Milngavie Wanderers

William Turner – League Cup Semi final – Dalziel High School FP 0-2 Milngavie Wanderers

Scorers: O’hara 2 (Penalty 13th minute and Penalty in the 89 minute)

Congratulations to Milngavie Wanderers in reaching the final of the League Cup to be played at Lesser Hampden on the 4th of June.  The Wanderers got there by conquering their arch rivals with a superb performance to ensure the club reached their first cup final in over 15 years.

Both teams kicked off the match evenly balanced with both defences skillfully dealing with any any attack each team had to offer.  The game sparked into life in the 13th mintue with excellent work by Berto down the left seen the ball saved well by the Dalziel keeper but break to Sweeny – who so often manages to arrive late in the box at the right time - who out jumped the Dalziel defence but had his header pushed over the bar with the help of a hand by the towering Dalziel defender.  The ref had no option but to award the Wanderers with a penalty and send Dalziel best player to the stand with an automatic red card.  O’hara deputising as the penalty taker in the absence of McKellar made it 1-0 and put the Wanderers one step closer to final.  The rest of the first half was evenly balanced with he Wanderers not able to take advantage of the extra man, deciding to keep the same set up and keep to the plan despite Dalziel being a man down.   Ross Robb and Aldo at the heart of the Wanderers defence were excellent with both players dominating every ball played into the heart of the defence.

The second half was pretty much more of the same as each team battled to gain control of the ball and impose themselves on the game.  Franie and Maxy kept the game simple in the middle of the park ensuring any first or second ball was cleaned up with the ball sent into the channels for Mickey Rodgers and Simmy to run onto.   A couple of half chances fell both teams way but it wasn’t until the last 20 mintues that the Wanderers started to take take control of the game and better finishing by Berto, Mckinstry and Mickey Rodgers would have seen a higher score line being recorded.  With 2 mintues to go Dalziel gave away another penalty tripping Rodgers was about to pull the trigger.  O’Hara as he done in the first half riffled home the penalty to send the large Wanderers support home happy.  The Wanderers look forward to the final and the last 3 games of the season knowing that 3 wins not only sees them promoted but would see the club capture the 1st division title in almost 20 years.

Frustration just before the final whistle went seen Dalziel loose another two outfield players and a substitute all sent off  for various offences.  Another dissappointing factor is the length that the Dalziel management team go to at the side of the park to try and get oppoennts booked and sent off.   The linesman at their side and the ref after the game tooks dogs abuse.   

Come on the Wanderers.

17th May – League Cup Semi Final: Daiziel HS vs Milngavie Wanderers (Giffnock 6.30pm kick Off) 

21st May – League Milngsavie Wanderers vs Newton Mearns Rovers

23rd May – League Gartcosh vs Milngavie Wanderers

25th May – League Milngavie Wanderers vs Drumchapel FP

Milngavie Wanderers 5 – 3 Dunmbarton FP

Scorers: Franie, Simmy, McKellar, Rodgers and Tum

The Wanderers welcomed Dumbarton FP to Staney Brigg knowing that a win would see them play Daiziel in the semi final of the cup.  Sitting top of the first division seen the Wanderers going into this match as favourites despite their opposition playing in the league above them.

The Wanderers kicked off shooting down the hill and were 1 up within 5 mintues with Franie – appearing after being out for a few weeks injured – connecting with a great cross into the box to rifle home the opener.   Things continued to go to bad to worse for Dumbarton with Simmy and then Rodgers putting the team 3 -0 up with fine solo efforts putting the game beyond the reach of a young Dumbarton team.  With the first half coming to an end the impressive left back for Dumbarton arrived late into the box to send a looping hearer into the top corner of the net giving his team a life line back into the match.

The second half kicked off and Dunbarton came right back into with excellent midfield play driving the Wanderers defence back into their own box at times.  Typical the Wanderers managed to hit Dunbarton on the break with excellent work from Sweeney, and then Tum seeing the ball nestle in the back of the net to make it 4-1.  

Dumbarton continued to play well and managed to get a penalty and then a further goal to make it 4-3 and pushing in the last 10 mintues to find a goal to take the game into extra time.  Fortunately the Wanderers broke again with Mikey Rodgers holding the ball up well in the Dumbarton box only to be fouled and and see Mckellar despatch the penalty to kill the game off.

Credit to the new management team of Dumbarton – who were gracious in defeat and wished the team all the best in the next round.

Wanderers 3 – 0 Stirling University

Scorers: Aldo, McKellar 2

The Wanderers are all but promoted with 3 games still to go – only a miracle will stop Milngavie regaining their position in the in the Caledonian top flight for the first time in 15 years.   The Wanderers have still not given up hope of winning the title but need Dalziel to loose one of their remaining fixtures while continuing to pick up all 9 points from the last 3 games.  Congratulation to Kevin and Gerry for getting the team this far in what is one of the most difficult 1st divisions in any league to get promotion from.

The Wanderers welcomed the students from Stirling who arrived having narrowly been beaten midweek 3-2 by Dalziel so not surprising Milngavie knew that this was going to be another tough game with Stirling always keen to play attractive football with the ball on the deck.

The first half seen the Wanderers taking a 2-0 lead – the first an excellent header from Aldo direct from a corner kick out jumping the impressive Stirling centre half to put the Wanderers 1-0 in 10 minutes.  The second was an excellent footballing display with Sweeney superb pass from defence finding Tum who slotted the ball to Mckellar who controlled before lobbing the ball over the advancing Stirling keeper.

The second half kicked off and it was all Stirling who played some superb football without being able to put the ball in the net.  Milngavie started to come back into it.  Some great saves from the young Stirling Goal Keeper from Mark Maxwell kept the score 2-0.  In the 80 minute Mckellar connected as only he can direct froma corner to bullet home the 3rd and score his second and kill the game off.All the best to Stirling Uni for the rest of the season and for next they are a credit to the league. 

The Wanderers next game is against Dumbarton FP in the 1/4 final of the league cup on Wednesday night at home up Staney Brigg.  The last time both teams played in the cup a few years back Dumbarton ran out easy winner  - it might be a little different this time around.

26th March – Milngavie Wanderers 2 – 3 Newton Mearns Rovers – (Game stopped on the 80th minute by the Ref as the hangbags come out with both sets of players forgeting it is a footy match. Ironically no players sent off)

19th March - Wers Rec  1 – 6 Milngavie Wanderers (The Wanderers get back to winning ways with a hard fought win against a stuffy team on a tight park)

12th March –  Viewfield Rovers 2 – 0 Milngavie Wanderers (Viewfield well deserved winners over a very poor Wanderers team struggling due to players being out the night before, holidays and injuries)

5th March – Milngavie Wanderers 4 – 0 Symington (The Wanderers left it late to secure this match with Syminton only throwing in the towel in the last 10 mintues fo the game)