| The Fosters Scottish Amateur Cup Round 2 | |
| 18th October 2008 Huntershill Outdoor Recreation Centre |
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| Balornock | 5 |
| Windlaw | 2 |
| McCann, Carey | |
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Half Time: 2-0 Full Time 5-2 Referee: R Doolan (Scottish Amateur Football League) |
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After a month of inactivity and two postponements of this fixture, Windlaw finally got back in action. The pitch was decent in most parts given the recent weather and weather conditions were pretty good. James McKenna bravely decided to play despite nursing a pretty severe ankle injury.
Windlaw never settled well at all and their rustiness was all too evident. Balornock seemed more threatening and opened the scoring in only 11 minutes. As Windlaw tried to push out from a Balornock attack, James Fitzpatrick fouled a Balornock player 22 yards out down their left hand side. Their boy stepped up and crashed a superb free-kick off the underside of the bar which James McKenna couldn’t keep out. Windlaw never responded and couldn’t seem to deal with Balornock in midfield.
Inevitably, Balornock doubled their lead on 36 minutes and from a Windlaw attack. As Windlaw were camped in Balornock’s box, the ball broke and was clipped over Wilson’s head down Balornock’s right wing. As their winger made strides down the wing and with limited options, McInally tried to close down as he neared the box. He then struck an angled drive which looped off McInally’s bootlaces and the very slight deflection took the ball away from McKenna’s despairing dive when he had the original shot covered.
Near the end of the half, Fitzpatrick was pushed in the back as he attempted to head in the Balornock box. No penalty was given and then Balornock blatantly passed the ball back to their keeper after the incident. No free-kick given from SAFL ref Doolan. This clearly intimated how the remainder of this game was going to pan out from someone who clearly would rather be somewhere else.
Half Time: Balornock 2 Windlaw 0
The next goal was always going to be vital and Balornock got it on 51 minutes. After yet another free-kick down their right just outside Windlaw’s box, Doolan decided Balornock required two attemps to take it and on the second attempt as Windlaw tried to step up, the floated free-kick beat Windlaw’s offside trap and was headed home from close range.
Doolan’s increasingly erratic and nervous performance was causing real concern as the intimidation began to reign down from Balornock’s packed touchline. Zanda Dougall was judged to have fouled inside his own box in a heavy challenge and the resultant penalty was despatched well to give Balornock a 4 goal lead. As the scorer mouthed off his rant following the goal, Doolan looked the other way and inserted the cotton wool.
Ungentlemanly conduct? Not in this game sir!
On the farce continued as Windlaw finally awoke from their slumber and substitute McCann’s slightly deflected chip looped over Balornock’s keeper into the net. This began to rile Balornock and their ‘entourage’ slightly. A second goal followed from McCann’s long throw which ended up in Balornock’s net following what appeared the slightest of touches from Benny Carey. The hapless Doolan appeared indecisive as to whether the goal would be given but he gave it and finally booked a Balornock player for dissent. Kicking the ball away etc didn’t count seemingly.
Windlaw then piled on the pressure as Balornock’s intimidation tactics were cranked up big style. James Fitzpatrick was the subject of a number of threats from their touchline neds as neither the home management nor referee took charge. It was like a scene from the Sunday League rather than a decent Scottish Cup tie.
Windlaw continued to threaten as Balornock challenges worsened. Taylor headed just over. If Windlaw had scored a third, God only knows what the price would have been if Balornock had to defend a single goal lead. The third goal never came though despite heavy pressure and with 5 minutes remaining a punt forward went between Zanda Dougall and James McKenna and their forward poked the ball past McKenna to complete the victory.
More mouthing off ensued and more blissful ignorance was shown.
Full Time: Balornock 5 Windlaw 2
Summing-Up: Not one party emergies with any credit from this game. Frankly, Windlaw were rotten and never performed at all. They represented their league poorly. Ref Doolan had a shocker too. Nervous all day, this tie was clearly a step too far for him and he didn’t want to be there never mind give any decisions against Balornock and the group of neds who support them. If they land a home tie next time, a much stronger ref will have to take charge to prevent the threats from the sidelines.
Star Man- Not one player warranted the award.