Ardagh Glass Ayrshire Sectional League Cup

Section 4: Match 1

Monday 6th August , Loch Park, New Cumnock

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 0 (0)

CUMNOCK JUNIORS 3 (1)

Having sailed through Section 4 last season with 5 wins and one draw the Glens kicked off this season Ardagh Cup campaign with a disappointing defeat at home to neighbours Cumnock.

John Bradford and Paul McKenzie

The home side made the early running but with the game less than 10 minutes old Jim  Gibson, Cumnock’s most recent signing, standing by himself fell to the ground in some discomfort. The game had to be delayed as the player was stretchered off and taken to hospital with the news later that he had suffered cruciate ligament damage.

The match re-started and the Glens continued to push and enjoy the bulk of possession and the pick of the chances . A Paul McKenzie drive from outside the box was well blocked by former Glens’ keeper and then former Cumnock midfielder Gareth Campbell rattled the bar from 25 yards out while a minute later a Danny Mitchell header went just wide of target. Former Glens’ captain Willie Howie finally succumbed to a niggling injury to be replaced by James Tyler, who quickly made his mark on the game. His dash down the left in ‘injury time’ proved to be the source of the opener the ball finding its way to former Arthurlie and Girvan striker John Bradford to nick the ball home from close range. H/T Glens 0 Cumnock 1 

The visitors doubled their lead in double-quick time with Tyler the architect again two minutes into the new half setting up Michael O’Connor, another summer signing from Girvan, who rattled the ball through a ruck of players and into the home net. Momentum was now well and truly with Cumnock as they sought to add to their tally and a third came on 65 minutes courtesy of the head of substitute Richie Hanvey , close season signing from Whitletts Vics. There was no way back for the frustrated home side and a slip in discipline heralded a flurry of yellow cards –  Robbie Henderson, Gareth Campbell, Craig Potter and Paul McKenzie the recipients before the game settled back down and Cumnock close it out, comfortable winners in the end. F/T Glens 0 Cumnock 3

Glenafton: Semple; Menzies, G. Mitchell, Henderson, McKillen; McKenzie, Potter, D.Mitchell, G. Campbell;  Dempster, Armstrong. Subs – McManus, McEwan, Colligan, Boyle & McChesney

Cumnock – Fahey, Smith, Gibson, Robertson, Lundie, MacDonald, Johnston, Howie, Bradford, McInnes, O’Connor. Subs –  Tyler, Wallace, Hanvey, O’Donnal, Hamill.

Glenafton send their best wishes to Jim Gibson.

Other Section 4 scores

Auchinleck 4 Lugar 0; Muirkirk 0 Kello 8