Paisley & District League Division 1

Johnstone Thistle v Blackstoun United AFC

2-2

K.O. 2.30pm at Thomas Shanks grass Referee R. Doolan

When you read what some teams say about themselves on the web sites etc, you wonder. Are they a big hotshot team or what? As it turns out we were the more aggrieved at not having won the game.

Once again the wind played a big part in this game as it did the last time we played Johnstone on this park, but not because of the wind but because of the rain I am unable to give you a comprehensive report on the game. I think I need to invest in an underwater pad and pen.

We kick off at 2.30pm they won the toss but strangely they elected to play against the wind in the first half. We were all over them in the first half and working well in all areas of the park with good link up play. We had several chances to score with Karl, Gary S, Chrissy, Ryan and Robert but the best of the lot was Gary’s shot off the cross bar. If memory serves me right Johnstone had only three clear cut chances in the first half. The first was when they broke through our lines they were one on one with Kane and looked cert to score but Kane pulled of a tremendous save. The second was another one on one but a brilliant tackle and block from Spooney saved the day and finally when they got their goal in the 35 minute to make it 1-0. And that was pretty much it, yes they tried to push up but our defence moped up everything with no real problems.

Five minutes later we got the equaliser to make it 1-1. This came through a well worked move ending in a well placed pass into their box to Gary S who powered it home giving the keeper no chance.

Half Time

We started the second half against the driving rain and wind, but despite this we had a lot of the play and certainly played the better football. It was in one of those moments about the 25 minute that we worked our way down their right flank with some good determined runs mixed in with some nice one touch play we got into their box, get the shot in but it spills out to their left of the goal where young John Moran is ready and waiting to slam it home. 1-2.

Now it has to be said that when the wind was at its strongest they did have us pinned in but we were coping well enough with the pressure until about 35 min when Spoony got kicked on the head. After receiving some first aid it was clear that he was unable to continue. This left the defence bit weaker and in need of a little time to adjust it was at this time they took advantage of our momentary lapse to make it 2-2.

After this we settled again and came straight back at them and in the last five minutes or so we looked the most likely to score the winner but unfortunately it didn’t materialise so the game finished a draw.

The team today was:-Steven Kane, Grant McEnhill, Chris Crichton, Stuart Piggot, Stuart Wutherspoon, Robert Clark, Brian McLuskey, John Moran, Ryan Pirie(Cap), Karl Flynn and Gary Stevenson.

Used Subs were:-John Flemming and Steven Trainer.

Unused subs were:-Kevin Kane

A good game in which we played well and in my opinion we should have won. And the best of luck to Johnstone Th. in the rest of their league campaign.