Hailstones can’t fault his players for effort

May 27 2009 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

WISHAW HSFPs manager Gary Hailstones has paid tribite to his side’s first season in Central Scottish Division 1B despite missing out on promotion in the final week of term.

The club lost 2-1 to Campsie Minerva on Saturday which means that they failed to secure second place which would have seen them involved in an end of season play-off.

Hailstones said: “To go into the final day with the chance of going up to the Premier Division was only a dream at the start of the season but is testament to the hard work and commitment from the players and coaching staff all season.

“These players can hold their heads high as every one of them has played their part from day one.

“We'll have a break now and hopefully go one better next year.”

Campsie started the better of the two teams and seemed more up for it in the opening exchanges with their long throw-ins giving the FPs some cause for concern.

FPs keeper Paul O’Hara had to pull off several fine saves to keep them in the match in the opening period.

With half an hour gone a harmless-looking ball into the FPs penalty area was met by Bret Ansell and as he controlled, it came back up and struck the midfielder on the hand and the referee saw fit to point to the spot despite the vociferous appeals from the FPs players.

Campsie’s Gary McKenna made no mistake to put them 1-0 up.

With five minutes to go until half-time Campsie keeper Matthew Barr had to look lively to tip a thunderous 35-yard drive from Gary Miller over for a corner.

But two minutes before half-time Campsie got their decisive second.

A midfield player found space in the box to get his head to a well-delivered cross and the ball flew into Paul O’Hara's bottom corner.

Wishaw struggled to exert any pressure on Campsie until well into the second half and were annoyed when they had a penalty appeal waved away.

But they were eventually awarded a spot-kick which looked soft.

Club captain Stephen Mackie coolly slotted home but the hosts held on to end Wishaw’s promotion hopes.

Last Monday FPs’ promotion hopes had suffered a blow when they drew 2-2 with mid-table Eastfield.

Visitors Eastfield started in promising fashion but it only took the FPs 10 minutes to open the scoring when Allan Burnside swept an excellent cross from Steven Murdoch home from close range.

Eastfield were playing some neat attractive football and got back level when David Brawley prodded home from what looked like an offside position.

Five minutes later and things got worse for the FPs when stand-in keeper Garry Miller should have picked up a harmless-looking through ball in his area but instead decided to clear his lines.

The ball fell kindly to an Eastfield player who put them 2-1 in front at the interval.

Wishaw equalised just after the break when substitute Gary Miller’s cross was met superbly by David McCluskey eight yards out.

Wednesday evening’s match against Millbank was a more comfortable affair for the FPs at Thorne Park in Bearsden.

As early as the first minute David McCluskey opened the scoring in what became an 8-2 rout for Wishaw.

He added a double shortly after before Stephen Duffy made it three.

David McCluskey got his hat-trick after the break from the spot and then added his fourth.

Kevin Burnside then got in on the act when he rolled the ball into a empty net before Gary Miller notched a deserved goal himself.

Bret Ansell scored the eighth after good work by Gary Miller and Kevin Burnside.

Meanwhile everyone connected with the FPs would like thank all the club’s sponsors, especially The Waverley Bar who have done an expert job with their aftermatch hospitality.