DWYER SPARKLES IN THE SUN

Gala Park, Mid Calder.  Sunday 8^th September, 2013.

With suspensions and injuries kicking in, Coach Kelly was forced to tweak his starting line –up for the much anticipated clash with Mid Calder.  It certainly paid dividends with a sparkling debut hat-trick from Dwyer, a brave display by Armitage and an excellent team performance all round.

After an even opening spell, the Colts took a surprise lead when a long range effort was misjudged by Armitage.  The Jags re-grouped and continued with their normal passing game and when effective pressing by Gibson forced a defensive error, he was on hand to pick up the loose ball and cross for Dwyer to finish with aplomb.

Thistle continued to press and only last ditch defending and excellent goalkeeping kept the Jags out.  Calder rightly had a penalty claim turned down when Armitage bravely saved at the feet of an onrushing forward as the half ended in stalemate.

Jags upped the tempo after halftime and dominated the game with some terrific passing but were thwarted time and again by the Calder keeper.  But Thistle kept up the pressure and a terrific through ball by Mungall was collected by Dwyer who cut inside his man and cracked the ball into the top corner from twenty yards.

The game was effectively over shortly afterwards when Dalton ran down a long ball and was felled in the box for his troubles, which Dwyer duly converted for the hat-trick.

Momentum building and the team looking better all the time and again no bookings which augurs well.

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M.o.M.: Getting harder to choose with good performances right through the team but Mungall always seemed to have time.