixtures, all games and points are declared null and void. This means Windlaw have played a game less but, more importantly, see the number of defeats reduce by one. Strangely, despite this, we have climbed a place in the league as Clydebank lost out on three points and moved down the table. The league table is updated to reflect the changes.
Windlaw 3-0 South Lanarkshire Utd
Windlaw bounced back from last week's humiliation with a deserved 3-0 victory over new boys South Lanarkshire Utd. Windlaw opened the scoring when Dougie Frew skipped past his marker to cut the ball back for Lynch, who passed into an open goal after the keeper was drawn to the front post by Frew's great run. Frew went close when he met a fine cross in the six yard box with a fine diving header. However, the Utd keeper was equal to it and made a good save. The home side went two goals up in the second half and gave themselves a bit of a cushion. Tommy Carrigan found himself in the penalty box and jinked onto the byeline where he sent in a great left footed cross and Danny McDonagh continued his fine scoring run as he smashed home at the front post after running in from the back post. Windlaw made sure of all 3 points soon after when sub Steph McCann took advantage of a ricochet and drilled low past the keeper. Windlaw could have scored a few more but were wasteful in front of goal and had to settle for the three goals.
In season of twists and turns, today's other results mean Windlaw move up to 2nd place in the league table. Blochairn Star B lost one nil to Dennistoun Vale and Cresswell Lane beat Clydebank Utd by three goals to two. ACK Utd also lost at home to Bridge by the same scoreline.
The afternoon team's cup game wit North Kelvin Utd was a victim of the weather and will be rescheduled at a later date.
Kelvinbridge 1-4 Windlaw
Danny McDonagh marked his return to the starting line up with a deadly double against Kelvinbridge on Saturday to earn another good win and send Windlaw to the top of the league. McDonagh linked up well with Morrison and Docherty in 4 mins and opened the scoring with a neat finish. He doubled the lead midway through the first half when Ryan Foster, making his Windlaw debut in goals, launched a long kick upfield which deceived the keeper and bounced over him. McDonagh was on hand to tap into the empty net. Kelvinbridge clawed a goal back but a wonderful Steph McCann dummy allowed Frew to beat the keeper and restore Windlaw's two goal lead. Frew returned the favour when a lung bursting run up the left wing ended with him squaring the ball to McCann who lashed high into the net and finish the game off. The win allowed Windlaw to go to the top of the table after Blochairn Star B, Silverburn and Kilbride Villa all lost.
Windlaw 4-2 Weir Rec
The afternoon team sealed a perfect weekend with a 4-2 win which also sends them to the top of the league. A side still depleted with injuries still had enough in the tank and a double from Chris Hepburn added to by single strikes from Johnstone and Donnelly. More to follow
Windlaw SSML are looking to build on last week's win against Dennistoun Vale with another victory against Kelvinbridge this weekend. Windlaw won the reverse fixture 4-1 only a few weeks back with a hard working performance and a similar result and performance would be welcomed. Windlaw are without a host of players for various reasons but will hopefully have a few new faces in to boost the squad. Windlaw GGPL will face Weir Recreation for the second week running after both teams played on an entertaining 4-3 Windlaw victory last week at Burnhill. Windlaw are hampered by a lengthy injury list but will look to continue a decent league start with another win.
The 1st & 2nd round of the GGPL Challenge Cup has been made and Windlaw have been drawn away to North Kelvin Utd. The winners of that tie will be at home to Division 3 team Dumbarton FP.
In other news, Chris Kerr became a father to a baby boy a few weeks back and both mother and baby are doing well. Chris and Donna decided on the name Shay and it's rumoured he already has more hair and sense than his dad. And finally, with the unexpected news that a second knee operation is required, Allan Dougall has been forced to call time on his Windlaw playing days. After suffering multiple ligament ruptures in a cup tie against County Thistle in April, Dougall needed an operation to repair the damage, however more surgery is required and the decision has now been taken to hang up the boots.
The scores for matchday 4 of the Champions League Competition have been compiled and can be found here.
