Ardagh Glass Ayrshire Sectional League Cup
Section 4: Match 2
Wednesday 8th August , Rosebank Park, Lugar
LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 0 (0)
GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 4 (1)
Goalkeeper Ally Semple was rested after a reaction in the Cumnock game to a bad knee injury sustained in training a few weeks back. Glenafton introduced a trialist in his place while captain Robbie Henderson, Paul Murphy, Gareth Campbell and summer signing Scott McManus were unavailable for selection.
With Rosebank bathed in early evening sunshine a place on the Glenboig brick terracing in the shade of the far side fir trees made for easier viewing . The same could not be said for the early exchanges as both sides struggled to retain the ball long enough to construct any meaningful attacks. Although the visitors were leading on possession the hosts created the first serious chance on 13 minutes when the flight of a looping header deep inside the box was lost in the sunshine by the Glens’ goalie and landed at the back post but he recovered well to block the incoming ‘Jaggy bunnett‘ from bursting the net. A near post header from the resultant corner flashed past the other post and minutes later another home corner was punched clear to safety as Lugar looked for the opener
Glenafton responded well and both John Paul Boyle and Paul McKenzie had snap shots in a two minute spell – keeper Alastair McInnes turning the first one behind for a corner and the latter whizzing over the bar. On 29 minutes a quickly taken free kick caught the Boswell defence napping and although McInnes made a splendid effort he was a fingertip short of stopping a low drilled shot from John Dempster finding the net.
John Dempster’s strike sneaks in at the corner
Three minutes later McKenzie whipped in a vicious cross from tight on the right touchline and although Bobby Colligan bombed into the box to meet the ball brilliantly first time his effort sailed over the bar. Five minutes from half- time Boyle was the provider from the right and Dempster the recipient but McInnes the winner with a courageous block. The keeper then showed a safe pair of hands to clutch a Richie McKillen shot from under the bar as the Glens pushed to put some daylight between them and their hosts as the shadows lengthened and stretched long and sharp across the park. H/T Lugar 0 Glens 1
Within seconds of the re-start Lugar forced a corner kick causing panic in the Afton box but again the chance went abegging. Straight up the park in lightning speed and Colligan, Boyle and Craig Menzies combined to set up a McKenzie header only for McInnes to get a long outstretched arm to the ball and then show the presence of mind to mop up the loose ball from a posse of Glenafton forwards. Four minutes later the keeper narrowed the angle perfectly to get hand to a Colligan shot and push it out for a corner. On 53 minutes McKenzie launched a peach of a ball for Dempster to gather and force his way into the box but his path to goal was well defended. Three minutes later a Lugar free kick from just outside the box beat the wall on its way wide of the post – a timely reminder for the visitors that only a goal separated the sides.
John Paul Boyle made way for Gareth Armstrong and Craig Potter came on for Craig McEwan while in between times Lugar created and contrived to miss a glorious chance to draw level – the offender in the proverbial acres of space electing to shoot early, but once again without testing the keeper as the ball trundled wide of target. On 72 minutes the Glens doubled their tally and their lead when a McKenzie corner was bulleted home courtesy of a Glen Mitchell header that was as straight and immaculate as the nearby Park Terrace row. Two minutes later his brother Danny’s header from a McKenzie corner battered off the bar with McInnes beaten.
Glen’s goal for Glens
Still Boswell battled on but another corner came to nothing as the visitors’ defence stood firm and another Glens’ attack initiated. With four minutes to go Menzies marauded down the right flank and cut the ball back into the centre of the box from where Danny Mitchell sent it on its way to an unmarked Gareth Armstrong lurking at the corner of the six yard box and in a flash the ball was bulging the Boswell net.
Bo blasts home
Four minutes later McKenzie menaced his way into the right hand side of the Lugar box and spotting Armstrong on the left hand side lofted the ball to the back post for Bo to ghost in and head home Glenfton’s fourth. In time added on man-of-the-match McInnes rushed from his line to deny the Glenafton striker his hat-trick. F/T Lugar 0 Glens 4
Taz spots Bo for the fourth
Glenafton: Trialist; Menzies, McChesney, G. Mitchell, McKillen; Colligan, McEwan (Potter), D.Mitchell, McKenzie; Dempster, Boyle (Armstrong). Sub Dunsmuir
Other Section 4 scores
Cumnock 3 Muirkirk 0; Kello 2 Talbot 5
Glenafton Athletic 