THIS was a game of two halves – and both of them belonged to a Dunipace team spearheaded by hat-trick hero Martin Wright.
Derek Barron's charges went into this encounter boosted by their Citylink Scottish Junior Cup win over Port Glasgow.
Goalkeeper Gary Strachan was the hero in that match but he was a virtual spectator in this one as the Westfield men started the ga
me on the attack.
On a day when they clicked into top gear from the first whistle, it took them only five minutes to grab the lead when Wright volleyed Chris Cairney's cut-back high into the net from 10 yards.
And the opener proved to be only the start of St Roch's troubles. Just six minutes later an action replay of the first goal saw Wright grab his second after Barry Rodgor created the opportunity.
The visitors simply had no answer to the front man and he grabbed his hat-trick in the 25th minute, rising at the far post to head home Paul O'Brien's corner kick.
Dunipace then began the second half as they had the first. In the 50th minute a Brian Grant shot was blocked and spun high into the air before recent signing Steven Oates claimed his first goal for the club when he headed home from inside the six yard box. That put paid to any outside chance St Roch's had of taking something from the game, but they were still to score next.
Mind you, it was a mighty soft 62nd minute penalty award that allowed Tony Docherty to convert from the spot after he and Oates clashed in the box.
But there was only ever going to be one winner and, with 16 minutes remaining, Grant completed the scoring from 12 yards when the unselfish Rodgor, who might well have had a shot himself, set him up perfectly.
DUNIPACE JUNIORS 5
Wright 5, 11, 25, Oates 50, Grant 74
ST ROCH'S 1
Docherty 62 (pen)
(HT 3-0)
Stagecoach Central Division Two
Dunipace: Strachan, S. McCafferty, O'Brien (Jackson), Graeme McMillan, Oates, Orr, Wright (Moffat), Cairney, Rodgor, Grant, Cullen (M. McCafferty)
Not used: Devlin, Meighan
DUNIPACE are back on points duty this weekend when they travel to take on Carluke Rovers in a Stagecoach Central Division Two match at Loch Park Stadium.
Boss Derek Barron still has the usual injuries, however. Warner Devlin, who was on the bench last week, could be back but Paul Donnelly has work commitments. Kick off is at 1.45 p.m. and the bus leaves the social club at 11.45 a.m.
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