Match Report

Windlaw's slim title hopes crashed and burned when a bad defensive error from Paul McInally three minutes from time allowed Vale to equalise and keep their own challenge on track.

Windlaw were not in good shape going into this one and Benny Carey, Steph McCann, Thomas Taylor, Brendan Bonnar as well as manager Stevie Thomson were missing from Saturday's clash. Wullie Thornton and Scott Williamson replaced Martin Docherty and Benny Carey. Gary Wilson and Jim Currie made the bench although both were carrying injuries, such was our shortage of players.

A good crowd watched on as the game began and Windlaw got a superb early start when John McCabe continued his good form from the League Cup Final three days earlier and grabbed an excellent opener. Following a good passing movement from the back, he picked up the ball around 30 yards out and drove at the heart of the Vale defence .He ran past their last man at the edge of the box and touched round the sliding keeper before coolly sliding home. Vale responded well though and their cause was aided when a clearly unfit Scotty Williamson limped off after 20 minutes resulting in Kevin McCann having to go upfront to support Eck McCaig. This was to upset our balance as McCann was having a big influence from left midfield and Vale cleverly took advantage of the enforced changes passing neatly but without a real cutting edge. Vale got the equaliser their pressure deserved minutes from half time when a front post corner was stabbed home from close range.

Half Time: Windlaw 1 Vale United 1

Windlaw began the second half much improved and Shug Neeson's influence on the midfield was beginning to tell. Deservedly we took the lead through yet another goal of the season contender from the talented Kevin McCann. The goalkeeper's miscued clearance broke to him just inside Vale's half and he executed a magnificent return shot high over the goalkeeper into the net. McCann was probably the only player on the field who could have punished such an error so clinically. As the game wore on Windlaw had two good penalty appeals turned down as the play raged from end to end at a frantic pace. With minutes remaining a hopeful Vale clearance was badly miscontrolled by Windlaw's last defender McInally and the Vale midfielder latched onto the error and finished well by drilling under the onrushing John Lunny. A woeful error which ended the evening's action and kept Vale in charge of events at the top of the table.

Star Man & Summing Up-Shug Neeson again was superb in one of his final Windlaw matches and will be a nightmare to replace.Windlaw's players gave it everything and were unlucky not to take all 3 points from the match