League

Gretna
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Rick McFall started the match with the kick off. When Roy Aird came up free with the goalie in the 4th minute, the Culbokie AC fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Roy Aird couldn't finish the play. Matt Jamieson's late challenge caught a Culbokie AC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Matt Jamieson helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, Mendax FC's Matt Jamieson got a free kick in the 5th minute. Culbokie AC's Malcolm McKinlay couldn't find anyone to pass the ball to, so he shot a long shot towards the goal in the 6th minute. The shot went wide which resulted in a goal kick for Mendax FC. 8 minutes into the match, Mendax FC's goal looked a bit too open when Rick McFall came free, but Donald Bontine reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Timmy Balloch received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 12th minute. Donald Bontine tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Mendax FC's Donald Bontine played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rick McFall in the 19th minute of play. Donald Bontine made a fantastic save in the 21st minute, when Timmy Balloch sent off a good shot on target. When Nicky McCaa fell near the penalty area in the 23rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Mendax FC's protests and gave Nicky McCaa a yellow card for diving instead. Nicky McCaa hit a great freekick 23 minutes into the match. After a defensive mix-up in Culbokie AC's zone, Brian Taggart stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Alisdair Duffy came out of the goal and Brian Taggart tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Joshua McKessock fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 30th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alisdair Duffy having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rick McFall in the 32nd minute of play forced Mendax FC's goalkeeper Donald Bontine to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 35th match minute, Mendax FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jason Sorely to maneuver through the defense. In the 36th minute of the match Malcolm McKinlay shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Donald Bontine showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. When Timmy Balloch came up free with the goalie in the 42nd minute, the Culbokie AC fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Timmy Balloch couldn't finish the play. Timmy Balloch received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 44th minute. Donald Bontine tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The wind increased when Joshua McKessock made the kick off in the second half. After having played for 58 minutes, Rick McFall managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Culbokie AC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Rick McFall was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 59th match minute, Mendax FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Rory Coull to maneuver through the defense. Culbokie AC's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Malcolm McKinlay in the 62nd minute. Culbokie AC's Malcolm McKinlay was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Donald Bontine in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. A collision led to Mendax FC getting a freekick after 63 minutes play. Phil Barclay hit a great ball. 72 minutes into the match, Culbokie AC's Timmy Balloch sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Donald Bontine narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Matt Jamieson hit a great freekick 77 minutes into the match. Culbokie AC's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Malcolm McKinlay in the 79th minute. The corner led Culbokie AC's Malcolm McKinlay to fire away a dangerous shot which Donald Bontine despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Donald Bontine showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Rick McFall, who was totally free with the ball in the 84th minute. Rick McFall received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 86th minute. Donald Bontine tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Timmy Balloch fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 88th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Donald Bontine having to interfere. The audience was convinced that Timmy Balloch's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Donald Bontine was relentless in the 90th minute of the game. Brian Taggart could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 92nd minute of the match, but Alisdair Duffy made a huge save. Rick McFall sent away a hard shot on goal in the 94th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Roy Aird received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 97th minute. Donald Bontine tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Neither set of supporters seemed pleased with the draw, but both teams had played equally well today.