Clach 3 – WAFC 3

Academy and Clachnacuddin shared the points today in a six goal thriller at Grant Street Park.

Both teams looked really up for this game and it started at break-neck pace. Academys first chance came in the 7^th minute when Craig Shearer played Murray Coghill in up the right hand side of the park, but the Clach keeper Ally Ridgers saved well low down with his feet.

Academy had the better of the initial position but it was Clach who scored first in the 9^th minute. The Clach number 8 David Ross had a good run down the right wing and he sent in a dangerous cross. Don and several Academy defenders all seemed to go for the ball, which Don appeared initially to have caught, but unfortunately he couldn’t keep a hold of it, and Shaun Kerr pounced on the dropped ball to score from almost on the goal line.

0 – 1

In previous weeks Academy heads may have gone down after such an early blow, but not today. They got stuck right back into Clach and Gary Farquhar had a good attempt to level the game in the 12^th minute, but his shot was saved by Ridgers. Almost immediately after this Craig Shearer typified today’s performance when he hounded down a Ridgers kick-out and the ball ricochet off him to go wide for a goal-kick.

The game continued at pace with both teams playing some really good football. Paul McCallum was booked in the 24^th minute for a hard tackle on the Clach winger number 7 Blair Lawrie, who was a live-wire for most of the game.

Then in the 28^th minute Academy drew level. Nigel Mackenzie sent in a corner that Murry Coghill struck onto the under-side of the Clach cross-bar. The ball came back out and [correction] Craig Shearer was left free to head home into an empty net.

1 – 1

2 minutes later Clach regained their lead. Their number 7 Blair Lawrie went tearing down the right hand wing and sent in a good cross which David Ross headed past Don.

2 – 1

Mark Nichol then had 2 chances before the interval to have at least drawn the teams back level. His first attempt hit Ridgers left hand post after he’d twisted and worked his way into the Clach box, but the best chance came from a free-kick that Gary Farquhar fired into Ridgers back post. Nichol out-jumped the Clach defence, but his header went just wide.

Half time 2 – 1

Nichol made amends for his earlier misses as within 4 minutes of the re-start he scored to level the game. Murray Coghill this time provided a good cross from the right into the Clach box and Nichol slotted home with a cool finish.

2 – 2

Game on – and Clach came tearing back into Academy. In the 59^th minute Blair Lawrie found himself in a fantastic goal-scoring position inside the Academy box, but Nigel Mackenzie made a great block for what looked like a certain goal. Next up 2 minutes later the experienced Bruce McCraw latched onto a through ball but Don stayed big in the Academy goal to deny him with a good save.

Despite the Clach pressure Academy continued to push themselves whenever they had the ball, and in the 66^th minute referee Cammy McKay awarded Academy a penalty for what appeared a push on Craig Shearer. Gary Farquhar slammed the penalty kick high and wide of Ridgers to put Academy into the lead for the first time in the game.

2 – 3

Mark Nichol was booked in the 77^th minute for a nothing sort of tackle, and one minute after that a cross ball into the Academy defence bounced about between players for what seemed like an age before Gary Ross managed to squeeze it between everyone in a packed box and past Dons out-stretched hand.

3 – 3

Alistair took Gary Weir off in the 80^th minute for Gary Manson and in a nervous last 10 minutes for both sets of fans neither team managed to muster up a winner.

Full time 3 – 3

This was a superb battling performance by Academy today. They didn’t let their heads go down after Clach taking the lead twice in the game, and they played some really good free-flowing football. Craig Shearer probably shaved man of the match in my opinion, but all of the Academy team contributed in today’s performance and they thoroughly deserved their draw.