Carradale clobber Cardross in sizzling six-goal thriller
THE OPENING half hour of exchanges left former ‘Dale’ goalkeeper Gordon Evans watching from the side lines wondering if either side would ever score.
After much toing and froing, the Andrew Smith and Son sponsored side burst into the Cardross goal in the 31st minute. Stuart MacBrayne crossed from the left. The ball bounced off a Cardross defender and Johnny McCormick drilled a low shot into the net.
Within three minutes ‘Dale’ doubled the lead. Once again MacBrayne led the way with a curling left foot cross to send Stuart MacPhail clear of the defence. He drew the keeper out and slot- ted the ball home. The Commercial Bar sponsored home side settled down to hold onto the lead and keeper Declan Wilson was rarely troubled by Cardross for the whole of the first half.
At the start of the second half, the Kintyre side was on the front foot pushing for a third goal, but Cardross stood firm in defence.
After 59 minutes ‘Dale’ got a third from a free kick after Daniel Docherty was brought down just outside the right side of the penalty box.
Macbrayne hit the dead ball from 22 yards out and Joey Boyd out jumped the defenders to head the ball home.
Carradale brought on three subs for the last half hour but it was the visitors who scored next. In the 75th minute, Ryan Blackstock lost his marker and the Cardross left winger ran into the penalty box. In trying to retrieve the situation, Blackstock brought the man down and a penalty was awarded.
The Cardross captain took the penalty and although the ball appeared to go straight at Wilson, he was unable to stop it.
In the 81st minute ‘Dale’ found the net a fourth time. David Johnstone passed through the middle to Johnny McCormick who shot from outside the box. The Cardross keeper seemed to have the ball but it slithered out of his grip and crossed the line.
With a few minutes left, a Cardross ball over the top caught the home defence square and their number seven scored from the unlucky Wilson who moments before had made a fine save.
Man of the match was Stuart MacBrayne and the match ball was sponsored by Campbell Ramsay Electricals.
‘Dale’ are away to Helensburgh tomorrow and at home on April 1.