Glasgow United V Dalry Thistle – SFA South Challenge Cup Round 1 (11/09/2021)
Last minute trip to a game today, with the Edinburgh Derby not till Sunday, I woke up and checked the fixtures and decided to make the trip to Shettleston for Glasgow United V Dalry Thistle in the SFA South Challenge Cup first round. A pretty easy journey with just one change on the train at Glasgow Queen Street, then an easy walk to the ground from Shettleston train station which after a stop at Tesco for a sausage roll and a bottle of water was a straight walk to Greenfield Park.
Got to the entrance to the ground with no turnstile open, I was directed towards an open gate and was told to just head through. Did it want to do a junior team out of money so when a member of the club passed me, I made sure to slip him my fiver. Could smell good followed my nose towards the half way line and found the snack bar, treated myself to a burger and a can of Sprite for £4, no pies today but must say it was a bloody good burger. Needed a pee and was directed inside the club house and ended up using the home dressing room toilet, luckily the home side were still warming up or that could have been awkward haha.
Found a spot close to the half way line just behind the away dugout under the stand that ran along half of the touchline, the weather looked like it could take a turn for the worse at any point so didn’t want to get caught in the rain just to be safe. The grounds a nice little non league ground, along with the stand I was under there was some terracing behind one of the goals and ratings running along the other touchline and goal line. The stand I was under was terraced and an old metal stand that had a family of pigeons housed above me, luckily I managed to last the game without getting shit on by a pigeon. The signs around the ground still said Shettleston Juniors as the club only this season changed their name to Glasgow United.
The opening goal of the game was came from a penalty to Dalry after the home keeper took down the attacker inside the box but no card for the keeper following the foul. Dalry’s Cole Wilson put away the spot kick with ease to make it 1-0 to the away side, which was a little unfair on United as they had been the better side up to the goal going in.
With ten minutes left till half time Glasgow United equalised after a free kick was blocked but not dealt with and United’s Jordan Mcgrotty caught a half volley which went in off the post. After the goal, United’s coach was booked for arguing with the referee for wanting the Dalry keeper sent off for the foul that led to the free kick.
United took the lead just before half time in controversial fashion, the ball looked like it had gone out for a goal kick as a cross was cut back across the six yard box and Jack Campbell side footed past the substitute goalkeeper to make it 2-1 to the home side.
The game took a nasty turn before the end of the half after a foul that led to a free kick, there was some pushing and shoving and the referee seemed to have lost control as the home side dictated to the referee where the free kick was to be taken from. The referee called for half time what felt a little early after many incidents, which added to why I felt he lost control of the game.
Safe to say the break didn’t help the referee get a grip of the game as the players seemed to be running things from the off in the second half. I did enjoy after United’s Steffan Graham was fouled there was some good winding up between him and the crowd.
With around five minutes left to play it was 3-1 to the home side after a peach of a free kick from the edge of the 18 yard box, bent around the wall low and past the keeper by Graham.
It was soon 4-1 to Glasgow United, a lapse of concentration at the back by Dalry followed by a good whipped ball to the back post was met by Ross Barclay who swept the ball into the net.
Glasgow United showed in the end why they are the team playing at the higher level than Dalry Thistle, but if I’m being honest they should have got the victory but I don’t think it was a 4-1 game at all but the better side got the win in the end.
So onto my ratings…
Ticket Price – £5
Programme Price – N/A
Programme Rating – N/A
Refreshments – 7/10
Stadium Facilities – 5/10
Getting To Stadium – 9/10
Stadium Rating – 7/10
Thanks for reading my thoughts on Glasgow United against Dalry Thistle.
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