Dundee West Royals V St Andrews Colts
Starting Line-up
GK - Nixon
LB - Morris
CB - Singer
CB - Crabb
RB - Chalmers
LM - Mitchell
CM - Johnstone
CM - Smith
RM – Paton
ST - Storrie
ST - McManamon
Substitutes
McColl
Smart
Hughes
Clark
Gilmurray
MATCH REPORT
Dundee West Royals 2006’s travelled to face St Andrews Colts for the second time in the League, after losing in the previous tie, and third overall this season, having eliminated them on penalties from the Ross Balantine Cup. Dundee West were confident they could pick up their first 3pts in the league, having more than matched St Andrews in the cup tie.
Dundee West started the game brilliantly, taking the game to St Andrews. Within the first minute of the game, Smith ventured forward from midfield, beating two men and earning a corner as he advanced into the box. The corner flew to the back post and was cleared by the defence, but only as far as Smith who turned away from goal onto his favoured right foot, but his shot was blocked and cleared to safety.
4mins into the game, St Andrews started to get on the ball, and almost created an opening but Chalmers put in a strong tackle to clear the danger inside his box.
West continued to fight in the middle of the park, with Smith and Johnstone standing their ground against the towering St Andrews midfielder.
6mins in, McManamon found space with his trademark run up the left-hand flank, after good work by Smith to find Mitchell, who slipped in the striker, but he unfortunately ran the ball out of play as he darted into the box.
2mins later, Smith found McManamon up the left again, and this time he was able to cross at the by-line into the near post, but the St Andrews keeper was alert and caught the ball before the West attackers could latch onto it.
On 9mins, West almost created a lovely chance, with a good one-touch passing move between Johnstone, McManamon and Storrie, but Storrie was eventually ruled offside as he received the final ball inside the area.
13mins in, St Andrews almost found a way through the West defence as their winger got in behind Morris, but the left-back made a great recovery run and sliding tackle to stop the danger and clear for a throw.
On 16mins, St Andrews finally had their first real attempt on goal, when their winger was slotted in on the right hand side, but he took his shot early and sent the ball wide of the far post.
3mins later, West were inches from the opener, as McManamon yet again found space up the left and put in a perfect ball, low across the 6yard box, but Storrie couldn’t make contact as the ball flew past his outstretched leg.
St Andrews almost hit back on the counter, when a through ball split the West defence, but Nixon rushed out on the striker to make a great stop and save his side.
On 25mins, St Andrews again played a dangerous ball into the West box, this time from the left flank, but Nixon again was aware, and collected the low cross before anyone could get near it.
3mins from half time, St Andrews should have taken the lead, but again Nixon was the hero with a fantastic double save. With St Andrews clean through, Nixon got down to his right-hand side to parry the powerful shot, then recovered to save well down to his left and hold the ball, keeping the match all square at a crucial time just before the half time whistle.
1min before the whistle, and West may well have also taken a lead before the break, but for a last-minute slide tackle on McManamon by the St Andrews defender, to clear for a corner. The corner was cleared back out towards Smith, the corner taker, but his first-time cross back in was headed clear.
Half-time: Dundee West Royals 0 – 0 St Andrews
Substitutions HT = Paton and Mitchell off, Gilmurray and Clark on.
1-0: 3mins into the second half, West finally took the lead having had the better chances in the first half but failing to capitalise. Substitute Gilmurray made good progress up the left-hand side earning his team a corner. Smith flighted the ball into the penalty spot, but with no takers, McManamon had a clean shot on goal at the back post, thundering a first-time half-volley in off the post.
West continued to press St Andrews to add to their lead, and Smith fought well to regain possession high up the pitch on the left and cross into the box, but Gilmurray’s swipe at the ball was wide of the mark and didn’t trouble the goalie.
On 41mins, only a minute later, Smith again almost assisted a goal, taking a throw in into feet and slotting in Storrie, who sent the ball between the keeper’s legs, but the keeper did just enough to stop the ball underneath him and save himself from any embarrassment.
44mins in, St Andrews found themselves in on goal to equalise, but, yet again, Nixon made a good save down to the striker feet as he advanced inside the box.
The game became feisty, as West tried to double their lead, and St Andrews fought to get themselves back into the game.
On 55mins, Crabb found Smith in space from deep, who controlled and played a lovely one-two with Storrie, to get in behind the defence, but his shot was saved well down to feet as the St Andrews keeper rushed out to save his team once more.
1-1: 2mins later, St Andrews equalised with a long range free kick from wide on the left, smashing the post and in, leaving Nixon no chance.
Booking 57mins = Clark
Substitution 53mins = Crabb off, Smart on.
On 64mins, having continued to try and regain the lead, McManamon yet again provided a cross from a great run up the left, but Gilmurray’s toe to the ball sent it wide of the mark.
2mins from time, St Andrews almost found a lucky winner, when Nixon was unable to hold the ball from another long-range free kick effort, but he recovered well to save and hold the rebound, as St Andrews pounced on the loose ball.
Full time: Dundee West Royals 1-1 St Andrews Colts
Man of the Match: Nixon (G)
Scorers: McManamon
Dundee West can take great confidence from a game that they had a lot of the ball and created some good chances, and showed great fight to the end despite losing their lead. Having been the better side in the first half, they took the lead early in the second, but were undone by a wonder strike from a long-range free kick 13mins from time. Both West and St Andrews continued to battle for a winner, but after a hard fought second half by both teams, the draw was probably a fair result.
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