Weirside welcomed Old Ardinians to Broom Rood for the first round of the SAL cup this Saturday. The thought of our first home game in seven months had all of the Weirside boys fired up before KO (none more so than Whiteford). With one of the strongest squads we have been able to name for some time, the boys entered the fray.

Right from the off, the pace of the game was quick, with both teams allowing no time on the ball for the other. The Weirside midfield of Hutton, Fisk and Al-Haddad asserted their dominance early and this would be a theme throughout the game. Both teams came to get the ball down and Old Ardinians had the ball in the net in the fifth minute but it was disallowed for offside - a warning sign for Weirside.

Just 2 minutes later and Weirside were down the other end opening the scoring. Some excellent wide play by the energetic Boulton saw him run the full back to the byline, chop inside and deliver a perfect ball into the middle. Arriving on cue was Sink who calmly finished with trademark composure.

From here Weirside started to boss the game. Winning 50/50s & aerial battles but also fizzing the ball around, with movement and one touch play pleasing on the eye. Everything was looking good until the pacey Old Ardinians striker burst through and slotted to make it one a piece on 25 mins.

Despite this Weirside were still enjoying the lions share of possession and having lots of the ball in the Old Ardinians half. They went close on a number of occasions, Boulton stinging the palms of the keeper and hitting the post through Whiteford in this spell. when the breakthrough came it was from an unlikely source. Gunn sends a long free kick in towards the back which is somehow missed by everyone and ends up in the back of the net. 2-1 and Weirside on top at half time.

The second half was a cagier affair with both teams battling to get control of the ball. Weirside started the brightest and continued to look menacing going forward. Hold up play from Sink was excellent and this allowed the Weirside midfielders Al-Haddad and Fisk to flood forward into the attack. There were lots of half chances and shots from distance in this period.

The Weirside back four looked comfortable for the vast majority of the game. Marshalled by Taylor and protected by Slater. Old Ardinians began to get a foothold in the game and threw bodies forward in search of the equaliser. With Weirside still on top and against the run of play, Old Ardinians managed to get their winger in behind and another clinical finish saw the game squared up at 2-2.

After Hutton, who was exceptional all game and man of the match, had to go off injured, Weirside rolled the dice and brought on Wheeler, Myers and Macaulay in search of the winner. The last 15 minutes were tight and evenly matched. Despite both teams going for the win and Weirside having more chances at this time, the game looked destined to head into extra time.

Then in the 88th minute Old Ardinians managed to work their way into a wide shooting Position and yet again came up with a clinical finish to beat Slater in the Weirside net. Heartbreak for the Weirside boys, not just because of the timing of the goal but also more for the disappointment of going behind after playing so well. Weirside threw everyone forward to find a goal but it wasn't to be.

FT Weriside 2 - 3 Old Ardinians

Player of the Match: Harry Hutton

Weirside are now out of the SAL cup but not without putting on a decent show and playing well. They will be back in league action away to South Bank next week.

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