WISHAW HSFPs warmed up for their first competitive match in the Central Scottish Amateur Football League – with a morale-boosting victory over old foes Eastfield United.

The local side quit the Lanarkshire League last season and begin their Central Scottish League division 1B campaign away to Edinburgh side Spartans on Saturday.

The FPs started the match well and were immediately causing the Eastfield defence problems with the strength of Stephen Duffy and David McCluskey up front, the pace of Scott Donald and Stevie Murdoch out wide and the excellent football from the midfield pairing of David Coulter and Brett Ancell.

Following a couple of half chances, it came as no surprise when they took the lead after only eight minutes.

Duffy’s pressure on the defence allowed the home side to regain possession 30 yards from goal and Coulters neat through ball was expertly chipped over the advancing keeper from 15 yards by Brett Ancell.

The FPs doubled their lead only a minute later when Ancell’s header from a Donald cross was parried by the keeper and Stephen Duffy was on hand to knock in the rebound from close quarters.

Eastfield came more into the game and things were pretty even for the next 15 minutes, although the FP’s defence was looking solid and did not look like conceding.

Stevie Murdoch’s pace on the left side was causing havoc in the Eastfield defence and the FPs had a couple of chances to extend their lead.

And they did just that five minutes before the break with David McCluskey stroking in a near post volley from a Donald free kick from the right.

Both sides made a number of changes at half time and it was Eastfield who began the second half the brighter without really threatening to score.

As the half wore on chances were being created at either end and Eastfield scored their only goal of the game 30 minutes into the half courtesy of an excellent strike from left back Charlie Davie.

The away side tried to get back into the match but Wishaw held strong for five minutes and then continued to press at the other end.

Scott Donald made it 4-1 to Wishaw after 40 minutes when he followed up Duffy’s shot, that the keeper could not hold and coolly finished from eight yards.

This was a massive confidence booster for Wishaw against Eastfield United – old Lanarkshire League rivals for the FPs who have been in the Central Scottish League for two seasons and will play in the Central Premier League this season.

Newslink: http://iclanarkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/wishawpress/sport/tm_headline=fps-warm-up-for-the-central-league-campaign-with-win&method=full&objectid=21470410&siteid=50144-name_page.html

© 2008 owned by or licensed to Scottish & Universal Newspapers Limited.
Reproduced with permission.