East of Scotland Premier League, Saturday 20th October 2007

Whitehill Welfare 3 Annan Athletic 1

A superbly taken first half double from the returning Scott Gormley gave Welfare a deserved 2-0 interval lead against last season's champions. The home side were too slick and mobile for a laborious looking Annan who looked a shadow of the side who won so convincingly on League business at Ferguson Park last season. Andrew Kidd had his best game in a Welfare jersey and the home fans can now see why he was brought to the club in the summer. Kiddo was ably supported by the tireless Alan McDonagh and Darren Pryde. Andy Doig and Stevie Swanson also put in fine performances and the back four looked solid with Ryan McGurk showing complete consistency with his handling.

Gormley’s opener came after 6 minutes when he superbly beat the lumbering Annan offside trap (video evidence shows he was clearly in line and onside despite reports you may read elsewhere!) and he smashed the ball home. Praise too for Pryde's deft ball over the top to create the chance.

Midway through the half, a fantastic ball from Doig saw Gormley reach the ball ahead of Calder and he stayed cool to flick the ball over the keeper as an Annan defender tried but failed to scoop the ball clear.

A brief blip at the start of the second half allowed Annan back into the game when they scored on the hour mark through Dick. Welfare soon upped their performance and the goal of the game came from Stevie Swanson with a pacy direct run at the Annan defence, a neat one-two with McDonagh and then a stormer of a left-foot shot into Calder's top left hand corner with a celebration to match!

Swanson’s goal effectively finished the game as a contest with Welfare bossing the majority of the play despite Annan responding with a headed effort which came off the cross bar with McGurk beaten and the Welfare defence out of sorts. .

At the end of the day, this was a thoroughly merited three points for Welfare which maintains their 100% league record and place at the top of the table.

Whitehill Welfare: McGurk, Cornett, Lee, Johnston, Woodburn, McDonagh, Swanson, Pryde, Gormley, Doig, Kidd. Subs: Cairns, Calvey, Russell, Wilkes.

Above: Scott Gormley brilliantly beats the Annan offside trap and pulls the trigger for goal one

Above: Gormley's shot hits the net to make it 1-0.

Above: Kidd (11) is first to congratulate Gormley on the opening goal.

Above: A superb Doig pass and its Gormley who lifts the ball over the keeper.

Above: Gormley's shot finds the net for 2-0 despite Annan's attempts to clear.

Above: Johnston, Swanson and Doig congratulate Gormley on his second goal.

Above: Annan respond with a headed goal from Dick on the hour mark.

Above: Stevie Swanson hits a rasping drive towards goal in the 65th minute.

Above: Calder grabs fresh air as Swanson's shot finds the top corner of the net for 3-1.

Above: Swanson, 2nd left is mobbed by his jubilant teammates after the third goal.