Saturday saw another dominant performance from what is perhaps the most exciting young first team Western has seen in years.
Rain and hail poured down throughout at Auchenhowie, which looks to be becoming somewhat of a fortress this season, but this did not affect the intensity of the game. The match started at a fast pace, it was clear from the off that Western meant business; they had newly promoted Dundee Wanderers on the back foot immediately from push back.
Just five minutes into the match, Western’s strong start was rewarded when Harwood’s jinking skills led to the first short corner of the game. This is an aspect of their game that hadn’t quite clicked yet thus far for the young Cats, due to set-piece-specialist Adam Mackenzie being out with injury. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Young 17-year-old Andrew McConnell stepped up and fired his drag flick low into the bottom left hand corner.
Western have been guilty so far, this season of taking the lead, before then allowing the opposition back into the game- but not on this occasion, there would be no taking the foot of the gas. Just moments later McGinley found Harwood with space in the D. He spun and unleashed a thunderous reverse-stick strike, only to see it cannon back off the post. This, however, didn’t dampen Western’s spirits and they continued to push for the second goal.
Western’s midfield trio of Joe McConnell, Matt McGinley and new signing and youth international, Hamish Galt, were starting to link well and look threatening, McConnell found Galt on the 25 who made a trademark burst from midfield into the Wanderer’s circle before, cleverly finding the defender’s foot, which led to Western’s second penalty corner of the game. Once again McConnell stepped up, but this time his effort was saved comfortably by the keeper.
The first half continued in the same vein, with the Dundonian’s not providing any real threat to Sommerville’s goal. It didn’t take long before the home side doubled their lead through Matt McGinley, who got on the end of a Harwood pass and scored his second goal in as many games with a first time finish following a late arrival into the circle. It looked as though Western would go into the break with just the two-goal advantage despite their overwhelming dominance. However, Andrew McConnell had different ideas. The ball was fired high into the D in the closing stages of the half and it found McConnell unmarked in the centre of the goal. He skilfully deflected the ball from above his head into the corner of the net. 3-0 half-time.
The second-half was as much of a no-contest with the flair of the young Western players bearing fruit. The fourth goal of the game came from another new young signing. Harwood once again danced his way past his marker and found Garcia free to tap the ball home at the back post, effectively putting the game out of reach for Wanderers.
Albeit infrequently, the side from Dundee did pose more of an attacking threat in the second half. Elliot Sandison, a key player for the Dundonians, weaved his way through the Western backline but was denied by an excellent save from former Scotland international Gavin Sommerville, who was determined to keep his 3rd clean sheet of the season. Sommerville’s save rebounded out to another young Western talent in 16-year-old Andrew ‘MacAllister who quickly released the ball forward to the frighteningly quick Cats’ forward line. This time Moran found Harwood in the D who calmly played the ball off the defender’s foot to win the 3rd penalty corner of the match. This, in turn, led to the 5th goal of the game. A clever routine saw McConnell deliver the ball to VC Smith to clinically deflect high into the roof of the net.
Western were not done yet. With just minutes remaining, centre back, Nikki Homphrey ventured out of his own half and went on a mazy run, leaving the Wanderer’s defenders in his wake. He played a clever one-two with Pollock on the edge of the opposition circle and then slipped the ball to Harwood. A frustrating afternoon for Harwood in front of goal continued as he saw his shot cleared off the line; only as far as Pollock, however, who followed up to hammer home Western’s sixth goal of the game.
That is how the match would finish with Western continuing their 100% start to the season with 9 points from 9 in their opening 3 games of the season. Western sit top of National League Division 1 on goal difference and here is a real buzz about the club again as the belief of players continues to grow.
The Men’s 2s had a good weekend, too. Euan Anderson’s goal was the difference between them and Uddingston 2s on Saturday and on Sunday James Bush and Euan Cowan got their goals in a 2-2 draw with Edinburgh University 2s. Young Matthew O’Toole was outstanding in both games as his progress continues apace.
The 3s beat Glasgow Accies 4-1 with goals from Dave Rickards (2), Cammy Moran and Alastair Scott. Devan Miller was excellent in goal for a Western side who even afforded themselves the luxury of missing a second half penalty. The 4s won 1-0 against Anchor.
The Women’s 1st Team had the weekend off due to the inter-district tournament. However, the 2s won 2-0 at home to Hillhead 2s. The 3s lost 4-1 at Greenock Morton.