Lochgilphead Wanderers 1
Campbeltown United 0
Lochgilphead Wanderers got back to winning ways with a narrow win over their Campbeltown rivals at the New Joint Campus pitch last Friday night.
The only goal came from Andrew McCulloch with a deflected shot in the first half however Campbeltown deserved at least a draw if not more from the balance of play.
In an opening half of few incidents of note, the first move that threatened either goal came in the thirteenth minute when Wanderers’ Lewis Peacock worked his way through on the left to the 6 yard box and should have had a shot himself but was unselfish and tried to square it to his brother Gregor. Unfortunately his pass lacked conviction and the ball was well smothered by keeper Gordon Graham. As the half hour mark approached Wanderers took the lead.
McCulloch took possession at the edge of the box and fired straight for the left side of the goal. The ball took a big deflection on its journey and nestled nicely in the right side of the goal with the keeper unable to recover the position. Two minutes later the Anderson Coaches sponsored Lochgilphead side nearly extended their lead when Thomas Gary Stephens made a good run on the inside left position but his shot went wide of the right hand post by inches.
Campbeltown’s Davie Johnston had a chance but was unlucky to see his well struck effort flash by the home goalie Fraser Meechan’s left hand post.
Match referee Neil McLean called for half time and it was the visitors who took made the first attack within the first minute of the restart with Johnston sending in a low cross from the right along the 6 yard box that was begging for a touch but there were no takers and the home goal remained intact. Ten minutes later United’s Chris Thompson, found himself with a great chance in the box following a bit of head tennis in the home goal area, however his shot was just wide of the left post.
In this period Lochgilphead were creating much by the way of chances but what through balls they did play were well dealt by Graham in the away goal. One such chance followed a good clearance from sweeper Alistair Provan, up to Lewis Peacock who ran in on goal but shot just past the post.
At the other end Wanderers were living a bit dangerously giving several free headers to their opponents typified when Craig Lang took a corner on the left to see Mark McCormack head over unchallenged from 6 yards.
In this period, Campbeltown were playing some nice football with several two-touch passing sequences that, unfortunately for them, they were unable to turn into a goal.
With 15 minutes remaining, Lochgilphead’s John Kennedy had a great effort from a free kick. He was unlucky to see his long-range strike hit the top of the bar and go over. Rhuaraidh Finlayson had several opportunities to increase his team’s lead but was not wearing his usual shooting boots with all his efforts going wide.
Campbeltown hit the post late on in the final chance of the night with them pressing for a late equaliser.
