Central League: Division 1

  Kilsyth Rangers 0 - 0 Dunipace  

Match Report by Barry "Fabio" Rodger

If there is one thing you learn very quickly about Junior football it's that Derby matches mean everything to the supporters. So the weight of expectation lies very heavy on the players to deliver something special so that fans will remember these games for many years to come. With that in mind, a trip to Duncansfield to face Kilsyth was always going to be a focal point Dunipaces season. The last time these clubs met was August in the League Cup section and The Pace felt very hard done by when Kilsyth equalised in the dying minutes. But this time it was league duty and bore much more significance for both clubs.

Kilsyth Manager Eric Sinclair was looking to close the gap between them and league leaders Thorniewood. Given the high expectations they have set themselves, three points at home would be number one priority if they were to have any asperations of winning the league. Having the benefit of Coach Danny Smith, who himself played for Dunipace only two seasons ago, Kilsyth would have a little bit of foresite leading up to kick off.

Dunipace on the other hand were looking to silence their critics and regain the form they showed earlier this season. Having played in so many of these matches himself, Gaffer Craig McKinlay had plenty of ammunition to fire up his players for this encounter.

Given the hype, the first half of the game was fairly flat and the game certainly did not live up to its expectations. Dunipace started with a 5-4-1 formation with Pincombe given the difficult task of playing sole striker.

For the first 20 minutes, neither side created much by way of opportunities and the ball was given away quite sloppily at times. The closest any side came to scoring at this stage was when Brown dribbled up the wing and Oates who then played and neat one two with Grant only for the Kilsyth defender to put in a good challenge and break down the attack.

Dunipaces Donald made his intent clear when he flung himself into two meaty challenges, coming out the winner on both occassions. He then slid a pass to Pincombe who turned fantastically in the box and attempted to dink the ball over Kilsyth goalkeeper Duke. The attempt did not quite come off but Duke made a right meal of things and was lucky his defender covered at the back post or the ball would have crept into the net.

At the other end Kilsyths frustration was beginning to show and an altercation between teammates Flannery and Dolan was the chink in the armour that the Dunipace players took confidence from. Minutes later, Pace striker Pincombe had a speculative long range effort saved by Duke.

Kilsyth then broke up the park only for Buchanan to stop them on their tracks and commit a foul 25 yards from goal. It was a decent freekick opportunity however Flannery aired his shot well over the bar for a bye kick.

5 minutes later, Donald created a great opportunity when he sent a precision cross into the box but unfortunately Wright was stretching and his header went just over the bar from 6 yards out.

The last two opportunities of the half fell to Kilsyth but were both fairly speculative efforts. Flannery's strike from 20 yards out flew wide of the post and Barclay's freekick from a similar distance was comfortably saved by McCurley.

Half-time 0v0 but Dunipace the happier team having had slightly more possession of the ball.

Whatever Craig McKinlay and Mick McCafferty said at half-time seemed to spring Dunipace to life. The players clearly showed their intentions that they never travelled to Duncansfield for a mere point and began to dominate possession straight from kick off.

Dunipace's Brown was causing havoc for the Kilsyth fullback down the right hand side with his electrifying pace. His pass to Oates, who played another clever one two with Grant, resulted in a powerful shot which was deflected off a Kilsyth defender.

A rare strike from Kilsyth's Kelly, directly outside the 18 yard box, was expertly saved from McCurley. But that was virtually McCurleys last touch of the match and it was the Kilsyth keeper who was to face the Dunipace cavelry for the remaining 30 minutes of the match.

Wave after wave Duke somehow avoided conceding with some spectacular goalkeeping when the big keeper looked far from steady earlier in this contest.

On 60 minutes, Brown weaved past two Kilsyth players and fired in a low cross which Wright was inches from getting on the end of. Moments later, Oates then cutely sent Brown away again. This time he laid off to Pincombe who unleashed a pile driver which Duke punched away before it burst the net.

On 65 minutes, a foul on Wright presented a freekick from 22 yards out. Mullens strike took a slight deflection off a Kilsyth defender and Duke just managed to palm the ball away only for Wright to latch onto it headering it agonisingly over the bar from 6 yards out. A minute later a Brown long ball to Pincombe was knocked down to the path of Wright who's side foot volley was narrowly tipped over the bar from Duke at point blank range.

Pincombe's last effort was on the 70th minute when another magnificant strike was saved by Duke. The big striker led the line brilliantly and was to be given a well earned rest to make way for Moodie.

Then a moment of magic from Kilsyth's Duke. Brown, again causing all sorts of bother down the right handside, fired a 20 yard shot which was sailing all the way into the top right hand corner of the goal only for the keeper to somehow claw the ball away when it was practically in the net. A magnificant save and possibly the moment where Dunipace had to resign themselves to a point.

Grant and Wright then had a excellent exchange of passes only for Grants shot to whiz by the post. But whilst Kilsyth did not register a single shot in the second half, it was them that had the last chance of the game and probably the easiest chance of the entire match.

On the stroke of the 90th minute, a hopeful ball was sent flying towards the back post, Mullen was overstetched and the Kilsyth player knocked the ball accross the face of the Dunipace goal. Flannery was there, but instead of bursting the net, he chose to try and guide the ball past McCurley into the far corner. The effort was met with gasps of disbelief when it zipped wide of the post when surely it was odds on for Kilsyth to snatch all 3 points. Thankfully it wasn't to be and would have been an absolute injustice after a sblime second half performance from Dunipace Juniors.

Final score 0v0 but a game that Dunipace will be extremely disappointed not to have won. There were several contenders for man of the match which shows how fantastic the team ethic was on the day. At times they were relentless in their approach and it remains a mystery how they never won this encounter.

Next stop 2pm Saturday 30th October at Westfield Park against Lochore Welfare FC in the Emirates Scottish Junior Cup Second Round.

Kilsyth: Duke, McPeake, Carr, Doyle, McGinty, D Barclay, McAteer, Dolan, J Barclay, Flannery, Kelly
Subs Not used: Gannon, Smith, Currie, Tait
Booked: Kelly 80 mins