Ardrossan Winton Rovers’ Graeme Hamilton went from hero to villain as Yoker Athletic progressed through to the next round of the Evening Times Cup Winners Cup after a nail biting penalty shoot out followed an entertaining draw in monsoon like conditions.
Holm Park was the venue for this cup game and I was keen to visit the ground when the Whe Ho's tenants, Clydebank FC, weren't playing. The first difference was the entrance fee - a pound cheaper at £4, second change I noticed was that the food van wasn't in the ground, and the third was I was able to get into the social club bar before the game and get a seat!
Maybe the pre-game can of TL wasnt such a good idea because as I made my way into the enclosed stand I took a tumble and skinned my knee. I maintain it was the uneven concrete terracing that caused it though. Thankfully it was early and only two witnesses were present. My ego and knee bruised I took position ready and keen to see the champions of their respective leagues in action.
The game was delayed because the referee was stuck in traffic not that he looked old enough to drive though.
Both sets of managers set their teams out in the traditional four-four-two formation but it was the Whe Ho who had the best of the opening play especially down the left wing with full back, John Harvey (No.3) and winger, Mark McManus, (No.11) combining well to cause the Winton defence problems.
This was exemplified when Yoker opened the scoring only 5 minutes into the game. Harvey sent McManus clear down the left to set up a deep cross that was met by right midfielder, Jamie Carson (No.7) at the back post. He showed composure to cut back the ball to onrushing right back, Gary Vickers (No.2), who finished the move with a fierce drive.
Yoker 1 – 0 Ardrossan Winton Rovers (Vickers, 5mins)
Winton fought back and seven minutes later it took a fantastic save from Yoker goalie, Ross Clark, to keep the lead for his team. Some good passing play found Ardrossan with the ball down the left wing. A good centre was met by striker, Graeme Hamilton (No.10), who had got free of his marker in the 6 yard box. He connected well but Clark was equal to the shot.
However Hamilton only had to wait less than ten minutes to get the equaliser. A cross from the left hand side was well met by the Winton striker who’s header was placed into the bottom left hand corner of the net from 6 yards. It was the Ayrshire team’s reward for their pressure.
Yoker 1 – 1 Ardrossan Winton Rovers (Hamilton, 19mins)
Five minutes later and the Winton took the lead and Hamilton had his second goal of the game. If the first goal was well worked this was anything but. A huge punt up the field was chased by Ardrossan attackers who put the Yoker goalie under enough pressure that his attempted punch clear landed at the feet of the No.10 who did well to deftly touch the ball over the heads of the scrambling defence into the empty net.
Yoker 1 – 2 Ardrossan Winton Rovers (Hamilton, 24mins)
It was Yoker’s turn to pressure the Winton defence and they thought they had an immediate equaliser less than a minute after conceding. Some great play down the right wing opened up the Rovers’ defence before the ball was turned in by the Whe Ho’s number 9, Ally Murray. However the big striker had thrown himself at the ball and in his desperation to make connection had used his hand to score. The referee had spotted it and booked Murray for the offence.
As Yoker pushed for the breakthrough some of the challenges were getting meatier and the home team had McManus and Carson booked for fouls and centre midfielder, Gary Bissland, was booked for something he said to the referee after his own team had won the free kick. His gaffer, John Brogan, let him know in no uncertain terms what he though of the booking.
Bissland was involved in a more positive move for Yoker on 31 minutes when they won a corner on the left side. The corner was drilled in low through the wet and found its way via a few pinball deflections to the No.10 at the back post. His strike was clean but it managed to squirm inches past the right hand post with a clutch of players including the goalie, defenders and attackers scrambling desperately to make a telling touch.
Half Time Yoker 1 – 2 Ardrossan Winton Rovers
The rain had come in short, sharp bursts but when it did fall it was torrential leading to the playing conditions to deteriorate rapidly. Whenever the rain started the enclosure suddenly was flooded by about 150 fans escaping the downpour. Thankfully it also brought in a fan of comedy gold. His first beauty was his random shout of "Come on Renfrew!"cried with a blatant disregard to which game he'd turned up at. Then in response to some Winton fans mocking this shout he retaliated with "You're so sexy when you're angry" much to the hilarity of the Rovers fans' pals and the rest of us in the stand.
The second half was slow to get started with the players probably rather being in the warmth of the dressing room.
The first action of note was a booking for the Rovers’ No.5, Barry Jones for a foul don substitute striker, Nicolson after only 3 minutes.
63 minutes into the game and Ardrossan should have been reduced down to ten men. Their central midfielder (No.8) had been booked for a pull back at the end of the first half committed a bad foul on Yoker’s central midfielder, Harry McLachlan. The referee decided that a talking to was enough much to the protestations from the home fans and management team.
Four minutes later and Yoker were level. This time Ally Murray didn’t need his hand to score as he put away a fine headed lay off from McManus. A crossed ball from the right hand side was met on the back post by the left winger who’s header was despatched with composure by the No.9 from 8 yards out.
Yoker 2 – 2 Ardrossan Winton Rovers (Murray, 67mins)
The goal seemed to ignite the game into a flurry of action again as both teams pushed to find a winner. Yoker were first to try their luck on 70 minutes when Bissland controlled a bouncing ball well on the edge of the box before his drive went just over the Winton goal.
Seventy-four minutes and Ardrossan Winton should have scored when their striker Paul Stewart (No.9) broke through the centre of the Yoker defence latching on to a long through ball. He unselfishly centred to his strike partner Hamilton taking Clark out of the game but a fantastic saving lunge from right back Vickers blocked Hamilton from claiming his hat-trick.
It was end to end stuff now as Yoker’s Carson had a half-chance in the box but his shot under pressure was screwed wide of the left hand post without troubling the keeper. A minute later and the Winton’s left winger, No.11, curled a shot past the left hand post from 20 yards out after some great work down the left.
With three minutes to play the Winton almost won it after the Whe Ho’s centre half, Ross Matthew, sold his left back short with a poor pass only 25 yards from his own goal that was quickly latched onto by the opposition. A break down the right hand side led to Hamilton meeting the cross with a good header that the goalie did very well to save and preserve his team’s chances of winning the tie in the last action of the ninety minutes.
Full Time: Yoker 2 – 2 Ardrossan Winton Rovers
And so on to penalties. With both teams given five minutes to gather their spot-kick takers and take a well earned rest of the legs finally the referee was ready to start the lottery. Ardrossan were first up and each player stepped up to score confidently their first 5 allocated penalties. The Yoker players matched their counterparts without exception and it was sudden death. The first four penalties were put away until the Winton’s two-goal hero, Hamilton, had his kick saved by Clark with a diving save to his left. Yoker scored their eight penalty to spark the celebrations with a 8-7 victory.
Full Time: Yoker 2 – 2 Ardrossan Winton Rovers (Yoker win 8-7 on pens)
Another penalty shoot out at Holm Park but this time it was the Whe Ho who kept their nerve to win. The delayed kick off and penalties meant that I missed my train so I decided to jump on the number 11 Firstbus. What a mistake that was as the bus proceeded to show me parts of Glasgow I didnt know existed. Forty minutes and a panic, sprint, and subway ride later I was on my way home on the same train that I should have waited for in the first place. Thank god for a Zonecard.
No comments:
Post a Comment