League Cup, Saturday 5th March 2005

Whitehill Welfare 1 Ormiston 0

A frustrating game for Welfare, who made strenuous efforts to pierce a very stuffy Ormiston defence. Early exchanges were even with Jamieson heading wide from a Young corner and then McGurk tipping over a Renwick free-kick at the expense of a corner.

Welfare suffered some early setbacks with the loss of Birrell who was still suffering the effects of a virus and Martin came on to replace him. Worse followed for Welfare when McDonald was withdrawn. He appeared to have sustained an injury from an over-zealous Ormiston challenge. Curran came on in his place.

The remainder of the first half saw Whitehill carve out a succession of chances. First up was Shanks who forced the keeper to tip his 20-yard shot round the post. Kenny Young then made a run and created space for a shot only to hit the ball wide. Lee and Curran also had opportunities but on each occasion their shots were hit straight at the keeper. Next up was Young with a free-kick which beat the wall but not the keeper who got down well to his left to hold the shot.

The second half began with Shanks shooting wildly over from distance and then Ormiston forced a couple of corners which Welfare dealt with easily. On the hour mark, Hogg set up Young with a good lay-off but the wee man’s shot trundled wide.

A goal from Welfare would surely come and in the 63^rd minute a cutting pass from Young found Curran twenty yards from goal from where he flicked the ball high into the path of the onrushing Hogg. A fifty-fifty race between Carver and Hogg saw the Welfare man win the chase and his shot was hooked high into the air and over the line for what would prove to be the decisive goal.

Raymond Shanks then made a powerful run from midfield to set up Hogg who snatched at his chance and skewed the ball high and wide. Another driving run from Shanks, from box to box, then set up Curran who drove his shot against the post from close range.

With time running out Ormiston came more into the game and Martin was forced to clear off the line. A last minute foul by Johnston outside the box gave Renwick an opportunity from a free kick which McGurk tipped away with a flying save in what was the last action of the afternoon.