Half-time reshuffle fails to lift Carradale
Greater Glasgow AFL
Bellaire 4 Carradale 3
CARRADALE travelled to Gourock to take on a new look Bellaire side who recently amalgamated with Broomhill AFC from Greenock.
The match started in blustry conditions which made it difficult for both sides.
With no recognised goalkeeper, it was Dean McCallum who had to step in and play in the ’Dale goal.
The first chance of the game fell to the Kintyre side. After eight minutes Daniel Docherty’s 20-yard shot struck the upright but the same player did open the scoring couple of minutes later.
The McFadyens Transport-sponsored side gained a free-kick 25 yards from goal and Docherty fired an unstoppable shot high into the roof of the net.
Unfortnately, the visitors lead only lasted two minutes. The Kintyre side’s defence moved out to leave two of the home team’s strikers in an offside position but no whistle blew as their number nine slipped the ball passed McCallum for the equaliser.
Good fortune
The home side upped their game after their good fortune and created a couple of good chances. They took the lead in the 26th minute when a ball over the top put their striker through on goal and he made it a brace as he tucked away into McCallum’s left hand corner.
Carradale had a great chance to draw level in the 40th minute when they were awarded a penalty because of a hand-ball.
The usually reliable Docherty failed to hit the target from the spot kick.
Two minutes from the break Bellaire scored their third; it came from a cross on the left that found their unmarked number seven in the six-yard box and he passed the ball into the net.
The visitors shuffled the pack at half time.
Ewan McIlroy went into goals, Docherty moved into central defence, McPhail and McBrayne into central midfield and David Johnstone moved up front.
This paid off in the 51st minute with McBrayne’s precise pass to Johnstone. He took one touch before belting the ball into the net from 16 yards.
The visitors produced their best spell of the match pushing for a goal to try and draw level, unfortunately it never came and it was the home side that scored in the 68th min.
A breakaway down the right wing put a cross in and their number 10 got in between the central defender and goalkeeper to slide the ball home.
The Kintyre side pulled it back to 4-3 in the 71st minute. Johnny McCormck pick-pocketed the centre half and hit a delicate chip over the goalkeeper into the net. There was no further scoring and the Greenock side took all three points.
For the umpteenth time this season Carradale was the stronger team in the second half, but to pick up more points they will have to stop giving teams goals at the start.
Man of the match was John Williams. Carradale’s next fixture is an away league game against Boswell on Saturday.