Qualifying Cup Semi Final Replay, Saturday 9th October 2004

Whitehill Welfare 3 Glasgow University 0

A healthy crowd at Ferguson Park saw Whitehill progress to the Final of the Qualifying Cup where they will face Edinburgh City on 7^th May 2005. After the scare of almost going out in the first match, Welfare Manager John Clark shuffled the pack with Willie Jamieson returning to the defence in place of the suspended Richie Johnstone. The other defensive change was the introduction of Johnny Baigrie in place of Ross Johnston. The midfield place vacated by Jamieson was filled by Raymond Shanks who had recovered from a hamstring injury.

Welfare almost got off to the perfect start when Lee met a Shanks cross with a powerful header only to be denied by the foot of the post. Glasgow tried to get into their attacking stride but found a Welfare rearguard prepared to give nothing away.

Midway through the half, McDonald played in Young and he jinked to find space before curling a shot just wide of the ‘keeper’s left hand post. Glasgow had failed to create any chance of real note and it was McDonald who tried his luck next with a shot which he flashed wide from 20 yards out. A free kick for Welfare just outside the box, on the half hour mark presented a good scoring chance, but Young’s cross eventually came to nothing when Hunter failed to connect properly. Not long  after a lovely piece of skill by Kevin Lee (a dance over the ball similar to the trick by McNaughton of Aberdeen against Rangers this season)  took him into a shooting position but his powerful left foot shot went just over.

It looked as if Whitehill’s pressure was never going to produce a goal but in the 35th minute the situation changed. A long clearance from Lee was brought under control by Whyte and he played a forward pass for McDonald to run onto. The wee striker took a touch and hit a powerful low shot from 20 yards, which hit the underside of King’s body, but had enough pace to spin high into the net to put Welfare 1-0 ahead. There were no other chances of note in the first half apart from Hunter heading over a free-kick to clear the danger in the Whitehill six yard box.

The second half began with a booking for Welfare’s Jamieson who was adjudged to have checked Phillips of Glasgow. The match degenerated into a dour midfield battle and Welfare midfielder Andy Hogg, who was battling ferociously for every ball, overdid it on the hour mark and was booked.

As Glasgow tired, their ‘keeper made a mistake by kicking the ball straight to Welfare’s Whyte, who was so surprised, he hit a weak shot back at the ‘keeper. The ball then broke to McDonald who should have made it two with an easy tap-in but somehow rolled the ball wide. Next up to try his luck was Lee. A run and cross from Whyte was played into McDonald and he put it into Lee’s path, only for his well-struck drive to be touched away superbly by King. Welfare threw Montgomery, Curran and Forrester into the fray. The home side went 2-0 ahead when Whyte crossed in, Montgomery headed on and McDonald flicked his shot into the postage stamp corner with 15 minutes left for play.

With three minutes left, Whitehill scored a superbly worked third goal. A goal kick from McGurk was headed on by Montgomery. The ball dropped for Forrester who sent a neat flick out to Whyte on the wing. A darting run from Whyte ended with a perfectly weighted cross into the box and Forrester, who had continued his run, threw himself at the ball to send a spectacular diving header into the net.

Whiteill Welfare: McGurk, Baigrie, Lee, Hunter, Clyde, Jamieson, Young, Shanks, McDonald, Hogg, Whyte. Subs: Montgomery, Forrester, Curran (all used), Berwick, Faichney (unused).