Match Report

Action Details

So it came to pass that Windlaw entered into their most important fixture of the season so far with just 12 players available. Our sole substitute Scott Williamson was also injured and the farce continued as he had to replace Thomas Taylor at half time with Taylor 's hamstring going in the first half. Jim Currie had an unexpected first start of the season and the players unavailable for various reasons were Dougall (Allan and Zanda), McCann (Kevin and Steph),Bonnar, Campbell ,Neeson, Kearney, Tierney, Kerr and Carmichael.

The playing surface was woeful with little grass, potholes and a slope. To the player's credit, we started well and Gary Wilson forced a good save from the Shawbridge keeper with a header. The match was a physical battle with little football being played and Shawbridge's best openings were coming through the wide right area where they constantly passed from.The Windlaw defence however pushed out to avert the danger from the diagonal crossfield passes that Shawbridge were trying to open us up with. Shawbridge had a couple of decent chances themselves but overall the keepers were not overly busy. Not long before half time, Taylor 's hamstring went and he went off at the break.

It was clear the first goal would be crucial and with about 25 minutes to go, Shawbridge got the opening. From a needlessly conceded free-kick, the ball was swung towards the back post where a Windlaw head knocked it to the edge of the box where Stewart McElveen's superbly struck half-volley whistled high past John Lunny's despairing dive.To be fair, it was a goal fit to win any game and there is no doubting the player's talent, but the over-elaborate celebrations after the goal and the full-time whistle towards the Windlaw players brought shame upon the player and his club. Even his team-mates looked embarrassed by the histrionics and to Mark Dyer's credit, he told the player enough was enough. Windlaw pushed hard for an equaliser that overall we probably deserved but in doing so, risked being picked off for a killer second. Shawbridge were awarded a penalty with about 10 minutes to go when John Lunny downed a Shawbridge forward. He atoned for this by diving to his right and saving. In the closing minutes the Shawbridge keeper produced great saves from Carey and Currie, but alas, it was not to be our day. Wullie Thornton was sent off in the dying seconds for a second bookable.

Summing-Up: Great effort by the players who deserved more from a difficult set of circumstances. The attitude and commitment was great but we are not passing the ball at all just now and some guile and craft is needed to come out on the right side of close games like this.

Star-Man: Wullie Wilson had probably his best game yet in a Windlaw jersey and looked up for it.