Stagecoach West Region Premier Division
Saturday 8th September , Adamslie Park, Kirkintilloch
KIRKINTILLOCH ROB ROY 7 (6)
GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 3 (2)
With captain Robbie Henderson suspended and Glen Mitchell and Craig Menzies unavailable for selection the Glens reshuffled their back-line with Ryan McChesney and Paul Murphy partnering each other in the centre of defence while Gareth Campbell filled the right back slot.
The visitors were first to show when Bobby Colligan buzzed down the left flank before drilling a low drive which was well held at the near post by Stephen Robertson. The keeper launched the ball up-field and when the bounce beat Campbell and McChesney in nipped Iain Diack who expertly lobbed it high over the out rushing Ally Semple for it to plummet into the empty net with 90 seconds gone. The home side doubled their lead on six minutes after Diack set Scott Adam free down the left and his cross was crashed home at the near post by former Kettering Town midfielder Steven Meechan. Three minutes later Diack was through on goal again only for the back-tracking Richie McKillen to deny the hit man a double with a timely tackle. Seconds later however Willie Easton, hooked home a splendid volley from just outside the box. On 12 minutes Scott Adam lashed home the fourth and two minutes later Diack got behind the Glens defence to chip the ball over Semple at full reach for probably the pick of the Rabs’ five goals in a devastating fourteen minute spell. Semple stopped a sixth with a stunning save from Meechan before the Glens conjured up some much needed respite and respect with a battling fight-back.
John Dempster forces home Glens’ second
Midway through the half the visitors forced their first corner kick of the match which was scrambled clear only to be hooked back into the danger area by Paul McKenzie where the ball was met by Gareth Armstrong but his diving header went inches wide of target. On 24 minutes the Glens continued to press and pulled one back when Danny Mitchell gathered the ball and fired from outside the box, the ball taking a wicked deflection to wrong foot the helpless Robertson. Both sides created a couple of half-chances before the visitors struck again on 32 minutes after Armstrong rose majestically at the near post to head flick a Colligan corner into the six yard box where John Dempster’s determination saw him beat two defenders and the keeper to the ball and force it over the line. Two minutes later Glenafton’s hopes of a sensational comeback suffered a serious set-back when Mitchell earned a second yellow card for a sliding tackle on Adam at the half-way line.
Iain Diack celebrates his hat-trick with Chic
The momentum swung back to the hosts and six minutes from the break Diack completed his hat-trick, cutting in from the left and curling the ball beyond the reach of an air-borne Semple. H/T Rob Roy 6 Glens 2
To their credit the gallant Glens gave a good account of themselves in the second half and honours were very much shared in terms of possession, chances and ultimately goals. McChesney, up for a corner, came close when he hooked the ball over his head and the packed penalty box only for the ball to drop over the bar while substitute Scott McManus’s close range header was just wide of target. At the other end Semple saved from the lively Adam and Kevin Bradley looked certain to score at the back post but drilled his shot into the ground forcing the ball to bounce up and over Semple’s bar.
Bo keen for more
On 81 minutes Gareth Armstrong punished some indecision in the home defence to break into the box and place the ball beyond the advancing Robertson. The goal may have been considered less of a consolation if soon after a strong shout for a hand ball in the box had been given, presenting the visitors a chance of cutting the deficit to two. Five minutes later however, it seemed fitting that the last word went to Iain Diack who fired home his fourth goal of the game in a master class of finishing. F/T Rob Roy 7 Glens 3
Glenafton: Semple; Campbell (McEwan), McChesney, Murphy, McKillen; McKenzie, Potter, D.Mitchell, Colligan (McManus); Armstrong, Dempster.
Rob Roy: Robertson; McLachlan, Smith, Ohakam, McVey; Bradley, Meechan, Connolly, Easton; Adam, Diack
Other league scores: Arthurlie P Shotts P; Auchinleck 4 Ashfield 1; Beith 2 Cumnock 3; Clydebank 1 Irvine Meadow 0; Pollok 0 Petershill 3
Glenafton Athletic 