Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup, 1st Round

Saturday 9th March , Merksworth Park, Dalry

DALRY THISTLE 0 (0)

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC  4 (3)

With Ryan McChesney recuperating after coming though his long awaited operation, striker Ross Robertson partnered Richie McKillen at the centre of Glenafton’s defence.  Up front Graeme Eaglesham paired up with Gareth Armstrong while on the bench were new signings from Glenafton’s U19s side Josh Blackwood and Danny Naismith

It was also a new look Dalry side that kicked off the game which quickly burst into action. The visitors forced two corners in quick succession but to no avail while Thistle hit back but Glens new look defence were giving nothing away.

The Glens were moving the ball well and Bobby Colligan was proving a thorn in the home side’s defence as he and Eaglsham continually switched wings. A goal was on the cards and on 11 minutes Colligan cutting in from the left fairly rattled the post with keeper Stewart Strachan beaten. Two minutes later Ross Robertson, up for a corner, cracked a header off the face of the bar and following up slammed home the opener.

Bobby Colligan

Thistle were trying to play football but the visitors were in rampant mood with Colligan continuing to run riot, next laying it on a plate only for Gareth Campbell to shoot high over the bar. On 25 minutes after constant pressure Bobby Colligan cut in from the right and from the edge of the box he curled a great ball round the defensive wall and the helpless keeper.

Seven minutes from the break the visitors were given a timely wake-up call when Stephen McLarty got through on goal but Ally Semple was in determined mood to keep a clean sheet. A minute later Bobby Colligan ran into the box and slammed home an unsaveable shot to put the Glens three up at the break. H/T Dalry 0 Glens 3

Thistle began the second period with a more hustling style and Glens were knocked out of their stride for a wee spell. Danny Naismith came into the back four and helped steady the ship.

Back came the visitors with Eaglesham putting the ball into Colligan’s path but he shot high over the bar. In the 61st min Robertson thundered a header off the underside of the bar and the loose ball frantically scrambled clear by an over worked Dalry rear-guard.

Semple was rested and Ryan Dunsmuir took his place in goal while Josh Blackwood came on at right back, the U19 team-mates helping the visitors to maintain their clean-sheet through the game’s conclusion. Glenafton completed the scoring through Gareth Campbell after his shot from outside the box took a wicked deflection past the stranded Strachan. F/T Dalry 0 Glens 4

Dalry: Strachan  Smith  Cuddihy  Todd  Cochrane  Wilson  Pettigrew  McGeachey  Friels  McLarty  Lorne  subs  Muir  Jamie Friels  Mochan  Pelamie

Glenafton:  Semple  Potter  Robertson  McKillen  McEwan  Colligan  McKenzie  Cochrane  Eaglsham  Armstrong  Campbell  subs:  Dunsmuir  Naismith  Blackwood ; not used Dempster.