Thorniewood v Maryhill

[hollerman]

Central League – Division 1

Saturday 13^th February 2016

THORNIEWOOD 3 MARYHILL 3

Despite taking a two goal lead and dominating the early stages, Maryhill were probably a shade fortunate in the end to leave Robertson Park with a share of the points, following an enthralling six goal encounter.

Maryhill opened strongly and, playing some excellent one touch football, kept the home side pinned back in their own half for most of the opening twenty five minutes. After a few close encounters, they finally took the lead in the tenth minute when the Thorniewood defence failed to deal with a William Wells corner, and PAUL CALLENDER fired home from twelve yards. Further pressure brought a second for Hill after sixteen minutes when WILLIAM WELLS intercepted a short pass back and scooped the ball past Alex Connell in the home goal. It was almost three a minute later when Wells went on a great run past three home defenders, but Connell managed to divert his shot over the bar. On a rare foray into the Hill half, Thorniewood pulled a goal back after twenty four minutes when STEFAN LAW connected with a long ball from wide on the left and forced the ball over the line. Thorniewood now had the upper hand and the pace of Liam Anderson and the experience of Kevin Harper put the Maryhill defence under pressure. They equalised twelve minutes from half time when Anthony Higgins latched on to a long ball and set up KEVIN HARPER who shot past Grant Hay. Thorniewood finished the first half the stronger side but were unable to score again.

Half Time – Thorniewood 2 Maryhill 2

The home team continued on top in the early stages of the second period, and deservedly went ahead for the first time on fifty eight minutes. Intelligent play from Harper set Mark McShane free on the left wing and his cross was met by LIAM ANDERSON who scored from close range. Maryhill were really up against it at this stage, and things got worse when Joe Beckley was sent off for aiming a kick at Anderson. Although no real contact was made, the decision was probably technically correct. Thorniewood seemed to have more than a one man advantage as they piled on the pressure, and only some resolute defending from Hill, and some dreadful finishing prevented them from scoring again. A ray of light did appear for Maryhill eight minutes from the end when Daniel McNulty was shown a second yellow card by referee Gary McLean. It seemed a very harsh decision, but Hill took advantage and drew level a minute later, when sub JUSTIN BEGG powered home a header following a corner taken by Kieran Furay. Play swung furiously from end to end in the final six minutes, but neither side was able to find the winning goal. In injury time Hill’s Craig Ferguson was also shown a second yellow card and sent off, and again it seemed like an over-reaction from the ref.

In the end, both sides were probably happy with a draw, with Thorniewood regretting a string of missed opportunities in the second half, and Maryhill annoyed at failing to capitalise on their early dominant position.

THORNIEWOOD -: Connell, Robb (Trialist 85), McNulty, Brown, Hamilton, Forbes, Anderson, Law, Higgins, Harper (Lafferty 74), McShane (McSorley 59).

SUBS (not used)- Crielly, Corbet.

SCORERS -: Law (24), Harper (33), Anderson (58)

YELLOW CARDS – McNulty (68), McSorley (69), Forbes (73)

RED CARD – McNulty (82)

MARYHILL-: Hay, Beckley, Coyle, Walton, Banks, Callender, Owens (Begg 63), Ferguson, Monaghan, Docherty (Furay 70), Wells.

SUBS (not used) – Lundie, L.Tolland, J.Tolland.

SCORERS – Callender (10), Wells (16), Begg (83)

YELLOW CARDS - Wells (35), Walton (36), Ferguson (44)

RED CARDS – Beckley (62), Ferguson (90+2)

REFEREE – Gary McLean