Windlaw 7-4 East Kilbride Utd
Danny McKenna hit four goals at Barlia on Saturday to earn his side a well deserved victory and earn himself a place in the Windlaw record books as only the fifth player in our history to hit 100 goals for the club. The day started badly with goalkeeper John Lunny ruled out with damaged ribs and centre-half Kevin McCann had to replace him between the sticks. The day got worse as sloppy defending allowed the vistors a two goal lead before Windlaw woke up. The roof then caved in on EK when some brilliantly worked goals earned a 4-2 half-time lead for Windlaw. EK then hit back with a goal in the opening minute of the second-half before Windlaw hit three more to put the game well beyond EK. A late consolation did little to dampen a very good day at the office for Windlaw and McKenna in particular. The striker joined the club in 2006 and his hat-trick yesterday saw him achieve the feat he has been on the verge of for a few games. The others to reach the landmark are Benny Carey, Scott Williamson, Kevin McCann and Stevie Thomson. Coming up hard on the rails too is skipper Greg Johnstone who hit his 83rd goal for the club yesterday in only 51 appearances, an amazing strike-rate. The team are away to Weir Recreation in the league next week while the SSML sides trip to Bishopton to face Bridge AFC was predictably off due to bad weather.
Quayside Thistle 3-7 Windlaw
Windlaw built on last week's good performance against Kelvinbridge with another win at basement boys Quayside Thistle. Doug Frew grabbed 4 goals in another impressive display while Carrigan, Lynch and McDonagh chipped in with a goal each as well. Despite the scoreline, Windlaw were sloppy for parts of the game and need to remember the game lasts for 90 mins after conceding two very poor goals in the last 10 mins. Next up is new boys ACK Utd at barlia who will almost certainly provide a very tough game for us.
Tarbolton 1-1 Windlaw
Windlaw's trip to Ayrshire to face Tarbolton in the Scottish Cup went ahead at the 2nd attempt and will require another meeting to settle the tie after both teams played their part in a fiercely contested 1-1 draw. Windlaw started well and dominated the first 30 mins and led through Greg Johnstone. The visitors should have had more goals but for some good goalkeeping from the Tarbolton number one. The home side came into the game and equalised in the second half after a decent spell of pressure on the Windlaw goal. With the game heading for a replay, Windlaw almost snatched the win in the dying seconds when a James Donnelly strike was expertly saved by the impressive Tarbolton goalkeeper. It was a good performance against a strong Ayrshire side and Windlaw's most impressive player on the day was John Lunny, who pulled off 4 or 5 top drawer saves to earn a replay at Toryglen next Saturday, 15th October.
Windlaw SSML are delighted to announce the signing of Paul Canning, who has joined the club from Premier Division champions Tynecastle. The highly experienced defender was an impressive performer in Tynecastle's title winning season last year and also when they won the title in 2009.
Windlaw manager Colin Carmichael said "Paul is a quality player and we are delighted to have signed him. He brings great experience and has played and won titles at the highest level of the SSML so he will be a great addition to our squad."
Windlaw SSML 4-1 Kelvinbridge
Windlaw bounced back from last week's disappointing defeat with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Kelvinbridge. Joe Kerr gave us the lead from the spot early on and McCaig and Frew added soon after. A speculative effort from the visitors somehow found the net and gave them a lifeline going into half time. That hope was quickly extinguished though as McCaig added a fourth after Frew unselfishly done all the hard work before squaring for a tap into the empty net. Windlaw missed loads of chances afterwards and it really could have been double figures.
Tarbolton P-P Windlaw GGPL
Windlaw's trip to Ayrshire to face Tarbolton in the Scottish Cup fell victim to the torrential rain and was unsurprisingly postponed. The match will be relisted for next Saturday where hopefully the weather will improve and the tie can be played.
Windlaw made it 3 league games without victory after going down 4-2 to league leaders Silverburn. Despite going into half time with a 2-1 advantage through goals from Frew and McDonagh, we just couldn't do enough in the second half to hold onto the result. It is another blow for a team who are hoping to be up amongst the promotion places come the end of the season, however on current form, that is unlikely. A major improvement is required to put right the two previous poor league performances and bounce back to winning ways.
