GGPAFL League Division 1
Windlaw 4-1 Orchard Parkmount 'A'
Greg Johnstone hit two goals at barlia on Saturday to earn his side a much needed win and end a run of 7 consecutive league defeats and also put himself into the record books as only the 6th player in our history to hit 100 goals for the club. The opening goal came after a fine interchange of passes on the edge of the edge of the visitors penalty box before Liam McGeachy was sent clear to slot underneath the keeper. Windlaw were living dangerously at times in defence and the visitors equalised after a dangerous cross was inadvertently turned into his own net by Craig Thomas. Windlaw went ahead again after Greg Johnstone and Danny McKenna added a goal apiece but only after missing chances they would normally finish with their eyes closed. Johnstone made it a day to remember before the end when he added his second of the day and his landmark 100th Windlaw goal in remarkably only his 3rd season with the club. The others to reach the landmark are Benny Carey, Scott Williamson, Kevin McCann, Danny McKenna and Stevie Thomson. Skipper Johnstone's level of prolificacy is unquestionable and he may even be the quickest ever player to reach the landmark after achieving the feat in only 65 appearances. Congratulations to "that man Johnstone"
SSMAFL League Division 2
Blochairn Star 'B' 1-3 Windlaw
Windlaw collected a vital 3 points to keep themselves firmly in the hunt for promotion to Division 1 after a tremendous display at the cage in Royston. Windlaw came flying out the traps and James McCaig blasted a shot low into the net from 12 yards out after only 90 seconds gone. As expected, Blochairn knocked the ball around well however lacked a kiler pass in the final 3rd of the pitch. They did equalise however after a cross into the box skidded of Taylor's head and into the bottom corner of the net. Windlaw were still dangerous and Frew was having a lot of joy up front and it was he who put Windlaw ahead. Good link up play on the left allowed Danny McDonagh to slip a ball through for Frew and the prolific front man rattled a great effort home from 20 yards out. Into the second half and things took a turn for the worse after 55 mins when Martin Newman went over on his ankle and suffered suspected ligament damage and was carried off before being taken to hospital in an ambulance. Joe Kerr replaced him in central defence. Blochairn were putting Windlaw under pressure but the defence stood firm and limited the clear chances to a minimum. One shot managed to breach the defence but Ryan Foster was equal to it with a fine save. Lyn ch came on for McDonagh and it proved to be good decision after Lynch curled home the 3rd goal into the bottom corner of the net for his 20th goal of the season. Windlaw could have extended their lead but Frew's shot came back off the face of the bar.
Clydebank Utd |
At Monday night's SSML league executive meeting it was confirmed that Clydebank Utd have withdrawn from the league. In line with the league constitution, all opponents who were still due to play Clydebank Utd are awarded 3 points as they had fulfilled more than 2/3 of their games.
As the business end of the season approaches, we're no closer to knowing who will occupy the top 2 places in Division 2 as there are still 6 teams competing for them. Here is a rundown of who the contenders have still to play:
| Date | Blochairn Star B |
Cresswell Lane |
Dennistoun Vale |
Silverburn | Kilbride Villa |
Windlaw |
| 16/05 | Kilbride Villa (h) |
Bridge (h) | Cresswell Lane (a) |
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| 19/05 | Tantallon Victoria (a) |
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| 23/05 | South Lanarkshire (a) |
Windlaw (a) | Silverburn (h) | |||
| 26/05 | Kilbride Villa (a) |
Cresswell Lane (h) |
Singer (h) | |||
| 30/05 | Dennistoun Vale (a) |
South Lanarkshire (a) |
Blochairn Star B (h) |
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| 02/06 | Ralston (a) | |||||
| Unlisted | Bengal Lancers (a |
This year's end of season dance and awards ceremony will take place in The Glencairn Club on Saturday 9th June. Last year's dance was at the same venue and everyone had an enjoyable night and gave us good feedback about the venue so it made sense to hold it here again. Tickets will be distributed nearer the time so keep the date free in your diary.
