Dumfries and District Amateur Football League

Lochmaben were much the brighter early on and pressured Max with a series of corners, the first saw Max keeper Duncan Purdie pull off a good save and the last resulted in an overhead kick that flew just past the upright.  Lochmaben opened the scoring in the 12^th minute from another corner, tThistle's defence failed to deal with an inswinger at the front post and Raymond Watson was on hand to fire home from 6 yards out.  The pressure was on, and a Charles Common shot crashed off the bar before defender Chris Craik managed to clear, again hitting the woodwork with his clearance. Common was again on target a few minutes later and only a good Purdie save at point blank range kept Max in it. The game was in its twentieth minute before Thistle tested Scobie in Lochmaben’s goal. Sean Kearney firing a shot across the goal but the keeper was up to it and parried the ball away for the corner. Thistle had an even better chance five minutes later, James Smith curled a perfect pass  around the home defence and Kearney was on hand for what looked like a routine finish but his shot was wide. Kearney again had an opportunity but fired over the bar. Thistle then had a good penalty claim when Stuart Wight was felled in the box but the referee waved away the claims.  Lochmaben still had the occasional break and always looked dangerous especially with Common and Thorburn’s movement up front.

The half ended with some end to end stuff with neither team managing to seriously test the keeper.  The second half was all action with both teams launching attack after attack, Lochmaben trying to kill the game off and Maxwelltown trying to get an equaliser. There were few signs of tiredness on either side, which led to committed play from both sets of players. Purdie pulled off another good save from Common with Craik again on hand to clear the danger. Within a minute Max were on the counter with Graeme Carling heading wide after another good James Smith cross. Lochamben showed plenty on commitment especially from Alan and Laurie Maxwell, the home side creating several chances the best of which again fell to Common but his shot was straight at Purdie. With time running out Thistle had another good penalty claim, this time Carling was sent crashing to the ground in the box. Despite the claims the referee again waved play on.  With three minutes remaining in normal time Max got the equaliser they wanted. Smith put in a deep cross which was headed back across the face of goal by Craik for Wight to finish from 6 yards out with a neat volley.  Extra time was played at a good tempo even though there were plenty of tired legs on both sides. Neither team could carve out a decent opening in the extra time period  and the match moved on to penalty kicks. Thistle won the toss and went first but their first kick went high over the bar. Both sides traded kicks and it fell to Kearney to keep Thistle in the game with Lochmaben leading 4-3, but the normally reliable striker also failed to find the target and an in-form Lochmaben lifted their second cup of the season.

League Treasurer Jim Kirk assisted Russell Caskie of the Lochar Inn in the presentations with captain Russell Paisley recieveing the cup on Lochmaben’s behalf. The man of the match award, picked by the match officials went to Alan Maxwell of Lochmaben.