Greater Glasgow Premier AFL
	Division 3A
	Barlia Sports Complex
	Sat 13th March 2010
	Windlaw AFC	3 - 1	Rannoch A
	Scorers: OG, Johnstone, McKenna		Scorers: Yates (pen)
	Team: Lunny, McInally (Thomas), Granger (Wilson), Kerr, Carr, Baird, Hepburn, Johnstone, McKenna McGeachy, McCaig		Team: Keogh, Tyrell, Robertson, Smith, Morisson, Donnelly, MacPherson, Mitchell, Yates, Alexander, Lang
	H-T: 1-0		Referee: Adam Barclay

Only one change for Windlaw after last week’s ‘indoor win’ at Toryglen over Rolls Royce. Zanda Dougall was unavailable so Calum Granger moved from midfield to central defence and Ian Baird took up the midfield berth in the starting line-up. With the exception of Paul McInally, this gave the Windlaw defence a very youthful defensive line-up. Continuing the youthful theme was eighteen year old referee Adam Barclay who took charge of a Windlaw game for the first time. The visitors opted for the opposition's preferred weapon of choice at Barlia these days and adoped a 4-5-1 formation and a containment plan.

Windlaw almost made a dream start inside the first minute but Keogh saved from Greg Johnstone from close range and the follow-up hit the side net. The home side enjoyed plenty of possession but Rannoch were sitting deep and plugging up the pitch well making it difficult to get behind them. Windlaw were guilty of getting too anxious at times with the ball and started hitting too many long balls into the area that Smith and Morrison were patrolling well for Rannoch. It was ironic when the breakthrough came that Rannoch self-inflicted the blow. Danny McKenna created a yard of space on the right wing and whipped in a dangerous left-footed cross into the box. Smith was aware that Greg Johnstone was behind him though and he got caught in two minds and headered back towards his own goal wrong-footing Keogh and landing in the net. Windlaw didn’t manage to kick-on though and the defence looked a bit fragile at times operating a dangerous offside trap. Quite a few times John Lunny had to rush from his line to act as an auxilary sweeper to clear the danger. Calum Granger was also cautioned for a crude challenge on Colin Yates as the big striker broke away on the left-wing. Windlaw almost went two in front in bizarre fashion when a mis-hit McInally cross from deep struck the Rannoch bar but Windlaw had no takers for the rebound. Rannoch’s game plan was working well though and Windlaw’s passing and defending was at times far more disjointed than it should ever have been although they maintained their lead at the break.

Half Time: Windlaw AFC 1 - 0 Rannoch

Windlaw made two half time changes as the injured McInally was replaced by Craig Thomas at full back while Calum Granger already on a caution was taken off for Wullie Wilson. Windlaw’s uncertainty though continued and within minutes the visitors got an equaliser. With the ball bobbling about inside Windlaw’s box, Chris Hepburn back defending, handled and young ref Barclay pointed to the spot. Yates stepped up and wrong footed Lunny to equalise. This was yet another penalty conceded this season and is frustrating when you consider that in playing 22 competitive games and scoring over 80 goals Windlaw have yet to be awarded one single penalty all season. Windlaw’s patchy performance continued to deteriorate somewhat and as time etched on there was a real sense of feeling that vital points in the title race were about to be dropped. This feeling was strengthened after Liam McGeachy’s brilliantly arched shot inside the box struck the underside of the bar and was scrambled away. Windlaw desperately needed a winner and with three minutes remaining it finally came as Chris Hepburn made some room at the edge of the box and fired over a superb cross, skipper Greg Johnstone rose and thundered a header off the underside of the bar with the ball bouncing a yard over the line as ref Barclay awarded the goal straight away. Sheer elation in the home ranks and as important a goal as any the big striker has scored this season. In the dying seconds, Danny McKenna finally settled any lingering doubts over the points as he latched onto a long high ball some 30 yards out and as it came over his shoulder he crashed a left footed shot past Keogh that the keeper barely seen to mark his twentieth goal of an excellent season.  

Full Time: Windlaw AFC 3 - 1 Rannoch

 

Verdict: Windlaw Manager Billy Hepburn said "‘We need to improve and the main thing was the points ahead of a big game this weekend." The win keeps Windlaw tucked one point behind league leaders Glasgow University who visit Barlia this Saturday in a huge game for both sides,kick off is at 2pm in what promises to be a cracker.

Windlaw Star Man: Very few positive individual performances however Danny McKenna’s landmark 20th goal of the season rates a mention but the real shining light was young Craig Thomas’s assured and confident stint at right-back after coming on at half-time.

 

 

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