Football: Title awaits meeting decision

Jun 10 2009 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

THE DUMFRIES and District Amateur Football League drew to a close on Saturday with the final league game being completed.

Maxwelltown Thistle took on Upper Annandale at the Holm Park in what was essentially a league decider.

With the fresh breeze at their backs, Max took the game to Uppers from the start but it was Uppers who had the best chance early on, with Ryan Johnstone clipping the outside of the far post with a shot from an acute angle.

With 20 minutes gone, Max hit the post from a long free kick taken by Tommy Jardine but no-one on the Max side could capitalise on the rebound and Uppers cleared well.

A few minutes later Max had the ball in the net but the referee saw something amiss in the box and disallowed the goal, despite the Thistle protests.

Uppers striker Neil Roddick then tested Max keeper Duncan Purdie with a fierce shot from 18 yards out but the keeper was equal to it and saved well.

Eventually, in the 30th minute, the Maxwelltown pressure yielded a goal.

Sean Kearney reacted first to a loose ball in a crowded penalty box and cleverly dinked the ball over everyone for a neat finish from 10 yards out.

Thistle nearly doubled their lead when a neat passing move saw Ross Halliday get some clear space in the box but he took too long and defender Peter Pagan got back for a goal-saving tackle.

With a minute to go in the first half Uppers equalised. Ryan Johnstone picked up the ball from a poor headed clearance and fired a low hard cross to the back post where Michael Swan side-footed home.

Max started the better after the break and should have gone ahead again when Halliday put a cross into the near post. Striker Graeme Carling should have done better, but stand-in keeper Kevin Jack smothered the loose ball and the chance was gone.

Kearney had another attempt but his powerful drive went inches over the bar from 20 yards out.

Purdie in the Thistle goal was not idle and he saved well from a Ryan Johnstone shot.

Maxwelltown then went in front on the hour mark, defender Chris Craik stayed up after a corner and gathered the ball in midfield.

A strong run and left footed cross caught the Uppers’ defence out and a bit of dithering on their part allowed Halliday to nip in and flick the ball past the keeper.

The game, never played at a frantic pace became stifled in midfield for the next 15 minutes before the fireworks started.

Uppers threw an extra man up front and started to put some stiff challenges in. After several bust-ups, which the referee had to deal with, Uppers drew level.

Michael Swan evaded a challenge on the left wing and put a good cross in. The ball ricocheted off a defender and landed at striker Roddick’s feet. He wasted no time and finished well low into the corner from 16 yards out.

With five minutes remaining, Thistle replaced a midfielder with a defender but were undone almost immediately.

The substitute was adjudged to have fouled an Uppers player in the box and the referee pointed to the spot despite some strong Maxwelltown protests

Neil Roddick stepped up and fired the spot kick low into the corner to give Uppers the lead.

With minutes remaining Thistle had a reasonable penalty claim of their own but the referee waved their protests away.

The final whistle came with Uppers winning the match 3-2.

One important result in midweek saw Uppers knock 12 past Terregles in the re-arranged league match that was postponed a week ago.

Terregles fielded an understrength team in this match and Uppers took full advantage.

These results give the Moffat team the best W D L record but with various point deductions and an appeal in Glasgow scheduled for June 15, the destination of the title is still far from decided.

The league AGM takes place on June 14 at the David Keswick Centre resources room.

Any clubs wishing to join the league should contact Steven Todd on 01387262117 before then.

Results:

Wednesday, June 3: Upper Annandale 12 Terregles Athletic 0.

Saturday, June 6: Maxwelltown Thistle 2 Upper Annandale 3.