Greater Glasgow Amateur Premier League
Division 3
St Margaret Mary's Secondary School
Sat 15th November 2008
	Windlaw AFC	2 - 1	Glasgow University
	Taylor(33), Kerr(86)		Pacitti(22)
	Team: J Lunny, A Dougall(Kerr), Wilson, McCann, Z Dougall, Fitzpatrick(S Lunny), Black(D McGregor), McKenna, McCaig, McGinlay, Taylor		Team: Reinikainen, Griffin, MacQueen, Chetty, Wallace, Benwell, Vaughan, Clark, Robertson, Pacitti, Hay
	H-T: 1 -1
	Referee: Jim More

Three changes from last week. Colin Sinclair was unavailable and Paul McInally and Benny Carey were injured. In came Zanda Dougall in central defence next to Kevin McCann and Wullie Wilson came in to fill the left-back berth vacated by McCann. Kevin Black went into left midfield while Danny McKenna went up top to replace Benny Carey.

Conditions were good before kick-off and some pre-match work on the pitch meant it was in decent nick in most areas.

A rather cagey and subdued start from both sides with passing a little careless at times. The away side were first to threaten on 15 minutes with a decent free-kick effort which fizzed just over Lunny’s crossbar. Windlaw responded and skipper McCaig led the way with a brave header under pressure from Glasgow Uni keeper Roope Reinikainen which went just wide.

On 22 minutes though, Glasgow went ahead after James Fitzpatrick’s attempted pass-back from 20 yards out was well read by Paolo Pacitti who rounded Lunny and slotted into the empty net from 12 yards. This visibly shook Windlaw’s confidence given recent results and their enthusiasm was dampened.

The next goal would be vital and Windlaw really needed it. It duly arrived on 33 minutes when Davie McGinlay was put through on Reinikainen. He dummied him excellently and as he tried to slot into the net a Glasgow Uni defender recovered to block on the line, however Thomas Taylor followed up to ram home his fourth goal of the season from 3 yards out. The goal re-invigorated Windlaw and just a minute before the break the unlucky McGinlay had a 30 yard free-kick well saved by Reinikainen.

Half Time: Windlaw AFC 1 : Glasgow University 1

Rain and a swirling wind were beginning to make conditions difficult and Windlaw had the slight benefit of the wind in the second half. Duncan McGregor replaced Kevin Black then on 64 minutes, John Lunny who was clearly hampered by a back injury got down superbly to turn a Glasgow Uni free-kick round his left hand post. Chris Kerr then replaced Allan Dougall as Windlaw tried to press more bodies forward in search of the winner.

The change was significant as Kerr almost immediately hit the post with a header from a corner then forced Reinikainen into a fine save as his presence in Glasgow’s box started causing problems. Windlaw were the more dangerous but their organised defence were also coping well with Glasgow’s sporadic breaks.

With time running out Kevin McCann started launching a few shells into the box but the big Danish keeper was coming out well to ease the mounting pressure on his defence.

That was until the 86th minute when a McCann throw was met powerfully by Chris Kerr’s looping header from 18 yards out that Reinikainen, furiously back-tracking couldn’t keep out as it fell just under the bar and in. The tenacity of McCaig and Kerr’s tackling helped keep Glasgow Uni from mounting any attacks for an equaliser and a precious win was secured.                         

Full Time: Windlaw AFC 2 : Glasgow University 1

Summing-Up: Undoubtedly not a great performance but given the worsening weather conditions during the game the three points were all important. The team deserve credit for recovering from the early set-back to register a vital win having not won in the previous three games. Playing good football will only take teams so far but this week, the team united to show real guts and determination to get the late winner they deserved.

Star Man: Kevin McCann takes the plaudits for a very assured performance at the back.
He organised well and broke up several attacks with some clever defending,
following on from a good performance last week.

 

 

 

 

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