Central League: Second Division

  Dunipace 2 - 3 Cambuslang Rangers  

Last week's poor show at St. Anthony's (3 - 4) prompted a change in formation for Dunipace, moving from their regular 3-5-2 formation to a 4-4-2 for this visit of Cambuslang Rangers.

The change in formation meant James Orr dropped to the bench and With both Ryan McCafferty and Michael Cullen injured, Under 19's Mikey Kane joined Marty Wright in the centre of midfield.

With the rain having bashed Westfield all week (and starting up again just before kick off!) this was hardly likely to be a footballing spectacle, but both teams did their best to entertain those who had braved the elements. And After some fairly toothless early exchanges Cambuslang took the lead. A debated free kick 20 yards out for a shoulder barge by Graeme MacMillan saw the whistler blow up for a foul. One of those 50 - 50 decisions that go against you some days and don't others.

Not bothered by the award of the kick, the Cambuslang player confidently lifted the ball around the wall and into the corner beyond Hutton in goal who never moved.

Dunipace managed to put in a few efforts from distance, but the visiting keeper had an easy ride in a first half where the home side failed to register a shot on target against the wind.

Cambuslang, that said, didn't have too many either. The closest they came to doubling their lead in teh first half hour a corner that looped in toward goal and was tipped over by Hutton.

With 10 minutes to half time though, the visitors did manage to double their lead. An inswinging corner from the right headed into the net, Oates the closest Dunipace player to register a challenge, though he looked to have stepped off his own man to make a last ditch effort to clear which means someone else had lost theirs.

Another soft, avoidable goal for Dunipace to lose in what is becoming an alarming trend for the Westfield side.

The second half saw Dunipace come out looking to get back into the game and it didn't take them long to do so. Gary MacMillan won a tackle in the centre circle, the ball picked up by his brother Graeme who slid an excellent through pass into the run of Tweedie. The striker dwelled on the ball a bit and his shot was blocked, but youngster Mikey Kane had followed up and lifted the rebound cleverly over the keeper for 1 - 2.

And it was a double blow for the visitors as their centre midfielder, injured in the initial challenge, had to be replaced.

Dunipace pushed for a second and only a fantastic save at full stretch by the visiting keeper stopped Tweedie from grabbing it. Graeme MacMillan stepped forward from the back, stealing the ball from one player before nutmegging a second and playing a 1 - 2 with Tweedie on the right. With Rodger making his way to the front post and dragging the defender, MacMillan cut the ball back into the run of Tweedie who saw his left foot shot turned round the post low to the keepers right.

Following that, Barry Rodger fired an effort just wide from 12 yards with the keeper helpless and Wright saw his shot from distance saved comfortably.

The complexion of the game was to change again when the Cambuslang defender, already booked, lunged into Rodger as he advanced over the halfway line on a break. Rodger hurdled the tackle, so as not to be hurt, but a foul was the correct decision.

But it didn't look as though the official was going to send the player off for a second yellow, that is until he had no option but to give a straight red card when the player hit out at Rodger for 'diving', which was no way the case.

And it wasn't long before Dunipace took advantage to draw level, when Rodger himself turned home a loose ball from a corner for his first of the season.

It all then got a bit desperate for Dunipace for some reason as they pushed to take all 3 points. No-one really got their foot on the ball and everything was rushed with McIllduff pushed forward to play up front which allowed the wide midfielder to get forward and straight onto the full back Oates.

It nearly paid off when Oates slid the ball into McIllduff's run 25 yards out and the attacker hit an excellent right foot shot low towards the bottom corner. Again though, the impressive visiting keeper turned it round the post for a corner.

And with Dunipace chasing it they did the unthinkable and surrendered the points by conceeding another soft goal on the break. Cambuslang's winger got the better of McPhail and Mullen on the left before delivering to the back post where his opposite midfielder had snuck in behind Oates to head home.

Dunipace again looked to grab the goal back, but a long range effort from Gary MacMillan, saved by the keeper, was as close as they came.

Another disappointing result, losing another 3 poor goals and not playing particularly well in the process. With a trip to on form Blantyre next Saturday, Dunipace will have to improve to avoid another similar outcome.