Central League: Division 1

  Dunipace 0 - 1 Glasgow Perthshire  

Glasgow Perthshire: Graig (89)

Match Report by "No 8"

Rarely will you see a more one sided game in terms of both possession and clear chances as was witnessed at Westfield Park on Saturday. Dunipace set out to play passing football and win a game which would have provided a valuable 3 points given a home form which has been disappointing at times so far this season.

Dunipace started brightly enough and Chris Cairney provided the first shot on goal after 7 mins when his deflected shot from 25 yards was tipped over by the keeper Brian Thomson. This was the first sign that it was to be a busy afternoon for the Perthshire goalie.

After 22 mins of encouraging play by the home side, a flowing passing move played in Marty Wright down the right who sent in an inviting low cross along the 6 yrd box but Keiron McIlduff couldn't apply the finishing touch as the ball seemed to bounce awkwardly in front of him and the chance was gone. On 31mins good build up lead to Barry Rodger laying off the Bryan Grant at the edge of the box but his shot flew over the bar. After 38mins the ball was knocked wide for Wright down the right who swung in a great cross for Grant whose glancing header at the near post went just wide of target.

Dunipace rightly would have felt aggrieved not to be leading at the half way point and Perthshire certainly would have taken a lift out of remaining on levels terms however the 2nd half was to continue in the same vain with Dunipace monopolizing possession and penning in the away side for huge periods of the half.

The 1st of a number of clear chances was created after 49mins when a low cross from McIlduff from the right seemed to put in Rodger clear on goal only for the keeper to shut down the opportunity and block the chance. 3 mins later a quality passing move down the right between Kenny Govan and Wright opened up the defence and the cut back landed at Rodgers feet 10 yards out but his shot was saved by the keeper when he really shouldn't have been given any chance.

It was McIlduffs turn to be frustrated in 62 mins when played in by Rodger and his low shot with his left foot from 18yards saved low to the goalies left. A fine freekick from the left in 70 minutes from Cairney gave William Henderson a free header from 8 yards but his header went wide of the post. 2 mins later Rodger created another chance for himself when he turned on the edge of the box only to pull his shot wide of the mark. Then within the minute McIlduff had a 1st time shot again saved by Thomson in goal.

The pace eventually had the ball in the net on 79mins only for the referee to whistle for offside against Rodger. The 80th min again saw the home side pass their way through the defence and when Rodger seemed to hesitate slightly when the ball was played through as the keeper rushed out it gave the goalie the chance to get his foot to the ball. The half clearance though only made it to Cairney who with time chose to try and chip the keeper from 20 yards only for him to lob the ball tamely into Thomsons hands.

Rodger had one more chance in 88mins to open his scoring account when he was played in for a one on one with the goalie but his shot from 12 yards wasn't placed well enough to beat the busy Perthshire no1.

The pace had been committing men forward in pursuit of the 3points which they definitely felt was deserved in the last 15 mins with 3 up front and the away team took advantage in the 90th minute when a breakaway gave John Paul Craig the chance to cut inside and score with a low shout under Stefan McCurlay.

It is no exaggeration to say this was the quietest game of the season for McCurlay and this was the away teams only meaningful shot on goal in the entire game. This was a real sickener for the Dunipace lads and frustration got the better of Cairney who lunged into a dangerous tackle seconds after play resumed and was rightly issued a straight red card.

This was a foolish tackle which Chris will be sure to have regretted making.

Despite an extremely hard working and effective passing performance by the Pace in which they controlled virtually the entire game, they were severely punished for not taking their chances. This certainly was a bitter pill for the players to swallow.

Glasgow Perthshire: Thomson, Bakie, Hanley, McLauchlan, Brown, Bennet, Shirley, Dempdey, Graig, McGeuch, Kirkwood
Not Used: Kennedy, Gallacher, Reid