| Greater Glasgow Premier AFL: Division 3 | |
| 27th October 2007 St Margaret Mary's Secondary School |
|
| Windlaw | 2 |
| OG, Larkin | |
| Alba Thistle | 1 |
| Team: Lunny, McInally, Sinclair, Stuart, Montgomery(Murtagh)(Carroll), Larkin, Wilson, Paton(Carmichael), Thornton, Carey, McGinlay | |
| Referee: Frank McLauchlan | |
DEFIANT WINDLAW HOLD ON FOR TIGHT VICTORY
Windlaw made two changes from last week’s narrow defeat at Rannoch with Wullie Thornton replacing Graym Carroll and David McGinlay coming in from the morning team to beef up the strikeforce as we reverted back to 4-4-2. Barry Murtagh was fit enough to make the bench and Scott Williamson and Bruce Tierney remained unfit. Alba Thistle, on the back of giving Eddlewood a tough game the week before were clearly better than their league position suggested.
The referee made both teams wait for the scheduled 2pm kick-off by turning up late. Conditions were good underfoot although slightly blustery.
Windlaw went ahead as early as the sixth minute. Craig Montgomery who looked in the mood, skinned Alba’s right back and got to the touchline before firing an almost undefendable cutback across goal where an Alba defender in an attempt to clear, hammered the ball high into his own net from 4 yards out. Alba began to settle though and their willingness to try and get the ball down and build from the back was admirable given the tight pitch and windy conditions. David McGinlay came close to adding a second though but his glancing header from a free-kick landed just wide. Alba got the equaliser they arguably deserved on 36 minutes after a corner fell to Anthony Larker in his own box. As he attempted to clear, he was tackled and the ball broke to the edge of the box where an Alba player fizzed an absolutely unstoppable low drive just above the greasy surface into the bottom right hand corner of Lunny’s net through a ruck of bodies. Their joy was short-lived however, as minutes later, Windlaw regained the lead. Stevie Paton’s tenacious work earned him a free-kick just inside the opposition half. He dusted himself down and sent a fine cross into the Alba box where Anthony Larkin outjumped and outpowered everyone and steered a fantastic header over the Alba keeper into the net.
The second half was a very cagey affair with the next goal pivotable to the outcome. In the end it never came, despite Windlaw going close through free-kicks by Carey and Wilson. Alba had a decent amount of possession but were not as slick as they were in the first half and never created a clear-cut chance really. The referee lost control as the game got niggly with constant stoppages to talk to players. Barry Murtagh replaced a tiring Montgomery on 65 minutes but his part only lasted 10 minutes after he was upended by a crude Alba challenge and landed awkwardly on his shoulder. He was taken straight to hospital where he was diagnosed with a dislocated collar-bone, overshadowing the victory. The referee who was at this point dishing out cards like confetti though, didn’t deem this challenge worthy of punishment! Amazingly, more than 10 minutes of anxious injury-time was endured before the referee finally blew time to give Windlaw three hard fought points.
Windlaw Man Of The Match: Anthony Larkin- probably his best display since joining. He worked very hard,particularly late on when we needed it and scored an excellent header. Honourable mentions also go to defenders Stuart and Sinclair, Paton in midfield and Craig Montgomery who had an excellent hour on the left wing before tiring.
Verdict: A good result stemming from a very hard working performance by the players who knuckled down well. Everyone battled hard and defended our half-time lead superbly, restricting Alba to only half chances. The shape and spine of the team is beginning to form nicely and partnerships are starting to forge which bodes well for a difficult season ahead.
