| Strathclyde Saturday Morning League:Division 1 | |
| 16 September 2006 Bargeddie |
|
| Victoria Park | 2 |
| Windlaw | 3 |
| Baird, McKenna, Thornton | |
| Team: Lunny, McInally, Kerr, Sinclair, Thornton, McCann, Neeson, Baird, Wilson (McCaig), McGinley (McKenna), Carey (Docherty). Unused Sub: McCabe, Tierney | |
A strong 19 man Windlaw squad arrived in deepest Bargeddie for this cup-tie with the hosts facing Windlaw for the first time ever in their short history. Victoria Park’s 4-1 away win over First Division Hogganfield Thistle in Round 2 plus a tight bumpy park ensured that this will always going to be an extremely difficult tie to negotiate. Windlaw omitted Peter Herbison, Allan Dougall and Zanda Dougall from the 16 for new manager Benny Carey’s first game in charge of the side. The player-manager restored himself to the starting line-up with Danny McKenna and Eck McCaig dropping to the bench. Wullie Thornton returned at left-back and Wullie Wilson retained his place in midfield, brushing aside the media frenzy that his wife’s tabloid interview had stirred up against him!
Disaster struck for Windlaw inside 4 minutes when leading scorer Davie McGinley freakishly dislocated his finger in an innocuous incident while he was running into the oppsition’s box. The big striker was taken straight to Monklands Hospital where the finger was eventually put back into place that afternoon allaying initial fears of a fracture and subsequently, surgery. Danny McKenna replaced him upfront as Windlaw tried to impose themselves. Too often though, Windlaw players were rushing their passing and crossing and decent chances were few and far between. At the other end,Victoria Park had forced a few corners and long throws into the Windlaw box but these were confidently dealt with in the main. There was a scare when Lunny had to tip a bizarre McInally clearance past his right hand post after a long through ball put Windlaw under pressure. Both McInally and Neeson were booked for dissent following a bad challenge on Chris Kerr which referee O’Brien decided not to punish the Victoria Park player for. Gradually Windlaw began to pen the hosts into their own half and some pressure built up through corners and crosses. The breakthrough came on the half hour mark when Ian Baird scored his first competitive goal for his new club. A Wullie Wilson corner was cleared only partially to Baird whose sliding shot was too strong for the defender’s attempted clearance on the line. This seemed to settle Windaw and as the half ended they looked hungry for more goals which failed to materialise. A slender but fairly comfortable lead was enjoyed at half-time.
Windlaw started the second half in sloppy fashion and after 60 minutes the roof caved in on them as the hosts scored twice in 4 minutes. Firstly a pass through a square looking Windlaw defence allowed the Victoria Park No 9 a clear run in on goal and his sliced shot went in past John Lunny’s despairing left-sided dive. Minutes later, they went in front as Windlaw argued with each other, a throw-in was angled into the box. McInally’s attempted clearance was charged down by the Victoria Park player and his deft touch left 3 Windlaw defenders trailing in his wake as he bore down on Lunny’s goal. He cleverly dinked his shot past the big Windlaw keeper to send the home side ecstatic and Windlaw shell-shocked. Eck McCaig immediately came on for Wullie Wilson as Windlaw tried to pull the game out of the fire. On 75 minutes, Windlaw got the equaliser their pressure deserved. As the onrushing keeper saved from Benny Carey’s run-in on goal, the ball fell nicely for Danny McKenna who, from 20 yards, blasted an excellent shot high into the roof of the Victoria Park net. From thereon Windlaw looked more likely to win and on 80 minutes came the winner. As Ian Baird and Wullie Thornton scrapped the home defence for possession in their box, the ball ricocheted beautifully for Thornton who lashed past the keeper from 6 yards to put Windlaw back into the lead. Martin Docherty then replaced Benny Carey as Windlaw played good possession football in the final few minutes to see the game out.
Verdict: Ultimately an excellent cup-tie that was marred by an influence that we refuse to comment on. To both team’s credits, they played the game in good spirit and kept their discipline well. Victoria Park’s comeback spurred Windlaw into action and they seemed a very decent bunch of guys who we wish well for the remainder of their season. Windlaw again never hit top form but showed a resilience to dig out a result when their backs were to the wall. The loss of McGinley to injury was a real blow and hopefully he can return in 2 or 3 weeks.
Website Man Of The Match: Shug Neeson-pipped Ian Baird, Wullie Thornton and Colin Sinclair to the award. The big man simply ran the show and was instrumental in driving the team forward.