SSMAFL League Division 2
Tantallon Victoria 2-6 Windlaw
Windlaw chalked up a good 6-2 win against a stubborn Tantallon Victoria at Huntly Park today and kept their promotion dreams alive. The visitors got a great start when Frew opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, however Vics drew level from the penalty spot a few minutes later. Frew put Windlaw ahead to go in 2-1 up at half time. The on form hitman completed his hatrick after great work by McDonagh. Tantallon got themselves back into the game with an expertly hit direct free kick however Frew returned the compliment to McDonagh and set the winger up for his 21st goal of the season. The same man made it 22 for the season with an exquisite chip after he spotted the keeper off his line before sub McCaig unselfishly laid off for O'Neill to tap home and complete the win.
GGPAFL League Division 1
Third Lanark 3-0 Windlaw
Details to follow
League Cup Round 2
Windlaw 3-1 Blairdardie
Windlaw progressed to the League Cup Quarter Final after a hard fought win over 1st Division side Blairdardie. The game had barely started when the visitors went down to 10 men after their centre midfielder was adjudged to be guilty of a late tackle and saw red. Windlaw capitalised and went ahead soon after when James McCaig finished well. It was 2-0 around 30 mins when McCaig again was on the scoresheet after he was on hand to tap home a spill from the 'Dardie keeper. The win was confirmed when Newman expertly chested the ball into Dougie Frew's path and the on form front man buried it low into the net for his 20th goal of the season. The visitors grabbed a consolation after a brilliant long range effort beat Foster and they pressed for another lat the death with a series of corners but WIndlaw saw it out and progressed. In all honesty, it wasn't a vintage Windlaw performance, it was a match won by pure hard work and graft but sometimes you need to win ugly. Windlaw will face St Marys next Saturday in the Quarter Final.
League Cup Round 2
Orchard Parkmount 'A' 1-0 Windlaw
Windlaw slipped to the cruelest of defeats away to the reigning league champions. Windlaw dominated early on but spurned good chances. The home side should then have had two men ordered off in seperate incidents one a dreadful two-footed challenge on Derek Semple and the other an elbow into Liam McGeachy after he beat his man. Incredibly ref Colin Simpson merely flashed yellow cards to both offenders. The home side took an ill deserved lead on 40 minutes direct from a free-kick. The second-half was more even but Chris Hepburn had a penalty brillantly saved after 72 minutes following hand-ball in the box then Danny McKenna blasted straight at the keeper with the goal gaping.It was one of those days when the effort deserved much more than the result brought.
Strathclyde Cup Round 2
ICC 1-0 Windlaw
Windlaw faced Premier division ICC in the Strathclyde Cup and the game was finally played, at the fourth time of asking. It was a very evenly contested match and it looked like one goal was always going to settle it. Unfortunately for us, ICC got that solitary goal in the 87th minute and progressed to the next round of the cup. Windlaw now enter the Tommy Marshall Cup where we will face Bengal Lancers at home in the first round. It was a spirited effort and no real sign of a gulf in class between the sides despite there being 2 divisions between the teams
Challenge Cup Round 1
North Kelvin Utd 3-4 Windlaw
On paper, most people would have made this an easy win for Windlaw. However, the game isn't played on paper and that was evident as North Kelvin were clearly up for the match and keen to take a scalp in the cup. The home side were in dreamland as they raced into a 3-0 lead. It looked like what had already been a turbulent week for the club was about to get worse with a cup exit. Windlaw found their fighting spirit though and produced a remarkable comeback to win the match 4-3.
After a long absence due to technical issues, the Windlaw website looks to be finally up and running again. Much has happened over the last 3 months and can't be captured from memory so we'll start fresh from this point on.
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.
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.
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 |
| Bannerman | 20 | 40 |
| Third Lanark | 18 | 39 |
| EBC | 20 | 35 |
| OPM A | 20 | 34 |
| GGPL Top Scorers | ||
| Player | Pld | Gls |
| Johnstone | 23 (1) | 34 |
| McKenna | 21 (2) | 17 |
| McGeachy | 15 (3) | 8 |
| SSML League Table 11/12 | ||
| Team | Pl | Pts |
| D. Vale | 26 | 64 |
| Windlaw | 26 | 61 |
| Blochairn Star | 26 | 56 |
| Silverburn Utd | 25 | 55 |
| SSML Top Scorers | ||
| Player | Pld | Gls |
| Frew | 28 | 28 |
| McDonagh | 30 | 22 |
| Lynch | 33 | 20 |
| McCaig | 28 | 19 |
| Club Charter |
In 1991, Windlaw AFC was
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