| Greater Glasgow Premier AFL: Division 3 | |
| 9th April 2008 St Margaret Marys |
|
| Windlaw | 1 |
| McKenna | |
| Muirend | 2 |
| Team: Lunny, McInally, Stuart, Sinclair, Thornton, McCaig, Baird, Carey (D.McGregor), G McGregor (Mallon), McKenna, Black (A.Dougall) | |
| Referee: Gerry Santangelli | |
WINDLAW MUGGED BY MUIREND
Wullie Wilson, Bruce Tierney and Barry Murtagh were unavailable for Windlaw while Thornton, Sinclair and Baird came in. The pitch was just about playable although it was pudding-like in some parts and not conduisive to good football. A battle with a physical Muirend side lay in store.
Windlaw started poorly and within minutes, Lunny had to bail out his defence with an excellent close range save after poor defending. Muirend were pushing the big men forward at long throws to pressurise Windlaw. Muirend took the lead on 14 minutes after a ball lobbed over the Windlaw defence was latched onto by a Muirend midfielder who ran from deep. He controlled it and held off McInally’s challenge before firing home from 8 yards out. Windlaw then awoke from their slumber and began to pressurise the visitors defence. George McGregor forced a fine save from Muirend keeper Mure and a succession of corners was forced. Windlaw equalised through one such corner on 24 minutes when Danny McKenna swooped to place a header high into the net from 6 yards. The game was evening out now and both sides looked threatening going forward. Then came the game’s decisive and controversial moment on 33 minutes. From a Muirend throw into the Windlaw penalty area, Mark McDougall took possession on the touchline but clearly controlled it with left arm to prevent it going out. He then turned sharply and ran into McInally’s leg before diving. The hapless referee Sagnatelli, who had enjoyed a woeful performance, firstly missed the obvious free-kick then bought the con trick to point to the spot. A shocking decision. The penalty was fired into the roof of the net and Muirend led at half-time.
Half Time: Windlaw 1 Muirend 2
The second-half was virtual one way traffic as Muirend camped in around their area and tried to hit on the break. Benny Carey and Danny McKenna both went very close with good efforts and keeper Mure had a few good saves and handled crosses well. Muirend’s best effort came when McDougall smashed an effort off the inside of the post and across the line before going out. Despite intense pressure, Muirend held on for the victory they ultimately needed more and Windlaw were left cursing the ineptitude of the penalty decision.
Full Time: Windlaw 1 Muirend 2
Windlaw Star Man- Danny McKenna took the award as he looked a real threat throughout. His goal aside, he worked hard and made some telling passes and good runs.
Verdict- A travesty of a result for a Windlaw side who gave everything. A draw would have been fair and Windlaw will wonder how they got nothing from it. The manner of the winning goal and the penalty award leaves a very bitter taste in the mouth. Muirend remain top of the table and look like promotion material, however only their goalkeeper and centre-forward set them apart and an over reliance on them may yet put them in trouble in the title race.
