We take a look at what went down in the GCFA on Saturday when both Greater Croftpark Rose and Glasgow Ansar travelled to Wishaw to play their first Championship qualifying game of the season.
Glasgow Ansar are one of the longest serving clubs within the Glasgow Colleges Football Association.
Greater Croftpark Rose are playing their first game since the merger between Croftpark and Greater Glasgow in the summer.
The first ten minutes of the game were evenly matched as it looked like both clubs were trying to see how the opposition would approach the game.
The Away team started to take control of the game and a long ball into the box could not he converted by the returning Scott Fleming.
Cameron Hendry and Gary McAloon were starting to get on the ball but a combination of slightly over hit passes and timely interceptions stopped GCR from going ahead.
McMillan up top for the away side was proving a handful for the Ansar defence but he must have upset the referee in a previous life because the whistler refused to give him any fouls.
Midfield man Mark Smith made a lung bursting run down the right and crossed into the box, Just as McMillan was going to fire home the Ansar defender Saka made a fantastic saving tackle.
Ansar had a chance of their own but the alert goalkeeping of Patterson in the Rose goal stopped the Ansar player getting a shot away.
GCR took the lead when McAloon’s inch perfect free kick found McBrearty who nodded his free header into the back of the net.
GCR had another couple of half chances before the referee brought the match to its mid way conclusion.
HALF TIME – Greater Croftpark Rose 1 Glasgow Ansar 0
The home side came out flying after some harsh words from their management team and you could immediately tell that they had a spring in their step.
GCR then had Patterson to than when Rooney had another chance but the shot stopper thwarted the attacker with a great save.
The rejuvenated Ansar seemed to smell blood and with Bhatti pulling the strings they created another good chance that was fired wide by their striker.
Rose had their own chance to go in front when a clever pass by Smith put Fleming one on one with the keeper but his shot was well saved by the keeper.
GCR then had a more than Strong penalty appeal turned down when Hendry was brought crashing down in the box as he tried to pull the trigger. The ref waved play on.
Minutes later a quick Ansar counter beat the GCR defence but not the offside trap, The Ansar attacker went through and scored but the match official blew for offside much to the away side’s relief.
Both keepers were forced into action as the final few moments of the game wound down but neither team could take advantage before the referee blew for full time.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Both these centre backs were particularly impressive today with McBrearty showing his eye for goal and his tremendous range of passing whilst his opponent Saka showed off his interceptions and his tacking ability.
Another good game of football to watch today in Wishaw, Both teams could argue but in all fairness a draw was the correct outcome in this well contested match.
Both teams could have won the game had it not been for Goalkeepers in fine form.
If you also look at both clubs social media they named their centre backs as their MOTMS which tells another story itself.
This match was well worth going to watch and it will be interesting to see how both clubs finish in this mini league qualifying group.
Footy Focus season 25/26 
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