Match Report

Pre-match problems for Windlaw included the loss of Murtagh, Baird, Black and Carmichael from the squad but Shaun Mallon returned to the bench. A very strong wind was blowing across the fiery pitch, making it deceptively cold on a beautifully sunny day. The pitch was overlooked by the picturesque college buildings and was obviously kept in very good order. Davie McGinley beefed up the strikeforce beside the returning George McGregor. Bruce Tierney and Paul McInally also returned to the starting line-up beside Colin Sinclair. Ian Baird’s withdrawal meant Benny Carey dropped back to help out in midfield.

Both teams seemed to struggle with the windy conditions to begin with and both keepers were pretty quiet. Gradually though, Windlaw began to get a better grip despite Alba’s dangerous No 8 exerting an influence on the game. Davie McGinley almost netted after a low shot was just turned round the post by the Alba keeper. Wullie Thornton was next to threaten when his hooked shot was cleared off the line after a corner. Danny McKenna then kept his love affair with the frames of goalposts going when he struck the post after Davie McGinley had put him through on the keeper. Windlaw were definitely having the best of the chances and on 43 minutes, Windlaw struck with the best football of the game. Colin Sinclair started the move, by passing it to McKenna just inside the Alba half. McKenna then turned and played in Wullie Thornton with a good ball in the inside right position. Thornton slipped in Davie McGinley and the hitman despatched a low shot just inside the keeper’s right hand post to give the visitors a deserved half-time lead.

Half Time: Alba Thistle 0 Windlaw 1

Windlaw kept the momentum going and started the second half in positive mode. They needed a second goal though and were prompting for a breakthrough. A blow came on 53 minutes when Benny Carey had to go off with a muscle problem to be replaced by young Duncan McGregor. This meant a slight reshuffle with Wullie Wilson moving inside and McGregor taking up the wide-left role. On 67 minutes, Windlaw got a penalty after excellent work by George McGregor set up Danny McKenna and his shot was handled in the box. Wullie Wilson stepped up and fired his shot high into the top right hand corner of the net. Despite this healthy lead, Alba never gave up. Windlaw were dealt a further blow when skipper McCaig had to limp off to be replaced by Mallon on 75 minutes after being caught in a challenge. This seemed to unsettle Windlaw and minutes later Alba got one back. After Windlaw failed to clear on their left hand side, Alba’s number 8 went on a mazy run evading 3 or 4 challenges before working the ball to an Alba player just inside the box. His shot seemed to be covered by Lunny but it deflected wickedly off Wullie Thornton and spun behind Lunny into the net. This should have given Alba a real lift to pressurise Windlaw. It was however Windlaw who took advantage of the gaps beginning to appear in the Alba defence and with four minutes left, Davie McGinley got his second and Windlaw’s third when another low shot crept into the net with the keeper looking slightly suspect. In the dying seconds, Thornton almost added a fourth but the ball was nicked from his toes by a tackle as he was about to pull the trigger.        

Full Time: Alba Thistle 1 Windlaw 3

Summing-Up: A very good away win for Windlaw against an Alba side who seemed not at their best. Windlaw were again solid and committed to a man and always carried the greater threat. John Lunny was rarely called upon as Alba struggled to break Windlaw down. This result will help boost confidence as Windlaw attempt to finish as high up the league as possible.

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