New Coin Automatics West of Scotland Cup 1stround

Sat 6th October, Loch Park, New Cumnock

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 2 (1)

TROON  0 (0)

Ryan McChesney returned to the centre of the Glens defence following the midweek departure of Robbie Henderson to Rob Roy while Gareth Armstrong recovered from injury partnered John Paul Boyle. Vistors Troon, winners at Loch Park last season in the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup Semi-final had former Glenafton players Dougie Ramsay and Martin Ure in their starting eleven.

Paul ‘Taz’ McKenzie

The home side got off to a flying start and in 2 minutes Paul McKenzie turned inside and gave keeper Martin Barclay no change to give the Glens an early lead. Three minutes later Ure was perfectly placed to clear the ball off the line after Bobby Colligan beat the goalie. Some neat passing place set up Boyle to crack a screamer only for Barclay to pull off a brilliant save.  Troon found their feet as well as their passing game and the match opened up with long spells of end-to-end play. Semple in Glenafton’s goals now saw much more of the action and conjured up two good saves to preserve the home side’s narrow lead. H/T Glens 1 Troon 0

Gareth ‘Bo’ Armstrong

The second half proved very much to be a mirror image of the first when the home side enjoying the early pressure and again finding the net two minutes into the half. As Boyle burst free in the box he was hauled back by the defender and after consultation the referee awarded the home side a penalty, a decision that divided opinion – one view the defender was fortunate to stay on the park, the other the home side were fortunate to get the award. In any case Gareth Armstrong eventually stepped up to score from the spot and double the home side’s advantage.  Boyle came close to extending the lead but his diving header whizzed past the post. Troon again fought back aided by the introduction of Dale Moore and Tony Murphy both with strong Glenafton connections. In turn the home side shored up the back line with Richie McKillen and welcomed back midfielder Gus Cochrane to the fold and saw the game out, not without a scare or two. F/T Glens 2 Troon 0

Glenafton: Semple; McEwan, McChesney, G.Mitchell, Menzies; McKenzie, Murphy, D.Mitchell, Colligan; Armstrong, Boyle. Subs McKillen, Cochrane, Potter, Dunsmuir (gk)

Troon: Barclay; Ure Roy Keenan Cairns Armstrong Ramsay Chatham Wilson Gillies Gilmour Subs Moore Murphy Seymour Rae