Dumfries 2’s entertained Giffnock 2’s at home in what was expected to be a close match following the previous fixtures played earlier in the season.The match started briskly and Dumfries quickly took the game to the Giffnock defence with returning player Mair down the right giving the Giffnock defence a torrid time with his early game pace and deep running to the bye line causing Giffnock quite a few problems. From one such penetrating run, his neat cut back found Carr at the back post to slot home the opening goal of the game. This early goal should have settled Dumfries but Giffnock came back strongly, pressing forward more frequently whilst maintaining possession and started to create chances for themselves in the home side’s D. This pressure resulted in several penalty corners from one of which their equaliser came. Redman’s stop on the line kindly fell to the incoming winger to slot the ball home to even up the scores. For a while Dumfries weathered the attacks from Giffnock but with two minutes of the half remaining, Giffnock took the lead following a deflected pass being prodded home from close range.

Turning round at half time, Dumfries knew they had the ability and players to get back into the game but they started off the second period much like they had finished the first half as Giffnock started to dominate play as through the midfield area. And with 10 minutes remaining they increased their lead to two goals when an angled pass to the back post from the lefthand side of the D was turned home. Spurred on by this further setback, Dumfries continued to try to get something out of the game and were rewarded with their second goal following a well worked penalty corner routine that saw Rennie score with a thumping shot to reduce the deficit to one goal but with only three minutes remaining it was only to be a consolation goal as Dumfries couldn’t force an equaliser before the full time whistle went.

Grateful thanks to Gladys and the Giffnock Umpire for umpiring the game.

POTM: Adam Kerr