Windlaw SSML 4-3 Greenhills Dynamo
Windlaw qualified from League Cup Group 2 in thrilling fashion after a dramatic 4-3 victory over oldest rivals Greenhills Dynamo. It was the first match between the sides in over 3 years and it was the men from EK who opened the scoring after 12 mins. Windlaw hit back on 17 mins though after a neat exchange between Taylor and Ireland resulted in the latter smashing a right foot screamer into the corner of the net. Windlaw went ahead after an inch perfect cross from McInallly found Danny McDonagh, who calmly directed it back across goal into the bottom corner. Ireland gave Windlaw a two goal lead after finishing with his left foot 2 mins before half time. Greenhills were up for it in the 2nd half but it was Windlaw who had the chance to increase their lead from the penalty spot after Ireland was upended. Taylor stepped up but his effort went wide of the post. Greenhills took heart and Atha scored but the resultant collision with Booth ended the speedy hitman's game there. Greenhills equalised courtesy of a deflected free kick and just when it looked like the game would end in a draw, Ireland completed a stunning hatrick when he drilled home after 'keeper Whyte dropped the ball at his feet. A thoroughly stunning game, bags of goals and entertainment but the win means Windlaw qualify from the group despite still having Kelvinbank Star to play next Wed, 21st Sept.
Dennistoun Vale 2-2 Windlaw SSML
Windlaw snatched a point in a tough match in Easterhouse after Lynch struck in the dying seconds of the game. It was Lynch who opened the scoring in 10 minutes to put the visitors ahead on a greasy pitch after a perfectly weighted Morrison pass allowed Lynch to control before slotting past the keeper. Vale's strength was causing problems for Windlaw though and they deservedly equalised in the 43rd minute. Windlaw started brightly in the second half and McDonagh missed from close range before Substitue Frew only had the keeper to beat before the ball got stuck under his feet. It was Vale who went ahead after a long range shot squeezed through a crowd of players and skid past the unsighted Booth. Windlaw battled on though and had some decent chances to grab the equaliser before Lynch broke the Vale offside trap and lashed his shot high into the top corner of the net after Carrigan's slide rule defence splitting pass in the dying minutes.
Orchard Parkmount 'B' 0-6 Windlaw GGFL
Windlaw GGFL cruised to a comfortable victory at barlia earlier after a Greg Johnstone goalspree inspired Windlaw to a 7-1 victory. In form Johnstone hit 5 goals, taking his tally for the season to 12, before Donnelly and McGeachy chipped in with a solitary strike each. It was a costly day though as another 2 players were added to the injury list. With an already threadbare squad, Windlaw will need to regroup in time for next weekends visit to former Champions Partick West.
The clubs Player Of The Year Dance at a packed GlencairnSocial Club was a great success to celebrate our 20th anniversary. On the night the winners of the awards were as follows:
SSML Top Goalscorer: Joint Award Benny Carey and Chris Lynch
SSML Player Of The Year: Neil Ferguson
SSML Players Player Of The Year: Ciaran Docherty
GGAFL Top Goalscorer: Danny McKenna
GGAFL Player Of The Year: Craig Thomas
GGAFL Players Player Of The Year: Danny McKenna
Outstanding Contribution Winners: Martin Kerr, Stevie Thomson, Paul McInally and Shug Neeson
| Weekly Diary |
| GGPL League Table 11/12 | ||
| Team | Pl | Pts |
| Windlaw | 8 | 15 |
| Bannerman | 6 | 14 |
| St Pats | 7 | 13 |
| EK Utd | 4 | 9 |
| GGPL Top Scorers | ||
| Player | Pld | Gls |
| Johnstone | 11 (1) | 20 |
| McKenna | 11 (1) | 8 |
| Donnelly | 13 | 6 |
| McGeachy | 7 (2) | 5 |
| SSML League Table 11/12 | ||
| Team | Pl | Pts |
| Kilbride Villa | 13 | 29 |
| Windlaw | 12 | 25 |
| D'toun Vale | 11 | 25 |
| Blochairn Star | 11 | 23 |
| SSML Top Scorers | ||
| Player | Pld | Gls |
| Frew | 9 (5) | 14 |
| Lynch | 10 (4) | 14 |
| McCaig | 11 (2) | 10 |
| McDonagh | 13 (1) | 10 |
| Club Charter |
In 1991, Windlaw AFC was
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