Central League: Division 1

  Neilston 0 - 0 Dunipace  

Match Report by Barry "Fabio" Rodger

Promotion contenders Neilston are within touching distance of the top two and nothing less than a home win was necessary to keep the pressure on Kilsyth and Thorniewood. Bobby Crilly's recent signature of Rob Roys James Lennox is a clear indication that Neilston mean business and the midfielder will surely add a different dimesion to their squad.

Meanwhile Dunipace Gaffer Craig McKinlay and Assistant Mick McCafferty had two weeks to gather and prepare their thoughts after a disappointing Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Lochore Welfare. Cairney and McIllduff were both available for selection after their recent match suspensions. McIllduff was the lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation with centre midfielder Govan back in the starting eleven.

First real chance of the game fell to Wright on the 7th minute when Cairney slid a fantastic pass through to him to leave him one on one with the keeper but the angle was tight and Wright could only drill his shot wide of the far post.

3 minutes later Reid sent an excellent long range pass to Wright who rode a heavy challenge before squaring the ball to Brown who's shot deflected off the Neilston defender for a corner kick. Neilston won possession from the corner and broke immediately up to the edge of the Dunipace 18 yard box. McCurley pulled off a brilliant double save, firstly from a long range effort and secondly from a half volley 8 yards out to keep the hosts at bay.

On the 20th minute, McIllduff skipped by two defenders and fired the ball across the face of the goal. Wright was sharper than the Neilston defender and managed to clip the ball towards goal from 6 yards out but unfortunately it skimmed off the post.

Wright and Brown were causing all sorts of bother down the right hand side and carved open several opportunities with the clearest coming from a neat one-two, lay off to Cairney who chipped the ball up to McIllduff but his header went straight into the keepers hands.

Cairney and Govan were dictating the centre of midfield and it was Cairney who created the best chance of the match when he showed fantastic vision to play Wright through on goal on the 37th minute. The midfielder will be disappointed with his subsequent shot which steered wide of the post with just the keeper to beat.

Brown then made a terrific run from the half way line and wriggled past two Neilston midfielders only to be tackled on the 18 yard box by the last defender.

Half time 0v0 but easily could have been 3 nil to Dunipace

The second half Dunipace started the slightly slower which was understandable given their efforts in the first half. On the 50th minute McCurley pulled off another good save from a scramble in the box but could only palm it into the path of the Neilston striker who's resulting shot whacked off the post and out for a by-kick.

Wright continued to cause trouble on the right hand side but his clever play and cross along the 6 yard box was too quick for his teammates to get on the end of. And he was at it again only moments later, this time his pass led to Govan having long range effort that thundered off the keeper.

McIllduff was causing major problems for the Neilston defence and his strength proved to much for the Neilston centre half Fraser who he muscled off and fired across goal, but the incoming cavalry struggled to get on the end of it and the attack fizzled out.

McIllduff turned from striker to orchestra conductor when he received a yellow card for descent in the 65th minute. The Buckfast Abbey Choir dedicated a song to him and, despite their sides lackluster performance, were able to draw a few smiles from both sections of the crowd.

Then Dunipace Captain, Mullen, pulled off two excellent last ditch challenges, one on the 75th min when the Neilston striker was through on goal and the other on the 85th minute when Hobbs was just about to pull the trigger.

Neilstons Fraser was sent off moments later when he miss timed a tackle and then proceeded to kick the ball into his own crowd much to his managers disgust. Then it was McIllduff's turn for a moment of madness when he appeared to shove the Neilston defender into the keeper. The referee was harsh to give a straight red, particularly on the 90th minute, but it certainly merited a second yellow. Unfortunately, the big striker now faces another lengthy ban as a consequence.

Full-time 0v0 but another game that Dunipace would have felt they could have won. Spirited and determined display that should give everyone at the club the confidence to go on and have a successful season.

Next up, Dunipace face a difficult match at Westfield Park against bottom of the league Blantyre Vics on Saturday 20th November. They will pull no punches with former Dunipace Captain James Orr now pulling the strings, as skipper, for the much transformed Blantyre side.

Unfortunately I now need to pack away my typewriter for a while. This will be a huge relief to most Dunipace fans given that we failed to record a single victory during my 7 match reports. I hope the next reporter carries a rabbits foot and a pocket full of four leaf clovers......... either that or a case of tennents lager!

Neilston: Sexton, Crilly, Eadie, Fraser, Young, Lennox, Callaghan, Bonnar, Christie, Hobbs, McAlpine
Subs Not Used: Whiteford, Allan, Murphy, Cameron, Shields, Forrester, Evans
Booked: Lennox 25 mins, Fraser 65 mins
Sent off: Fraser 85 mins