| Strathclyde Saturday Morning League:Division 1 | |
| 25th February 2006 Crownpoint Sports Complex |
|
| Lochend United | 1 |
| Windlaw | 3 |
| Neeson(2),McCaig | |
On paper, this match should have been a walkover for the current league leaders as Windlaw faced a struggling Lochend side that are battling against the threat of relegation this season. However games aren't played on paper, so Windlaw had to make sure the attitude and commitment was spot on for this potentially difficult match. Some minor tinkering to the team from the previous week saw Bruce Tierney, John McCabe and Alan Nugent return at the expense of Allan Dougall, Marty Doc and Benny Carey.
The match had barely kicked off and Windlaw were one goal to the good. Shug Neeson tapped in at the back post from close range in the 2nd minute after good work on the wing from Kevin McCann. A perfect start by all accounts, but Windlaw maintained the pressure and went in search for a quick 2 nd goal, which would surely kill Lochend's spirit. It was proving hard to come by as a few chances were spurned, most notably from Wullie Thornton who hit the bar from 6 yards out and skewed another shot wide of the post shortly after this. Lochend were still in the match and had some good possession play, however John Lunny's goal wasn't under any serious threat. Well that was until the ref awarded a highly dubious in-direct free kick in the Windlaw penalty area after he judged John McCabe to have passed the ball back to Lunny, when in fact he had knocked it back with his knee. Windlaw escaped though as Lochend had a disappointing effort on goal.
Windlaw's pressure paid off in the 35th minute when Shug Neeson scored an almost carbon copy of the first goal to send Windlaw 2-0 up and effectively end the match as a contest. A quick 3rd was added by Eck McCaig in the 40th minute in what was the best goal of the game. Zanda Dougall played in Shug Neeson on the left wing, and the veteran midfielder drove the ball with the outside of his boot across the Lochend box where he found the onrushing Eck McCaig. The Windlaw predator sidestepped his marker and drilled his shot low into the corner of the net. 3-0 and game over. This was the last action of a first half dominated by a Windlaw team focussed on the job in hand.
Half-Time: Lochend Utd 0 Windlaw 3
The second half was quite a dull affair compared to the first half, however Windlaw were still searching for more goals. With this league title looking like it could go down to the wire, and possibly even be decided on goal difference, Windlaw wanted to win by as many goals as possible. However, Windlaw inexplicably took the foot off the pedal, allowing Lochend to come into the game more, but as was the story in the first half, Lochend never really made keeper Lunny work hard up until this point.
Windlaw could have had 2 or 3 goals in the second half but for a combination of poor finishing and bad luck as Windlaw spurned a couple of good chances and seen one effort come back off the crossbar.
Benny Carey and Colin Carmichael were introduced to try and inject some more ideas to the game and freshen up the lethargic Windlaw side as they continued to go for a 4th . Truth is it never came and it was in fact Lochend who grabbed the last goal of the game as they sprung Windlaw's offside trap before coolly slotting past keeper Lunny onto the far corner of the net.
Allan Dougall replaced Wullie Thornton with 5 minutes left, as Lochend almost grabbed a sneaky 2nd as a neat cutback was drilled off the post in the dying minutes.
Full-Time: Lochend Utd 1 Windlaw 3
Summing-up: Another 3 points collected as Windlaw continue to compete for their first league title in 3 seasons. It wasn't a brilliant performance from Windlaw, however performances and 6 and 7 goal victories is only a bonus at this time in the season, collecting the 3 points is the most important job on a Saturday. Windlaw need to maintain the attitude and level of commitment which has seen them win 10 consecutive games if they are to have any chance against title favourites Greenhills Dynamo this Saturday. It promises to be an epic encounter as always.
