Premier League, Saturday 19th February 2005

Whitehill Welfare 4 Edinburgh City 4

You've probably heard the old saying which Partick Thistle fans say, namely 'Firhill for thrills'. It's a pity Ferguson Park doesn't rhyme particularly well with any sort of similar saying as it was thrills all the way in this match with Edinburgh City. Welfare were high on confidence as they contemplated a dress rehearsal for the Qualifying Cup Final on May 7th. If the Final is anything like this match then the winners will be the spectators, as indeed they were yesterday.

Welfare were without the injured Bobby Clyde, the influential Kenny Young and strikers Paul Forrester and Ryan Curran and that meant starting places for Johnny Baigrie and Darren Whyte, who had been particularly impressive against Spartans.

Welfare went behind after only four minutes when a through ball was controlled by Cole and as he advanced on McGurk, he kept his cool to slip the ball through the keeper's legs.

The first equaliser came after 25 minutes. A surging run from Kevin Lee up the left side opened City up. Lee passed inside to Jamie Birrell, who took a touch, and sent the ball into McDonald. The wee man held off the defender before spinning and hooking a well-struck shot into the corner giving the keeper no chance.

City's Elola was booked shortly afterwards for a dangerous challenge on Willie Jamieson.

Instead of building on their equalising goal, Welfare conceded a penalty after 32 minutes when Shanks upended Elola as he bore down on goal. Noon made a fine job of the spot kick, sending McGurk the wrong way.

With the Welfare midfield of Baigrie, Hogg, Shanks and Birrell grafting hard, another opening was fashioned in the 40th minute when Birrell crossed into the box for McDonald. A loud shout for a set-up from Andy Hogg saw a neat lay-off and Hogg struck a powerful shot into the keeper's right hand corner which was a scorer all the way.

The second half began badly for the home side when a mix-up in the box and a dropped cross from McGurk in the 51st minute saw Noon with an easy chance to roll the ball home. Murray Hunter threw his body in front of the shot but handled in the process and the ref produced a red card.  Noon made yet another immaculate job of the spot kick by putting it down the middle with McGurk going to his right and Whitehill seemingly faced an uphill struggle.

Many teams may have crumbled but it seemed to inspire Welfare all the more. With the midfield supporting the remaining three defenders and Johnny Baigrie dropping deep, Welfare set up a system to cope with the loss. Willie Jamieson was commanding as he prompted and encouraged his team-mates to a supreme effort.

The endeavour was rewarded when Welfare equalised for a third time after 62 minutes. Raymond Shanks ran at the City defence and sheer determination took him through a couple of crunching challenges. He did enough though to set up McDonald and he kept his composure to level the game at 3-3.  shortly afterwards another chance fell to McDonald in the box but he scooped his shot on the turn over the bar.

City appeared stunned and with welfare in the ascendancy, they deservedly took the lead in 76 minutes when Andy Hogg flicked the ball over the City defence. There were claims for offside against Whyte who was in an offside position, but not seeking to gain an advantage. Meantime McDonald came from a onside position, flicked the ball past the keeper with his head and once more demonstrated total composure to coolly slot the ball home to put the ten-men 4-3 ahead, completing his hat-trick in the process.

Welfare were coping with all that City had to offer in reply but they were finally undone with nine minutes left to play. Cole was allowed space to move forward but with no danger apparent, he unleashed a tremendous 25 yard shot which whizzed high into the net with the help of a slight deflection, to give McGurk no chance.

So would both sides settle for a share of the points? Not a bit of it. With five minutes left, McDonald crossed to find substitute Martin in acres of space on the edge of the box. A blistering left-shot looked net-bound, but the ball stuck the post with a thud and City cleared to safety.

At the other end, Lee scooped a net bound shot over bar and then a stromash Arthur Montford would have been proud of was finally scrambled clear by the home defence. And so a thoroughly entertaining affair finished all square with the poor match ball left black and blue with the pounding up and down the park it took!