Match Report

A Blast From The Past As Windlaw Cruise Into Semi-Final

Some of us are old enough to remember the days of scratching around the second division, playing teams of a dubious standard on pitches no better than car parks. This was deja-vu of the highest order to the older generation of this Windlaw team. An old ash park next to a railway line, full of boulders, goals with no nets and the opposition management and fans sparking up cans early doors !! 2005 !!?? More like 1995 re-visited. Am I setting the scene properly here ?

On top of this, a depleted and tired Windlaw side arrived in Milton fresh from a 3-0 humbling from Vale Utd in a bruising encounter on Wednesday night. Unavailable through injury or other commitments were John Lunny, Zanda Dougall, Thomas Taylor and leading goalscorer Scott Williamson, and carrying knocks into this game were Martin Docherty, Shug Neeson, Paul McInally and Gary Wilson. Into the team came goalkeeper Andy Johnson for his debut, alongside Wullie Thornton, Eck McCaig and Martin Kearney. If nothing else, the circumstances and conditions would certainly prove a test to our attitude and commitment.

Incredibly after 90 seconds, Glen Douglas made a substitution. I've no idea why but I've never seen one so early, so I thought it was worth a mention.

Windlaw took an early grip on proceedings but the bounce on this pitch was incredibly bad and passing and control were difficult, however we decided that it was better to pass and contend with the odd mistake rather than go back to front. Windlaw's stand-in keeper had settled well and started many moves by throwing to the full backs rather than kicking long. Before the first goal, the Glen Douglas crossbar was struck and Wullie Thornton's sitter for one of these efforts had to be seen to be believed. The marauding pit-bull incredibly headered against the bar when he was standing under it. Some really fine chances have been squandered this season but this one really took the biscuit. The first goal was merely delayed by this though, when Kevin McCann coolly converted Wullie Thonton's cross-cum shot. Eck McCaig doubled the lead with a looping header shortly afterwards.

Windlaw started the second half in casual mode and were punished when a corner from the right was bundled home. Minutes later however, the two goal lead was restored in quite amusing circumstances. Windlaw were awarded a free-kick at the left hand edge of the Glen Douglas box. As the defence were attempting to sort out their wall and with the goalkeeper standing at his right hand post directing traffic, Neeson asked the ref if he could hit it early, got the required permission and plopped a lovely shot into the middle of the Glen Douglas goal much to our amusement and Glen Douglas' anger. This prompted the bizarre scene of the Glen Douglas manager putting down his can before running directly across the pitch to complain to Windlaw manager Stevie Thomson. Quite what this had to do with him was anybodys guess, however Shug was happy with his Thierry Henry moment.

Eck McCaig got his second and Windlaw's fourth soon after with a spectacular overhead kick, prompting a rendition of Maggie May from the diminutive striker. Wullie Wilson also buried a superb fifth from a more orthodox free-kick, and in the dying seconds, with Gary, Macky and Shug all in the showers, not together I may add, Glen Douglas added a late consolation to put a flattering complexion on the scoreline from their point of view. Mission accomplished was the general consensus, and credit to the players for not rising to any bait on the pitch or from the sidelines.

Star Man: Shug Neeson - Oozed class and never broke sweat. Other notable performances from stand-in keeper Andy, Gary Wilson as usual and Eck McCaig for an excellent double.