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Greater Glasgow Premier AFL | |||
| Division 3A | ||||
| Barlia Sports Complex | ||||
| Sat 7th November 2009 | ||||
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Windlaw AFC |
2 - 1 |
Rannoch A |
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Scorers: Johnstone(2) |
Scorers: |
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| Team: Lunny, McInally, Wilson, Granger, Carr, Taylor (Trialist), Devaney (Baird), Simpson, Hepburn, Johnstone, McKenna (McGeachy) | Team: | |||
| H-T: 2-0 | Referee: Willie Harkness | |||
Only one change for Windlaw with Kevin McCann unavailable, Calum Granger came in as a straight replacement. Skipper Eck McCaig sat out the first match of his two game ban. Conditions were excellent on a fine afternoon given the number of other games that had fallen foul of the weather. The game was 15 minutes late starting as Rannoch awaited a goalkeeper.
Windlaw started well and looked hungry. They set about making the visitors defend well and the opening goal came on 12 minutes. Thomas Taylor got the ball on the right wing and made a yard for himself to whip a superb cross into the box that Greg Johnstone ran onto and his header flew into the net from 15 yards out for a fantastic goal. The goal gave Windlaw more encouragement and a second goal followed on 20 minutes. Tam Simpson won possession in midfield and played the ball wide left to Chris Hepburn on the touchline. He jinked in and delivered an inch perfect ball between last defender and goalkeeper that Greg Johnstone latched onto and he powerfully sidefooted home from close range for number twenty-six of the season. At that point, Windlaw looked as if they could go on to a convincing victory but the visitors began playing some neat football in midfield which was starting to trouble Windlaw and although they only fashioned one clear cut sight of goal which was blazed over it was clear that they were far from finished in this game with Windlaw looking more relieved to have the chance to regroup at the break.
Half Time: Windlaw AFC 2 - 0 Rannoch
Windlaw picked up where they finished the first half and couldn’t seem to get going. Their play was becoming disjointed and the passing erratic all the while Rannoch grew in confidence. For them, Robert Morrison starting dominating at the back and his constant breaking up of Windlaw attacks meant Windlaw couldn’t get up the pitch to any great effect. Ian Baird replaced Mick Devaney who failed to shake off a first half knock and he tried to rally the team by getting the ball down and knocked about but the momentum was gone. The one thing Rannoch lacked to get back into the game was perhaps a bit more incisiveness upfront to open up Windlaw’s defence but they had the better of possession. Windlaw did still retain a bit of threat and could have added a third on a few occasions. With ten minutes remaining, Rannoch got the goal their play merited when a near post corner was met powerfully by their left-back who headed home from close range. This was to set up a nervy finish for Windlaw. John Lunny had to dash from his line and save from one Rannoch attack but they failed to create another real opening that they needed in order to level the game and Windlaw ended up holding on for the most unconvincing of victories.
Full Time: Windlaw AFC 2 - 1 Rannoch
Verdict: The result was all important in this game and Windlaw got that. It was one of their poorest performances of the season and too many key players weren’t at their best. Despite a fine opening half hour that yielded two goals, the third never came and Rannoch’s experienced players helped them back into the game where they simply never gave up. Credit to the Bearsden men for that, they could easily have taken something from this contest.
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Windlaw Star Man: Not a game where Windlaw had many great performances. Greg Johnstone yet again scored the goals that won the game but the veteran Paul McInally was a standout at the back and defied his age to rampage up and down the wing for the entire game to prove there's a few seasons left in the legs |
