Greater Glasgow Amateur Premier League
	Division 3
	Greenfield Sports Complex
	Sat 24th January 2009
	Windlaw AFC	2 - 1	Rannoch AFC
	Scorers: McKenna 37, Carey 57
	Team: Lunny, Sinclair, Wilson, Kerr, Tierney, Taylor (Carmichael), McCann, McCaig, Carey (McGregor), McKenna, A Dougall (D Campbell)		Team: N/a
	H-T: 1-1
	Referee: Jim Ritchie

WINDLAW SNEAK A GRIM WIN AT GREENFIELD

With uncertainty over the playing surface at Maggies and the urgent need to get a fixture played, Windlaw packed their bags for the east end as an old haunt at Greenfield hosted this game. The new dressing rooms alone made the place unrecognisable though many will still feel the cold of the old stone floors through the soles of their feet.

The big pitch looked in reasonable nick though quite firm in places despite the sun thawing out most of it after a heavy overnight frost. It was later though to cut up a fair bit.

Windlaw still had James Fitzpatrick and Zanda Dougall suspended and with four others injured, the now smaller squad was again trimmed to the bones. Benny Carey came in to partner Danny McKenna up top though with young Duncan McGregor on the bench.        
On a bitterly cold but sunny afternoon Windlaw began their first game in six weeks and almost immediately the lack of training and games was evident as Rannoch took the early initiative. Some long balls into Windlaw’s half were causing problems and Rannoch were as always led by the seemingly ageless Robert Morrison in midfield whose aerial prowess was causing real problems. Despite Rannoch’s keeper picking up an early knock he was never tested as Windlaw failed to threaten, there was little energy in their performance.

Carey and McKenna were feeding merely on scraps and it seemed inevitable that the visitors would take the lead. When Windlaw did score on 37 minutes, it came courtesy of a mix-up between two Rannoch defenders who collided when a free-kick was swung into the area. Danny McKenna was the beneficiary and from only 8 yards out he fired low into the bottom corner.
This seemed to give Windlaw a lift and the confidence was starting to grow however in first half injury time Rannoch equalised. A long throw from their right caused mayhem in the box when that man Morrison again flicked on and with the Windlaw defence statuesque the equaliser was prodded home from barely a yard out.

Half Time: Windlaw 1 Rannoch 1    

Windlaw began the second half better than the first and in only the second minute of it, Carey had a header hooked off the line. On 57 minutes came the winning goal and again Rannoch rather self-destructed. As a flick on from a long throw was seemingly easily caught by their keeper he inexplicably fumbled and failed to react quick enough. Thomas Taylor slid in and the ricochet was forced over the line by Benny Carey who had stayed alert to the situation.

Rannoch tried to force their way back in and had two glorious chances to equalise from headers that fell agonisingly wide. It seemed merely a matter of time.

There was then another amazing escape when they beat the offside trap and as John Lunny charged out to the left hand edge of the box, he also failed to clear, the hanging cross almost on the line was miracolously cleared by the combined efforts of Chris Kerr and Colin Sinclair as Robert Morrison bravely tried to force it in. Danny McKenna had a late effort well saved by Rannoch’s keeper from close range and some stoic defending near the end ensured that Lunny’s goal remained intact

Full Time: Windlaw 2 Rannoch 1

Summing-Up: Basically, it was three precious points. The positive note is that the team fought tooth and nail to preserve the precious lead. They will know that a vast improvement is required with a trip to Cambuslang next Saturday to try and break their one hundred per cent record. Rannoch will feel aggrieved not to have taken something from this match which was well handled by ref Jim Ritchie.

Star Man - Very few decent performances and no player near the top of their game. Thomas Taylor though again battled hard for the cause and probably rose slightly above the mediocrity on display.

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