Ardagh Glass Sectional League Cup

  Kilsyth Rangers 1 - 1 Dunipace  

Kilsyth: Doyle (90)
Dunipace: Cairney (15)

Dunipace traveled to Duncansfield Park, Kilsyth for the final sectional league cup tie of 2010/11 and the visitors, given their style of play, will have been delighted to have arrived to see an immaculately presented pitch at the home of their local rivals.

With the two teams on display and the standard of the pitch it was clear this was going to be a game of football from the off, with both sides getting the ball down early on and setting out their intentions to play.

The home side enjoyed much of the early possession without really getting into any areas that could hurt Dunipace, but were struggling to cope with the speed of the Black & White attack as they sprung forward down both flanks early on to great effect.

In fact, were it not for the honesty of Wright as he skipped beyond the defender on 10 minutes, staying on his feet having been clipped, Dunipace might have had more than just the corner they were awarded.

As much as that was unlucky, Cairney was fortunate minutes later not to be pulled up for what looked to be a clear dive just outside the Kilsyth area. And the official showed consistency when Kilsyth's Scott went over in similarly easy fashion moments later, waving away the claims and showing common sense in not feeling he had to go to his pocket in either case.

David Moodie, starting his first game since making his move from the Under 19's squad, was linking well with Cairney playing just behind him and this was where the opening goal came from on 15 minutes.

Moodie nicked the ball away from the Kilsyth defender who was dribbling forward, playing a 1-2 with Wright before curving a ball into the path of Cairney who had run off his marker.

1 on 1 with the keeper, Cairney showed a cool head to wait his time before firing the ball superbly beyond the keeper into the top corner from the right hand side of the box. 1 - 0 to Dunipace.

And it was nearly 2 moments later from an excellent move. Grant and Donald, who had begun to take control in center midfield were both involved in some neat inter-passing before finding Brown in the right back position. The full back exchanged passes with Wright, driving into the wide area before delivering a wonderful ball for Moodie who volleyed towards goal.

The home keeper though was equal to this effort, turning it round the post for a corner.

Although Kilsyth were enjoying a lot of possession, they were struggling to create anything against a solid Pace rearguard who had Oates booked on 25 minutes for a challenge on the touchline.

Rangers though did manage to fashion a few chances midway through the half. First, following a break from ex Kilmarnock striker Jerome Veraille, J. Barclay fired over the bar from just inside the area.

Next up was a strike from distance from McLellan that Darren Hunter in goal did well to push away low to his right.

Grant and Moodie both tried their luck from distance for Dunipace before Kilsyth ended the half with a headed chance from a free kick that narrowly cleared the visitors crossbar.

The second half started in much the same way as the first had ended, with Kilsyth enjoying possession of the ball but all of it in front of a Dunipace defence who were rarely being troubled by the home attack.

Indeed, Dunipace again looked most likely to add to their tally with fast breaks down both flanks catching out the home side. Unfortunately for the Pace, the final ball on occasion was lacking and they couldn't add to their tally.

It looked as though it would get more comfortable for the visitors though as Kilsyth substitute Paddy Flannery was given two bookings at the same time for dissent, one for apparently sighing too loudly which seemed harsh. None the less, Dunipace found themselves playing against 10 men after 55 minutes.

And they nearly made the man advantage count as Mullen and Cairney broke free down the left flank. Mullen crossed looking for the number 10 but the pass was cut out, landing in front of Donald on the volley who couldn't keep his shot down.

Hunter in the visitors goal was mostly now dealing with shots from distance as Dunipace kept Kilsyth at arms length, fielding 2 comfortably from Barclay.

Pace replaced the hard working Moodie with the experienced Pincombe and the striker set himself up with a chance of getting on the scoresheet almost instantly.

Pincombe looked to pass to Cairney, who was 10 yards offside, but as the home defence stopped waiting for the whistle Cairney made no attempt to chase the ball and Pincombe continued after his own pass.

With the keeper coming out the big striker drilled his shot wide of the keepers left hand post from 18 yards.

An injury picked up by Oates in the first half led to the stopper being replaced by McPhail and the little wide man was to have a great chance of wrapping up the points.

Cairney cut inside from the right and picked out McPhail who got the ball down and looked to be keeping a cool head as he slotted beyond the keeper. Unfortunately the strike cannoned back of the bottom of the post.

And with full time approaching Kilsyth thought they had grabbed a fortuitous equaliser when a corner from the Dunipace left came back off the far post, though Tough should have done better with the rebound as he blazed over the bar from 6 yards.

It seemed Dunipace had escaped this scare and would see out the game, but their eagerness to grab a second goal came back to haunt them. With time ticking away and possession in the Kilsyth corner, Dunipace crossed to try and grab a second.

From the resulting break, Kilsyth were awarded a dubious free kick and when the floated ball was cleared to the edge of the area it landed perfectly for Doyle who blasted beyond Hunter on the volley.

Heartbreak for Dunipace who deserved nothing less than 3 points from the game and frustration for Grant as he was booked for questioning the decision to award the free kick.

For the second time in a week Dunipace had lost out by virtue of a 90th minute concession and the disappointment was visible from the entire squad.

So, the league cup campaign complete and Dunipace won't progress to the next round, with Rob Roy taking that space. But with the three performances that we've seen thus far it's looking very good for Dunipace fans for the start of the league season a week on Saturday against Shettleston at Westfield.

Despite having led and played some excellent football in all 3 games, Dunipace will be looking to learn from their inability to so far close out the result. Something that when it comes (and it will come) will hopefully make this squad a formidable opponent for anyone they face in the coming season.

Kilysth: Duke, Doyle, Waters, Tough, Gannon, D. Barcley, Scott (Flannery 55), McLellan, J. Barclay, Veraille (McAteer 55), Car
Not Used: McGinty, McPeake, Harty, Tait
Yellow: Waters
Red: Flannery (2 x Yellow for dissent)

Dunipace: Hunter, Brown, Henderson, Reid, Oates (McPhail 70), Donald (Kane 80), Wright, Grant, Moodie (Pincombe 65), Cairney, Mullen
Not Used: Cullen, Sibbald, Gowans
Yellow: Wright, Grant, Oates

Referee: J Burns