WHAT’S NEW

The league is now well underway and the table can be viewed here. The first round of league matches will count towards National Championship qualification where the top four placed players will compete against the Dundee United TFC top four. Tonight Baver Bari, Willie Fleming and John Halpin played against each other. Halpin came off best with a four point haul. Fleming will feel that he could have had a lot more than the two points he gained, late equalisers by both Halpin and Bari depriving him of a better points tally. Halpin edged out Bari by 3-2 after Bari had twice come from behind.

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This was John Mathieson’s night as he played in each of the threes matches which took place. He played well in each of them. Against Baver Bari in the Glasgow league he came from two goals down to win win 3-2. In the SPSL he recorded a great result against Tom Burns, this time a late equaliser earning him the draw. But in the Glasgow Cup quarter final he lost by the only goal of the game to Dave Gladman. Mathieson’s play in the match should surely have been worth a replay.

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SPSL

Glasgow League

Glasgow Cup Quarter-final

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Tonight was mostly devoted to SPSL matches. Malcolm Lees collected six points with wins over Dave Houston and John Mathieson. This moved him into third place in the National League. Baver Bari continued his good form with a 1-0 win against John Mathieson. Mathieson did pick up three points, however, with victory over Dave Houston.

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In the Woodend Handicap Cup, Houston earned a replay against Tom Burns. Starting two goals ahead Houston managed to limit Burns to two strikes.

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Houston also played in the Glasgow League against Dave Gladman. It was an all flats affair and only one goal was scored. Houston dominated most of the match but he just couldn’t score. It took some time for Gladman to adjust to the flat game but a lovely spin flick set up a shooting chance which he dispatched into the far corner.

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SPSL

Woodend Handicap Cup

Glasgow League

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With the league almost due for completion eighteen home SPSL matches remained outstanding. This was reduced to sixteen tonight with Malcolm Lees playing Tom Burns and Dave Gladman. In the second half Lees cancelled out Burns’ half lead but when it looked as if the match would end in a draw, Burns found a winner in the final minute. The other match was also closely fought but Dave Gladman was unable to take the chances he created and Lees ran out 2-0 winner. Burns now lies second in the National League with Lees fourth and Gladman eighth.

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Both Glasgow league matches played involved Baver Bari who continued his good run of form with draws against Dave Gladman and Tom Burns. Bari raced to a 2-0 lead over Gladman at half-time but Gladman was able to claw back his opponent to earn a point. Bari also led against Burns but had to settle for a draw. These dropped points for Burns means that Willie Fleming could draw level if he wins his games in hand but Burns far superior goal difference is worth an extra point. Burns will have to drop points in his final game against Dave Houston if Fleming is to have any chance of claiming the title.

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In the Woodend Handicap Cup Dave Gladman and Brian Spoors played their first round replay. At half-time Dave Gladman only had one goal to show for his efforts. He had peppered the Spoors’ goal but a combination of goalkeeper heroics and poor finishing kept the score down. In the second period Spoors kept better possession of the ball and Gladman’s opportunities were fewer. His three additional goals were well short of the required number.

SPSL

Glasgow League

Woodend Handicap Cup

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Fraser McKenzie returned to league action tonight. He played well in all three of his matches but in the end had only one point to show for his efforts. That point came in a 1-1 draw with John Halpin. McKenzie had to withstand sustained Halpin pressure in the latter stages of the match. Halpin laid seige on the McKenzie goal as he forced corners and throw-ins, but he couldn’t find the breakthrough which would have given him victory. Next up for McKenzie was Tom Burns. Burns had put himself in position where winning his remaining three matches would give him the title but any slip up would let Willie Fleming back in. Burns really had to work hard to get victory and it took two very high quality goals to subdue the McKenzie resistance. McKenzie had opportunities himself to score, particularly in the first half, but he failed to take them. McKenzie performed even better against Dave Gladman but again came away with nothing. Gladman, renowned for keeping possession for long periods was matched in this game by the young McKenzie. It was five minutes into the game before Gladman got his first touch of the ball. For all that it was Gladman who created the most clear-cut chances and it was Gladman who scored the only goal of the game with a quick movement into the shooting area and shooting on the run.

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The draw was made for the Woodend Handicap Cup and the first match saw Brian Spoors make his competitive debut. Dave Gladman started seven goals behind and by half-time had only managed two strikes. Spoors had one good opportunity in the first period but failed to connect in front of goal. Gladman was more controlled and incisive in the second half and drew level at 7-7 with about three minutes remaining. Some Spoors’ goalkeeping heroics, however, prevented any further scoring and a replay was the outcome.

Glasgow League

Woodend Handicap Cup

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The first Association Cup quarter-final was played and it was Willie Fleming who booked his place in the semi-final with a 2-1 win over Baver Bari. In truth this was a close-fought match which could have gone either way. Fleming took the lead only to be pegged back before half-time. Fleming’s winning goal came well into the second half, so inflicting Bari’s first defeat in seven matches.

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Three SPSL matches followed. Baver Bari and Dave Gladman fought out a 0-0 draw. Match onlookers thought that Gladman had found the back of the net with a powerful strike but the referee did not agree. Tom Burns edged past John Halpin by 1-0. Halpin had more possession in the game but could not penetrate the Burns’ defence. Halpin had better luck against Willie Fleming, recording a 2-0 victory which moves him above Dave Gladman into seventh place.

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The club was pleased to welcome top English player, Chris Thomas to Woodend. Barry Corr, Tom Burns, Willie Fleming and Dave Gladman took it in turns to receive a table soccer lesson.

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Association Cup

SPSL

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