Central League: Second Division

  Dunipace 1 - 2 Forth  

With Forth's park declared unplayable during the week this second division tie was switched to a wet and windy Westfield in order to get a fixture played following another month of call offs due to weather.

Dunipace started with under 19's stopper Blair Reid making his debut in central defence alongside Paul Toner who returned to the side following 2 months out injured. With Stephen Oates returning to East Stirling after his loan spell, Warner Devlin suffering from flu and Graeme MacMillan out with knee ligament problems on top of the long term absence of Gary MacMillan the lack of fit defenders is causing problems for the Westfield side.

And following a poor opening to the game it was a defensive lapse from Dunipace that allowed the visitors to score the opening goal. A ball from a wide area wasn't dealt with by the home defence and as hands went up claiming offside from the flick on the Forth forward slid the ball into the net at the second attempt following a good save from Strachan. Despite the protests from the home side the goal stood and quite rightly so as the forward was absolutely onside from the flick on.

The remainder of the opening half was not one for the spectator as neither the weather nor the football on show would inspire even the most ardent Junior follower. The only little chink of light a shot from 20 yards from McPhail that the wide man was unlucky to see cannon off the post with the keeper beaten.

1 - 0 was how the half was to finish though, Dunipace playing with the wind unable to get a shot on target and Forth only the two during the incident at the goal.

Dunipace made two changes at the break, bringing on Grant in place of Toner and Keiron McIllduff returning in place of Cairney after nearly a year out injured. And it didn't take the front man long to make an impact, involved with the visiting defender who clearly punched him on the way past leading to a McIllduf reaction. The referee spoke to both players, but for some inexplicable reason only booked the Dunipace man. Strange given the other player inolved had already been cautioned.

It wasn't to matter too much though as 5 minutes later McIllduff flicked a ball round the corner into the path of O'Brien only to be pole axed by the same player from the back. Having gotten away with the incident moments earlier it was a crazy tackle from the defender and was only ever going to bring a second Yellow and a red card.

Following the sending off Dunipace started to play a bit of football and managed to get themselves back in the game. O'Brien skipping beyond the full back and putting in a terrific cross from the right that was converted at the second attempt by Bryan Grant.

It seemed Dunipace would kick on from there and take the game to the visitors, but everything seemed rushed from the home side and the ball was continiously given away all over the park as they tried to force the play against ten men rather than keep the ball and move the visitors around.

And they were to pay the price when Forth scored the winning goal in the 92nd minute when the forward threw himself in front of a poor clearance to knock the ball into the net.

Another poor performance and result for Dunipace and not the ideal preperation for the visit of Beith next week in the Scottish cup. Gaffer Derek Barron will certainly have lots to think about in the lead up to that game.