Annan shock league leaders

Nov 4 2009 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

Annan shock leaders

SHIRE looked set to cement their position as league leaders when they raced into a third-minute lead at Ochilview on Saturday.

Simon Lynch created the opening for strike partner Stephen McGuire who sidestepped his marker before beating keeper Greg Kelly with the aid of the inside of the upright.

The visitors could well have been two down at this stage because the same player had narrowly missed the target in the opening minute.

Annan responded to the setback with an effort from Brian Gilfillan which sailed over the crossbar with Graham Bell taking credit for the assist.

Annans defence was struggling at this point and Lynch twice looked dangerous without producing an end product. First he lost control at the last minute after bursting through the defence and later looped a high shot on target giving keeper Kelly an easy catch.

Kevin Neilson almost put his side in trouble with a short pass back and his keeper did well to recover the situation before keeping the score down with a terrific point blank stop from a Lynch piledriver.

The Annan boss later admitted that his team were lucky to be in the game at the half hour mark but the visitors were destined to go in level at the break as Shire began to get careless.

Paul Hay should have cleared his lines on 38 minutes but allowed the ball to spin away to Gilfillan who promptly whipped a cross into the danger area for Peter Watson to score with a stooping header.

Annan upped their efforts after the restart and were sharp enough to take advantage of their hosts mistakes.

The unfortunate Hay was again at fault as the visitors went ahead after 54 minutes. His attempted headed pass back was woefully short and David Cox gratefully accepted the gift to send a delightful chip over the head of Jamie Barclay as the keeper tried to close him down.

There was more sorrow for Shire in the 69th minute. McGuires pass was intercepted and the long ball out of the Annan defence cleared the Shire back line. Dave King couldnt match the pace of Cox who scored his second of the day with a super shot into the top corner.

Things might have been even worse for Shire when Annan sub Phil Storey pounced on a poor pass back from King but Barclay avoided the embarrassment by diving at the strikers feet. The final whistle ended a satisfying afternoon for Annan and one which Shire will soon wish to forget.

Teams

East Stirlingshire: Barclay, Hay (Dunn 63), Bolochoweckyj, King, Richardson (Ure 63), Rodgers (McKenzie 75), Lynch, McGuire. Unused subs. Donaldson, Sorley.

Annan Athletic: Kelly, Watson (Steven Sloan 58), Muirhead, Neilson, Steel, Jardine, Gilfillan, Lewis Sloan, McBeth, Bell (Anson 75), Cox (Storey 69). Unused subs. Hoolickin, Summersgill.

Referee: Craig Mackay.