The lads made the short trip to Ferniegair for a supposed away match which saw their hosts further travelled, and certainly looked like the home team in the early stages. FPC were dominant in possession and territory from the outset, but the deadlock wasn’t broken until 28 minutes. McArthur played a one two with Stuart Jack which saw the full back drive into the box from the left, and he looked up and curled a beautiful shot into the far corner to ease the nerves.
Within two minutes McArthur again was the provider when his cross looped off a Clyde defender to the back post, where Craig Anderson had the simple task of nodding home from a yard out. The title party started on the touchline a minute later when Davie T fed a lovely pass through the offside trap to Paul McArthur, who held off the defender to beat the keeper at his near post with rasping angled left foot strike, much deserved after his two earlier assists.
Three minutes later Scott Anderson’s tricky wing play on the right saw him charge to the bye line and whip an enticing low ball across the six yard box, where stand-in captain Davie T arrived to power the ball home from close range. DT returned the favour as half time approached, where his close range shot was blocked by the defender and fell perfectly for Scott Anderson, who, not to be outdone by his wee bro, tapped home from a yard after excellent build up play on the left by Jack and McArthur.
After the break play naturally eased off after the frantic finish to the first period, and Fraz took the chance to throw on some fresh legs. FPC continued to press, as wee Craig kept confusing everyone by repeating that it was still 0-0, but the ‘Corner made it six on the hour. A fine Macca corner from the left eluded everyone but dipped late at the back post for Davie T to bullet a header high into the net, earning his second of the day and lifting himself back to the top of the Scottish league scorers chart.
Sub Bendy completed the scoring for the newly crowned Champions with a speculative back post cross which sailed too close to the keeper for comfort, and he could only palm the ball into his own net, leaving Bendy to celebrate with an embarrassed shrug and a smile. It wasn’t the end of the scoring however. The FPC defence, without Gav for the first time in months, had played tremendously, with Tatty and Mitch outstanding. Despite deserving of the clean sheet, FPC were undone fifteen minutes from the end, when Clyde worked a neat passing move down the left to send their striker clear to score a consolation goal. It could have been two late on, but for Glenny to pull off a wonder save, tipping a rasping shot over the bar.
The final whistle was the cue for the champagne corks to pop as gaffer Fraz celebrated FPC’s tenth anniversary week with the club’s first ever title win. Even more satisfyingly, it’s been done in style, winning the British League unbeaten with 19 wins and a draw, and romping the Scottish title with two games to spare, scoring freely from all areas of the pitch and with a mean defence and a real team spirit. FPC still have the quarter final of the British Cup to contend away to Kidderminster, and will receive their league championship trophies at a ceremony at Worldnet in Leeds this July.
Attention now turns to Motherwell’s bid for the Scottish Cup on Saturday, when they’ll be hoping a little of the Fir Park Corner magic dust will be sprinkled their way.
Moan Ra Corner, Moan The ‘Well!!