Ardagh Glass Ayrshire Sectional League Cup

Section 4: Match 3

Saturday 10th August, Loch  Park, New Cumnock

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 7 (4)

KELLO ROVERS  1 (0)

Glenafton fielded four trialists, including a goalkeeper for the injured Brian McGarrity, for the visit of Kello Rovers, as Tommy Bryce continues to rebuild the side.

Half chances came and went at both ends before the home side took control of the game and only a fine save prevented them taking the lead on 16 minutes . A Scott Adam cross from the right was met at the back post by Aaron Connolly and the ball headed across the face of the goal only for Findlay Frye’s flying header to be pushed to safety by the keeper at full stretch.  On 20 minutes the keeper was again at full stretch but could do little to stop an Aaron Connolly strike from a tight angle after a collecting a quality pass up the right touchline from Craig McEwan and a determined run into the box.

Aaron Connolly cracks homes the opener

Four minutes later trialist Jamie McKernon was tripped at the edge of the box and despite strong appeals for hand ball from John Craig’s free kick the home side had to settle for a corner kick from the same player which saw Scott Adam soar and send a looping header into the back of the net.

Celebrations after Scott Adam makes it 2-0

A third followed soon after on 27 minutes when Frye skipped past the advancing keeper and instead of trying to find the net from an acute angle clipped the ball to the opposite end of the box for trialist Simon Rossi to head home in some style.

Simon’s strike makes it 3-0

Credit to the Rovers as they carved out a couple of openings before the Glens were once again on the front foot with wave after wave of attacks and Connolly’s pace causing all sorts of problems for the defence . Two minutes from the break the keeper brought off a stunning one-handed save from Frye and soon after dived bravely at the feet of Rossi.

Scott makes it 4-0

However, there was little he could do on the stroke of half-time after Craig Menzies evaded a tackle at the corner of the box before picking out Scott Adam to stroke the ball home from four yards out. HT Glens 4 Kello 0

Five minutes after the re-start Scott Adam left to loud applause and was replaced by Gareth Armstrong who was soon in the thick of the action.  He gathered a cut back from Rossi, after another fine run down the left, but his drive from the edge of the box whistled past the post.

Just before the hour mark Frye’s foray into the box saw the ball sent skywards and Gareth Armstrong meet in first time on the drop and sweetly slam it home from twenty yards out to put the Glen 5-0 up.

Bo bombs home the fifth

It was six some three minutes later after Connolly glided into the box and when facing the keeper and two defenders calmly rolled the ball into the path of Jamie McKernon to pick his spot.

Jamie the sixth

On 75 minutes Connolly released Rossi down the right and in a flash he left the Rovers defence for dead before squaring the ball for Gareth Armstrong to give the keeper no chance from six yards.

Bo bags his brace

Kello enjoyed their best spell of sustained attacks in the closing quarter hour and on 83 minutes grabbed a consolation through David Jardine from the penalty spot and but for a timely block by Craig McEwan a second goal would have been earned soon after.

Kello’s consolation

At the other end Ryan McChesney’s header from a corner kick whizzed past the junction of post and bar. FT Glens 7 Kello 1

Glenafton :  Trialist; McEwan, McChesney, Menzies, McGeoghegan-trialist; Rossi-trialist, Frye, McKernon-trialist, Craig; Connolly & Adam (Armstrong)

more photos here

Other scores: Auchinleck 8 Muirkirk 0, Lugar 1 Cumnock 4