| Strathclyde Saturday Morning League Division 1 | |
| 15th March 2008 The Murray |
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| Greenhills Dynamo | 1 |
| Mann | |
| Windlaw | 1 |
| McKenna | |
Team: Lunny, A.Dougall, Z.Dougall, Sinclair, Thornton, Taylor (Larkin), Baird (Carmichael), McCann, McKenna, McGinlay, McGregor (McCaig) |
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WINLESS WINDLAW BOGGED DOWN IN MURRAY MUDBATH
Windlaw made 3 changes to last weeks team after the injuries and suspensions cleared up. Zanda Dougall came in for McInally, McKenna came in for Murtagh and Taylor came in for Wilson. The conditions underfoot were far from ideal as the pitch was soggy after a week of rain, but it was a relief just to play on a grass pitch again for only the second time since December.
It was a fairly scrappy start to the match with neither team taking a grip early on. The slippery conditions were making both teams fearful of making a crucial error. Greenhills had the first half chance of the match when a quickly taken free kick caught Windlaw off guard. A beautifully flighted cross evaded the Windlaw defence but Taylor was there to mop up. However as he prepared to clear upfield, he slipped at the crucial moment and almost gifted possession to Greenhills just 6 yards out. Talyor recovered in time to gain his composure and clear the danger. Scary stuff in the Windlaw penalty area.
Windlaw produced some decent build up play up to the Dynamo 18 yard box, but the final ball was often missing.
Not much more worth mentioning in a drab first half encounter.
Half Time: Greenhills Dynamo 0 Windlaw 0
The second half was much better in comparison to the first and almost had a cup tie feel about it, it was pure blood and thunder. The quality of football improved, the slide tackles were frequent and the goal mouth chances were unbelievable. It was high drama all the way to the end.
It was as if both teams' midfield players decided not to defend as the match swung from one end to the other. Greenhills missed a decent chance through Murtha early in the second half and blazed wildly over. He had more time than he realised. WIndlaw's McGinlay had a decent chance blocked after rounding the Dynamo keeper.
Greenhills went ahead in disappointing circumstances Dougaall played the ball back to Lunny but as the keeper prepared to clear the ball, it took a horrible bobble and the clearance went straight to Mann. The big wide man still had loads to do but smashed an unstoppable first time effort high into the net to put the home side ahead. Advantage Greenhills.
Windlaw chased an equaliser, but that was leaving gaps for Greenhills to exploit. The home side almost made it 2-0 when a dubious offside decision went their way and the Dynamo forward had a one on one with Lunny. However the keeper redeemed himself from his earlier blunder to expertly claw the ball away from the strikers feet just as he was ready to strike it. Top class goalkeeping from Windlaw's talented goalkeeper.
Windlaw equalised with 5 minutes remaining. Determined play from McCann earned a corner. The resultant in-swinging kick caught out keeper Whyte as it floated over his head and straight to Danny McKenna, who was almost standing on the goal-line with the easiest of tap-ins.
Windlaw almost snatched it at the end when a brilliant jinking run from McKenna ended with him dinking a sublime lob over Whyte only for it to come back off the face of the bar. Carmichael was following up for the rebound but it evaded him as it went over his head.
Full Time: Greenhills Dynamo 1 Windlaw 1
Verdict- A draw was a fair result in this pulsating match which was played like a cup tie on occasions. Both teams could have snatched the win with late chances too. Neither team has realistic aspirations of winning the title this season, so it was all about pride and bragging rights. Windlaw battled well and played some decent stuff despite a boggy pitch which worsened as the game progressed.
