With the Glens’ West of Scotland Cup match against Pollok postponed due to a snowbound Loch Park manager Darren Henderson and John Garroch were in attendance at Abbey Park to find out first hand who Glenafton would face in the 4th round of the Emirates Scottish Junior Cup.
Afton Lads at Abbey Park
Two former Glenafton players, striker Michael Hart and central defender Roland Fabiani featured in the starting eleven while two others, Kevin Deeney and Gary Robertson were on the bench. However, it was Fabi’s defensive partner and former Renfrew stopper Neil Shearer that hogged the first half headlines with a brace of goals and whetting the Abbey Park faithful’s appetite for that once common footballing phrase a ‘Shearer hat-trick’.
The home side passed up a number of chances to extend their lead and the deficit was halved mid way through the second half with a close range effort from Darren O’Donnell and the Vics sensed the game could yet be saved. Fate on the other hand thought otherwise. The visitors were reduced to 10 men when two yellow cards were brandished in quick succession to Paul Gray – one for protesting the denial of spot kick following a hand ball in the Buffs box and then a minute later for kicking the ball away after a free kick was awarded for a foul on the impressive David ‘Harpo’ Smith. Before the unfortunate defender was in the early bath the Groucho cigars were being passed round after Fabi was in hand to head home the telling third goal from a few yards out.
Fabi takes a bow
Over the piece the Buffs were well worth their win. Apart from the ‘Shearer and Sutton, sorry Fabiani, Show’ the aforementioned David Smith always looked dangerous on the break while Ben Lewis proved a handful for the Blantyre back-line.
Glenafton Athletic 