| Strathclyde Saturday Morning League:Division 1 | |
| 2 September 2006 Barlia Sports Complex |
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| Windlaw | 3 |
| McGinley(2), McCaig Dougall sent off |
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| Shawbridge | 2 |
| B.Scally(2) D.Scally sent off |
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| Team: Lunny, A.Dougall, McInally, Kerr, Thornton McCaig (McCabe), Neeson, Baird, K.McCann, McGinley, McKenna (Stoddard). Unused Subs: Docherty, Tierney, Carey |
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Windlaw made 3 changes for the visit of one of the league’s most talented sides with Zanda Dougall on holiday, Colin Sinclair unavailable and Benny Carey injured. Chris Kerr came into central defence, Ian Baird into a reshuffled midfield and Danny McKenna partnered Davie McGinley upfront. Shawbridge were without captain Archie Bryce and Player/Manager Mark Dyer.
There was little goalmouth action early on, however Ian Baird and Shug Neeson’s slick passing in midfield ensured Windlaw’s lead up play was good up to a point without seriously threatening the Shaws defence. An innocuous looking Shawbridge cross was fumbled onto his own crossbar by Windlaw keeper Lunny. On the half hour mark, Windlaw took the lead through Davie McGinley however a huge credit must go to his strike partner Danny McKenna. Picking up the ball just inside the Shaws half, McKenna turned and played a delightful pass just over the Shaws defender’s left shoulder and into McGinley’s path as he bore in on goal. The big striker lashed the ball high past the Shaws keeper for his 3rd goal of an already productive season. Predictably Shaws hit back although in highly controversial fashion. as Windlaw cleared an attack and pushed out, a ball was chipped through to Shaws captain Barry Scally who was clearly a few yards offside. He lobbed superbly over John Lunny for the equaliser despite furious Windlaw protests to referee Colin Bilsland.
Windlaw started the second half well and began pressurising the Shawbridge goal. They took a deserved lead on 55 minutes through Eck McCaig. Shawbridge tried to clear a cross from Shug Neeson after a corner and the ball fell to Eck McCaig 22 yards out. The midfielder swivelled and hit a magnificent swirling dipping shot that landed in the top right hand corner of the Shawbridge net. A sensational strike. Minutes later a further disaster for Windlaw when Barry Scally equalised with another superb finish. Shaws midfielder Allison clipped a pass through a square Windlaw defence and with Windlaw claiming offside, Scally’s first touch put it past the outrushing John Lunny before rolling into the unguarded net. 2-2 and all to play for. The game really opened up and was beginning to surge from end to end now. Ian Baird should have had a penalty when he beat three defenders and tried to stay on his feet to score but was fouled. Amazingly, the referee refused to award the kick. With around 10 minutes remaining Windlaw got the winner. McInally punted a ball over the Shawbridge defence to Davie McGinley who, like Barry Scally for Shaws opener, was clearly offside. He kept his cool and rolled the ball past the Shaws keeper for what proved to be a highly disputed winner. Minutes later, a nothing incident between Allan Dougall and Derek Scally seen both players get sent off for their second bookable offences. A harsh call by the referee. Despite some late pressure, Windlaw held on to record a slender victory.
Verdict: Another ‘battle royale’ between these two old rivals which Windlaw just shaded. The home side for once in this fixture, passed it better and merited the victory on that alone. Shawbridge will recover from this false start and are, as always, the equal of anyone in this league on their day.
Website Man Of The Match: Ian Baird-a classy midfield performance just shaded the excellent Wullie Thornton. Bairdy seemed to have more time on the ball than anyone else on the pitch and his link-up play with Shug Neeson ensured that Windlaw played the better football of the two sides.
