Dumfries and District Amateur Football League

Maxwelltown Thistle retained the Klic Cars sponsored British Legion Cup with a hard fought 3-2 win over Lochar Thistle at the David Keswick Centre on Friday night. Both teams came into the match very much on form so expectation was high for an exciting final. Lochar started much the better of the two teams and took the game to Max right from the whistle.  However, the first real opening was fashioned by Max in the 7^th minute, Ross Halliday found space in the box and fired a viscious shot in from a very acute angle. Alan Gordon the Lochar keeper was alert to the danger and pulled off an excellent save, tipping the ball over the bar.

For the next quarter of an hour there were very few opportunities for either team even though Lochar still had the initiative. The opening goal came in the 22^nd minute. Lochar won a contested throw in on their right, deep in Max territory, the throw in was taken quickly and Chris Rogerson turned his marker to play a neat cross into the front post. Mike McGauchie who has been prolific this season nipped in to finish from close range.

Max had a chance to equalise with the next chance but Ross Halliday failed to finish hitting his shot straight into keeper Alan Gordon’s arms from 12 yards out after a neat one-two with Kieren smith.

Lochar had their tails up though and had the ball in the Max net again in the 29^th minute,  Mike McGauchie again on target this time with a back post header but Lochar’s joy was short lived as the referees assistant flagged for offside and the goal was chalked off.  This proved to be a turning point in the game as Max tried to get back into the match. Kieren Smith fired over from 12 yards out but his shot sailed over the bar. Max kept the pressure on and equalised only a few minutes later. Sean Kearney took the ball down with his chest just inside the Lochar half and drove forwards to the edge of the box. The Lochar defence failed to close him down properly and he fired a low hard shot into the far corner of the net from 20 yards out.

There were no real scoring opportunities for either team before the half time whistle as the game became bogged down in midfield where there were some very tasty challenges going in. The referee who tried to keep the game moving as much as possible had to produce a card or two to keep the game from boiling over.

The first ten minutes of the second half were action packed with three goals coming in rapid succession. Max took the lead for the first time in the 47^th minute when Ross Halliday turned his defender and hit a great shot past the despairing hands of Alan Gordon into the Lochar net. They increased their lead two minutes later when Stuart Wight, who had a fine game on the night, broke through on the counter attack and played a neat one-two with Ross Halliday before sidefooting home from 8 yards out. Lochar responded and won a corner on the right. The corner was flicked on by James Rogerson and the ball landed on the Max six yard line where Alan Clark reacted the quickest, blasting the ball high into the Max net despite the attention of several defenders.

Again the match became bogged down in midfield with Max slowly gaining control as Lochar failed to win enough of the important challenges. In the 60^th minute Sean Kearney broke free of the Lochar defence and worked the ball to Graeme Carling who shielded the ball before playing the ball back into the path of his fellow striker. Alan Gordon saved well from the resulting close range shot.

James Rogerson then sent a powerful low shot in from 20 yards out, Max keeper Duncan Purdie did well to collect the ball after a nasty bounce changed the direction of the ball as it came to him. This was to be Lochar’s  last real opportunity as Max looked to catch them on the break. Chances from Stuart Wight, Graeme Carling and Ross Halliday were all scorned before the referee blew for full time.  On the night it was a well deserved victory for Maxwelltown with Lochar providing excellent opposition.  The match officials, referee Willie Vivers and assistants Steven Grier and Sandy McNay did well and tried to keep the match flowing at all times.  Best on the night for Lochar were John Howie, who had an excellent game on the right and Craig McCrone who defended well all night. For Maxwelltown, Ross Halliday, Stuart Wight, Sean Kearney and Bruce McQuarrie all played well.

Teams; Lochar Thistle – Gordon, Gunn, Clark, McCrone, McGauchie, Jones, Tweedie, Howie, Woodward (Couper), J.Rogerson, C.Rogerson(McKnight), Unused subs – Laidlaw, Sawden, McDowall. Maxwelltown Thistle – Purdie, Craik(Warwick), McQuarrie, Jardine, K.Smith(Lavan), J.Smith(Montgomery), Gauld, Wight, Halliday, Carling, Kearney – Unused subs – Hughes, Ferguson.

At the end of the match the Cup was presented to Maxwelltown Thistle captian Ross Halliday by match sponsor Grant McCubbin of Klic cars. Ross also picked up the man of the match award.

The league would like to thank the staff at the Keswick Centre were as usual very helpful and Klic Cars who have supported the league by sponsorship of this trophy for many years.