NKU 2 - 3 Drumchapel Utd
19/03/11
Scorers: Seywright, McKechnie

NKU were at home for the fourth game on the trot, and Div. 3B high flyers Drumchapel were to provide tough opposition. With injury and unavailability, NKU had to shuffle the line up and it gave Johnstone and Thomson their first starts.
A last minute personnel shuffle meant that NK were still trying to settle into the game by the time Drumchapel opened the scoring within the first five minutes. A dangerous corner, found the attacker diving low to bullet the ball beyond Davidson, the third goal lost from a corner in as many games. And it got worse minutes later when a hopeful ball from defence found the Drumchapel forward, who managed to outmuscle Thomson, and square the ball for his strike partner, who found himself a yard, and smashed the ball past Davidson.
It was now going to be a mammoth ask for NK to get something from the game, and to be fair the early game jitters quickly evaporated. McIllroy almost had NK back in the game when his snap volley forced the keeper to show his reflexes to keep him out.
Drumchapel were clearly comfortable on the ball, and they continued to have the better of the possession, without really working Davidson, although that was down to some excellent covering from Sommerville. Drumchapel almost extended their lead midway through the half, when Davidson pushed a goal bound free kick onto the post, but for all of their possession of the ball it remained two nil at halftime, with NK firmly in the game.
Slight positional reshuffle and NK were into the second half against a strong cross field wind. Drumchapel were struggling to use the wind to their advantage, and their best chances came from Davidson struggling to get any real distance on his goal kicks. And it was looking like Drumchapel would extend their lead, and only some superb last ditch defending prevented them from extending their lead. Then NK were back in the game from nothing. Seywright done well done well to create some space 25yrds from goal, and unleashed a bullet which smashed into the top corner giving the keeper no chance. A fantastic effort from midfield buzzbomb, and a real contender for goal of the season.
Game on now, and NK were now given some real hope. This also served to make Drumchapel step up a gear. And it wasn’t long before the two goal advantage was restored. The Drumchapel wide man managed to work himself space in the box, and his shot across Davidson went off the far post. Drumchapel immediately made heir final substitution, and this was to prove costly as shortly after their left back went off injured to leave them down to ten men.
NK then began to really impose themselves on the game, with Thorburn getting more opportunity to get into dangerous areas, and it seemed that it was only a matter of time before NK scored again. And it did, Seywright heavily involved again, this time his free kick was dropped by the keeper, and McKechnie reacted quickest to prod the ball home from 1 inch!
The pressure was now on Drumchapel, but they were still looking dangerous on the break. NK had some good opportunities level the match but a combination of good defending, good keeping and some wayward shooting, meant that Drumchapel managed to hold on for the three points.
In the end a disappointing conclusion for NK, although Drumchapel were worthy winners. With just nine games left NK must realistically be aiming to finish ‘best of the rest’ in third, and will do so if the application and desire shown in the last five games continues to be shown in the remaining fixtures.

1. S Davidson
2. D Thomson
3. J Drew
4. C Sommerville
5. A Easton
6. G Johnstone
7. R Thorburn
8. G Taylor
9. N McIllroy
10. D Turega
11. F Seywright
12. D McKechnie (9)
13. C Stevenston (6)
14. B Barratt

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