Central League: Division 1

  Dunipace 3 - 4 Greenock  

Dunipace: Wright (12), McCormick OG (16), Mullen (21)
Greenock: J McLaughlin (4, 27), Kearns (33 pen), McDonald (86)

Match Report by Barry "Fabio" Rodger

Having had an identical start to Dunipace this season, newly promoted side Greenock paid visit to Westfield Park having racked up 12 goals in 5 games. Based on these stats, there would be little chance they would set their stall out for a solitary point.

Dunipace on the other had only scored 6 goals in 5 games an were looking to do more damage to opposition when they are on the ascendancy. Gaffer Craig McKinlay and Assistant Mick McCafferty were more interested in the 3 points than stats and would settle for a one nil victory if it meant The Pace would start climbing the league table.

Dunipace started without last weeks man of the match Govan who was out through injury. Donald was to replace him in midfield alongside Cairney who dropped back to allow Pincombe and McIllduff to partner up front.

The game sprung to life very early on when Greenocks McLaughlin found himself clean through on goal after a Dunipace attack broke down. The midfielder was composed enough to slot the ball into the bottom corner to put the visitors in the lead after just 4 minutes.

The home fans feared the worst but the Dunipace players were to respond in the best way possible. In the 12th minute Buchanan sent a long ball into the box for McIllduff. McIllduff flicked onto Wright who found acres of space at the back post and he slid the ball past the keeper from 8 yards out.

The home side took the lead in 16 mins when Donald sent a dangerous corner into the box only for the Greenock defender to send the ball agonisingly into his own net whilst trying to clear his lines. 2 - 1

Dunipace were stamping their authority on the game and on 21 mins Pincombes trickery, weaving through 3 opposing players, was to present an opportunity to Mullen who smashed the ball off the post and into the net to make it 3 - 1 and cruising.

The home fans were expecting more goals from the home side but instead of taking advantage of Greenocks obvious vulnerability, the Dunipace players took it all for granted that the game was done and dusted.

In the 27 mins, McIlduff fouled at the edge of the box. McLaughlin took the freekick and curled it round the wall into the bottom right hand corner of the net. On form keeper McCurlay will be disappointed with the way the wall was set up and possibly his own positioning.

The game was level after 33 mins when Greenocks Jamieson had a good run out the left hand side, nutmegging Brown at the edge of the box and for Dunipace's Wright to turn from hero to villain - scything the attacker down for a penalty kick. Kearns took the penalty and sent McCurlay the wrong way to make it three each.

Half Time: 3 - 3 and all to play for.

Greenock started the second half much like the first half, full of enthusiasm and confidence, looking the more dangerous of the two teams.

Dunipaces better chances fell on 55th and 72nd minutes. The first of these chances was when Pincombe was sent through on goal from a Buchanan long ball. The striker got caught in two minds when he noticed McIllduff at the back post and instead of feeding his partner across the face of the goal he miss hit his effort straight into the keepers arms from 8 yards out.

The second of these chance was when Wright sent a precision cross into the box only for substitute Grant to mis-time his header, directing the ball over the crossbar.

Then came the calamity.

Things were starting to go very wrong in the 85th minute when a Cairney freekick saw Reid and Wright clashing into each other at the back post when it looked odds on for one of them to score.

A minute later Greenock broke up the park and broke the Pace fans hearts. Too many midfield runners invited pressure to the Dunipace defence and a shot saved from McCurlay followed by an excellent block from Oates was not enough to prevent McDonald thumping the ball into the net from to effectively win the match.

Cairney the saw red in the 88th minute for stamping but in reality the incident was fairly innocuous and the referee made the call more on the Greenock players reaction. Although Cairney insisted it was accidental the Greenock player did take a sore one and Dunipace were down to 10 men.

10 men was to become 9 in the 90th minute when McIllduff led with the elbow and knocked Docherty to the deck. The Dunipace player was surrounded by Greenock players and he and Docherty lashed out at each other to both see straight reds. Unnecessary but built up through total frustration.

Capped off a dismal performance and one to forget. Lets hope Dunipace can redeem themselves against Craigmark in the West of Scotland Cup next week otherwise I am throwing my typewriter back in the cupboard.

Dunipace: McCurley, Brown, Buchanan (Henderson 75), Reid, Oates, Donald (Cullen 75), Wright , Cairney, Pincombe (Grant 60), McIllduff, Mullen
Not Used: McPhail, Kane, Sibbald, Hunter
Booked: Cullen (75)
Sent Off: Cairney (88), McIllduff (90)

Greenock: Monk, K Docherty, McCormick (T Docherty), B McLaughlin, Quigley (R Jamieson 39), Fleming, Kearns, J McLaughlin (Brown 68), McDonald, McKay, A Jamieson
Not Used: Stirling, Mitchell, Moowry, Waterson
Sent Off: T Docherty (90)