League

Canonbie Stadium
Spectators: 6790 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1790, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Troy Cook started the match with the kick off. Wal Dyce received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 4th minute. Ray Spittel tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 6 minutes into the match, Strathaven City's Barry McKeggie sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Davie Carson narrowly saved just below the crossbar. If Troy Cook had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 8th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Barry McKeggie's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Davie Carson read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 13th minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Troy Cook in the 14th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Davie Carson saved Canonbie from getting behind. When the match clock showed 15 minutes, the score became 1-0 when Wal Dyce sped through Strathaven City's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Ray Spittel. Davie Carson made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Barry McKeggie in the 20th minute of play. Gary McCrae received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 21st minute. Ray Spittel tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Gary McCrae fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 26th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ray Spittel having to interfere. 32 minutes into the match, Canonbie's goal looked a bit too open when Troy Cook came free, but Davie Carson reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Strathaven City's Jack Tarrill suffered a concussion in the 35th minute, after a hard challenge, and had to leave the field. When Gary McCrae fell near the penalty area in the 35th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Canonbie's protests and gave Gary McCrae a yellow card for diving instead. After 36 played minutes Canonbie got a freekick which was hit by Gary McCrae. An unexpectedly hard shot by Barry McKeggie in the 38th minute of play forced Canonbie's goalkeeper Davie Carson to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Strathaven City's Barry McKeggie got a good chance for a goal in the 41st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Rod Fairbairn sent away a hard shot on goal in the 43rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance.

When Barry McKeggie came up free with the goalie in the 55th minute, the Strathaven City 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 Barry McKeggie couldn't finish the play. In the 56th minute the ball was on its way in behind Canonbie's goalkeeper Davie Carson, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Canonbie's Davie Carson played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rod Fairbairn in the 60th minute of play. Davie Carson made an important save on a dangerous shot by Barry McKeggie in the 67th minute. Barry McKeggie sent away a hard shot on goal in the 68th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 71 minutes into the match, Canonbie's goalkeeper Davie Carson had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Barry McKeggie. Barry McKeggie fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 72nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Davie Carson having to interfere. After 74th play minutes Barry McKeggie shot 1-1, a short shot which went by Davie Carson and just under the crossbar into goal. In the 79th minute Gary McCrae shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ray Spittel saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 82 minutes into the match, Rod Fairbairn notched a goal, 1-2, to the right of Canonbie's Davie Carson. Davie Carson was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. After some fancy dribbling in the 87th minute, Barry McKeggie managed to get in a good position for a shot. Strathaven City's supporters rose to their feet, but Barry McKeggie was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Davie Carson breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Dougal Gardiner came free with the goalkeeper in the 88th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Davie Carson could save by the left post. A hard shot 90 in the game by Barry McKeggie from a close distance when the talented Davie Carson managed to make a qualified save. Canonbie's players were relieved. Gary McCrae fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 93rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ray Spittel having to interfere. In the 96th minute, Wal Dyce made a precise shot to the right of Ray Spittel. Strathaven City's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-2. When the referee blew the final whistle, you could see the dissatisfaction in the Strathaven City players' eyes. They were disappointed they hadn't taken more from the game.