Match Reports 2007/08
12/04/08 Clydebank United 3 Shawbridge 2 SSMFL Div.1 (John Brown's)
Shawbridge dropped to 6th in the table following Saturday's 3-2 defeat away to Clydebank United. The game was played on a very poor pitch at John Brown's with the heavy downpour on Friday night making it even worse. It was a pity as both teams like to get the ball down and play but he surface was anything but conducive to good football. Right from the start we knew it was going to be one of those "roll your sleeves up" type of games. Bearing that in mind the Shaws didn't start the game well at all with Clydebank getting tight and closing down quicker. However the Shaws took the lead mid way through the half when a well taken Kevin Tait free kick found Marc Drew unmarked at the back post. The striker took it on the volley with the in-step of his right foot guiding the ball into the far corner giving the keeper no chance. The lead was short lived as Thistle drew level when slack marking in the box let the number 6 get a deflected shot away that beat Pidge at the near post. The teams went in level at half-time. Shawbridge started the 2nd half a bit better but there was still more required to make up for their poor 1st half showing. But it was Clydebank who took the lead. Their impressive number 6 turned Mikey on the left hand side of the box before curling the ball into Pidge's left hand corner. It was no more than they deserved. This seemed to spark the Shaws into life as did Andy Murray's introduction. Suddenly the sleeves did get rolled up and we were creating some good chances. The pressure paid off when an Ian Dumbreck cut back was drilled in by Mark Dyer with the keeper getting a hand to it but failing to keep it out. The Shaws were in the ascendancy and looked as if they could go on and win it but a string of excellent saves from the Thistle keeper kept the score level. Had Andy Allison not impeded Paul Atkin unintentionally then the sub striker would have had a tap in following a great save from the keeper. Clydebank had some chances of their own with Pidge pulling off a wonder save of his own to keep parity. Credit to both sides for really having a go on a dreadful pitch and it really was end to end stuff at times in the latter stages of the game. In saying that the Shaws looked to be finishing the stronger of the two sides however with virtually the last kick of the ball disaster struck. A well hit shot was parried in the air by Pidge but it was the Clydebank striker who reacted quickest to knock the rebound home to secure the win. Credit to Clydebank United as they are a good side and have now leap-frogged Shawbridge into 4th. They will be a match for anyone, particularly at home, if they play that way evey week. It was a body blow for the Shaws who worked really hard to get back into the game and looked like they were going to go on and win it but it wasn't meant to be. Although we let ourselves down in the first half we must focus on the positives and take that into our crucial cup tie against Hardgate or Greenhills Dynamo. With only 1 league game left at home to AS Airdrie our main objective is to stretch out a cup run or else our season could be finished before we are into May!
05/04/08 Shawbridge 0 Tynecastle 2 SSMFL Div.1 (Burnhill)
Shawbridge lost 2-0 to title contenders Tynecastle at Burnhill on Saturday. An own goal by Mark Longmuir deep in the 2nd half finally broke a stuborn Shawbridge resistance. A second (that looked offside) in injury time secured the points for the men from Easterhouse. "Castle" were delighted with the win that keeps them 3 points behind leaders Blochairn Star with only 2 games left. Blochairn had a convincing 4-0 home win against Clydebank Thistle to keep them in the driving seat. Both teams still have to meet in what could be a title decider. Tynecastle deserved the win on Saturday with the Shaws coming up short. Although we defended well we struggled to create much and really only had one decent chance. Shaws were without first team regulars Mark Dyer (work), Willie Allison (Newcastle), David Cole (work),Paul Atkin (work), Andy Murray (Lake District) and Andy Gilchrist (Holiday) so it was always going to be difficult against a team going for the league. Considering who we had out it was a good effort. The boys who were there on Saturday gave their all and that is all you can ask for. We have a few players back for this Saturday's tough away game against a good Clydebank United side so that will give us a boost. The men from Clydebank could overtake the Shaws if they win and they will be in confident mood following a 6-2 win at home to League Cup finalists Hogganfield Thistle. Therefore, we must be up for it on Saturday in order to take anything from the game.
16/02/08 Greenbank Utd. 3 Shawbridge 4 (Muirend)
Shawbridge edged out Greenbank Utd. 4-3 at Muirend on Saturday to move up to 4th in the table. Goals from Andy Allison, Mikey Lafferty, Mark Dyer and an own goal secured the win. At 9am the park was unplayable due to the frost but a quick thaw out saw the game thankfully go ahead. Shawbridge started the better of the two sides and were 1 up early on courtesy of a David Cole deflected cross that ended up in the back of the net. A 2nd was added before half-time when an excellent cross by Mark Dyer from the right found Andy Allison at the back post who nodded home. Half-time 2-0. Greenbank came out the 2nd half determined to get something from the game but it was the Shaws who went 3 up after a sublime goal by defender Mikey Lafferty. He killed a long high ball with one touch then took a couple of strides before dinking it over the Greenbank keeper. Class in a glass! The points looked in the bag however David Cole gave the home team a glimmer of hope when his slack back-pass let the Greenbank forawrd round Pidge to make it 3-1. "Sausage roll" made up for his error shortly after by nodding back across goal for Mark Dyer to tap in the Shaws 4th with 20 minutes to go. Surely the points were safe now? Well maybe if we didn't concede 2 goals in 10 minutes! The first came from a free-kick outside the box which was hardly surprising as we must have given about 6 away throughout the game. The 2nd came courtesy of a penalty as Roy Dale skipped past 3 men before Mark Longmuir sent him tumbling in the box. No complaints. This made for a ropey last 10 but thankfully the Shaws held out for what was probably a deserved victory.
09/02/08 Shawbridge 3 Windlaw 2 (Burnhill)
Shawbridge ran out 3-2 winners at home to local rivals Windlaw on Saturday at Burnhill. A brace by Willie Allison added to by David Cole secured the 3 points for the Shaws. Windlaw started the better of the two sides and were soon one up inside 10 minutes. They continued to dominate the early part of the game but failed to add to their tally. It took the Shaws about 25 minutes to get into the game creating a few clear cut chances in the process but poor finishing let them down. However star man Willie Allison levelled before the break when his well taken free kick alluded everyone, including Windlaw keeper Lunny, with the ball ending up in the back of the net. Half-time 1-1. Shawbridge came out the 2nd half with more purpose and got their rewards when David Cole put the home side 2-1 up. Windlaw, by their own standards, had a poor 2nd half and a stunning strike by Wille Allison compounded their misery and secured the points for the Shaws. Windlaw substitute Paul McInally grabbed a goal late on however Shawbridge held on for a memorable win. The Shawbridge players should be pleased with their day's work as they worked their socks off for the victory. Back in November it was the Windlaw striker who won the game with a stunning strike, this time Willie Allison produced a peach to give the Shaws all three points in the "El Classico."
Well done lads!!!!!!!
