| Strathclyde Saturday Morning League: Division 1 | |
| 15th September 2007 Jimmy McGrory Pitches, Royston |
|
| Blochairn Star | 2 |
| Laboya, Hughes | |
| Windlaw AFC | 2 |
| McGinley, Carmichael | |
| Team: Lunny, Bonnar (Carmichael), McInally, McCann, Thornton, A.Dougall (McGregor), Baird, Carey, McKenna, McGinlay, McCaig. | |
Windlaw SSMFL Draw With Blochairn Star
Windlaw came away from Royston with a point for the second consecutive season, despite missing 3 crucial players in Sinclair, Dougall and Taylor.
Kevin McCann was deployed at centre half with Brendan Bonnar coming into right back, but the makeshift defence was caught cold as Blochairn full back Christian Laboya beat the offside trap and fired high into John Lunny's net after only 5 minutes.
Windlaw could have crumbled and took a heavy defeat after conceding so early, but the players showed great determination to get back into the match. Davie McGinlay brought us level with a free kick, with the aid of a deflection, sending the keeper the wrong way.
Blochairn attacked but the Windlaw defence stood strong and prevented the champions any clear openings. Windlaw were also looking dangerous in spells and McGinlay and McCaig were causing the Blochairn defence problems. McGinlay was unlucky to get a bad bounce of the ball after a fine Eck McCaig cross, and the wee man was also unlucky with a header which went narrowly wide.
Blochairn shouted for a penalty midway through the first half after Gerry Hughes fell to the ground, but the referee wasn't having any of it.
The score was level at half time, Blochairn were playing a lot of good football going forward, but Windlaw's defence were standing firm.
The second half saw Blochairn step up the pressure and they had a couple of half chances. The referee then awarded the home side a contentious penalty for handball against the excellent Kevin McCann. There didn't seem to be much McCann could do about it as his hands were by his side in a natural position, but a penalty it was. Gerry Hughes made no mistake with the kick and put Blochairn 2-1 ahead.
Windlaw immediately raced up the park and a fine strike by Dougall seemed destined for the net before a defeder desperately blocked it, with the follow up shot also blocked. Windlaw half heartedly claimed for a penalty.
The match could have been over when Gerry Hughes was presented with a chance he usually finishes with his eyes closed, but on this occasion, the big forward side footed past the post from 8 yards out. It was a chance he would later regret missing.
Davie McGinlay tried his luck from long range and only a fine save from Hughes kept the prolific hitman out.
With only 2 minutes to go, Windlaw got an equaliser. A long throw in was nodded on by Benny Carey and Colin Carmichael slid in before keeper Hughes and prodded the ball over the line. Another referee might have given the foul, but from Windlaw's point of view, it was justice for the soft penalty awarded against them earlier.
Blochairn were stunned, so much so that Windlaw almost grabbed a winner. Danny McKenna was played in on the angle of the box but dragged his shot agonisingly wide.
Blochairn will feel they deserved all 3 points, but Windlaw had some good chances during the game aswell and the fight and determination shown made up for the lack of fancy football and probably merited a point, especially given our central pairing of Zanda Dougall and Colin Sinclair were absent. McInally and McCann filled in to great effect, with McCann in particular having an excellent match against possibly the best forward in the league, limiting him to only half chances. John Lunny was as reliable as ever when called on. Davie McGinlay continues to mature and is fastly becoming a top player for Windlaw, turning in an excellent display again and making it 7 goals in 7 games for the season.
MOTM - Kevin McCann
