Greater Glasgow Amateur Premier League
	Division 3
	St Margaret Mary's Secondary School
	Sat 13th December 2008
	Windlaw AFC	9 - 2	Moorpark AFC
	Scorers: D McGregor, McKenna(3), OG, Taylor(2), Kerr, McCann		14, 82
	Team: J Lunny, Tierney, Wilson, Kerr, Z Dougall, McCaig (Carmichael), McCann, Taylor, McGregor, McKenna, A Dougall (Sinclair)		Team: N/a
	H-T: 5-1
	Referee: Jim Ritchie

An already thread-bare Windlaw squad for this match lost Benny Carey and Davie McGinlay late on in their pre-match preparations however John Lunny gave them a pre-match boost by declaring himself fit. Danny McKenna and Duncan McGregor were the front two. Despite some water lying on the pitch in the morning, Referee Jim Ritchie passed the pitch fit at 11.30am although work continued to get the surface dry right up till kick-off. Conditions were cold but dry and the central areas were again the most problematic ones on the pitch.

Windlaw began in whirlwind fashion and three goals inside the first ten minutes effectively blew Moorpark out of contention in this game. Having conceded eight goals last week, Moorpark’s confidence looked brittle and Windlaw went ahead in only 3 minutes when a long ball caused mayhem and young Duncan McGregor took advantage to burst clear in the box and fire home confidently past Donnachie for the opener.

Danny McKenna then got the second moments later when a quick Kevin McCann throw caught Moorpark cold and McKenna converted well at the front post. This was to boost the striker who went on to torment the visitors.

Minutes later a third arrived from a corner from Windlaw’s right which was curled in by McKenna and an attempted clearance by a Moorpark player somehow squeezed past the defenders on the line for a rather fortunate goal. Despite these setbacks, Moorpark were knocking the ball around well offensively and always looked a threat. Their perserverance paid off on 14 minutes when they got one back after a good move up their left-wing saw the striker free in the box and despite Lunny making a good parried save initially the follow-up saw the rebound slammed home. Zanda Dougall was then booked for a rash challenge around 25 yards from his own goal but the free-kick was sclaffed well wide.

From a free-kick at the other end though, Windlaw got their fourth when Thomas Taylor fired a shot into Donnachie’s bottom right hand corner which the keeper appeared to misjudge.

Two minutes later and McKenna took advantage of another defensive error and crashed home his second of the game off the inside of the post from quite a difficult angle for an excellent finish.

After only twenty two minutes the game showed an amazing 5-1 home advantage. To their credit Moorpark continued to look threatening as Windlaw somewhat understandably dropped off the pace a bit.
Just before the break, Moorpark’s big forward missed an awful sitter when he somehow screwed his shot wide from a cutback from only 5 yards out.

Half Time: Windlaw 5 Moorpark 1

The sixth goal took until 60 minutes to arrive when a corner was flicked on near-post and Chris Kerr rose to bullet home a good header from close range. John Lunny then made a good save from close range getting down well to block.

Windlaw got their seventh from Thomas Taylor who was having a fine game and claiming his second of the match and sixth of the season when a corner fell at his feet back post and he dispatched the ball home from six yards out.

The eighth and McKenna’s hat-trick was the best finish of the day. As Moorpark keeper Donnachie raced from his line to mop up a through ball and pass to one of his defenders, his attempted pass was intercepted by McKenna 35 yards out and he turned and fired over Donnachie’s head into the net as the keeper tried to scamper back to his goal.


On 81 minutes Windlaw were reduced to ten men when Zanda Dougall got his second yellow card after being adjudged to foul the Moorpark forward some 30 yards out. This booking looked a bit harsh but he may have been fortunate to escape with yellow first time. From the resultant free-kick floated into the Windlaw box, the defence switched off completely and the Moorpark forward was allowed an unchallenged free header which flew past the exposed Lunny. Windlaw keeper Lunny then produced another fine save to prevent another Moorpark consolation.

Windlaw had the final word though when Danny McKenna’s quick feet and excellent through ball found Kevin McCann who had ran from deep and he went on to blast past Donnachie to give the keeper a day to forget.                         

Full Time: Windlaw 9 Moorpark 2

Summing-Up: Definitely a welcome result for a Windlaw squad who have gave themselves problems of late. The finishing was clinical although Moorpark contributed to their own downfall on a few occasions. The Renfrew side were always dangerous going forward and the gap between the sides was maybe not as big as the scoreline suggests. Windlaw at times popped the ball about well and next week’s test away at Drumchapel will be a stern test of any promotion credentials.

Star Man - Danny McKenna just takes the award ahead of Thomas Taylor. After scoring early on, his confidence almost visibly rose and on this kind of form he would take some stopping. Another word of praise for Duncan McGregor who competed well and asked questions of Moorpark all day with his workrate.

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