Scottish Junior Cup Quarter-final
Saturday 15th March 2014, Townhead Park, Cumnock
CUMNOCK JUNIORS 2 (0)
GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 2 (1)
GLENS ROCKED BY LATE ‘NOCK
The home side enjoyed much of the early pressure without seriously testing Brian McGarrity in the Glens’ goal. On 8 minutes a quickly taken throw from the right picked out John Johnston’s run into the box but his first time volley went wide of target. Five minutes later Ryan McChesney headed clear a Cumnock corner-kick and soon after McGarrity comfortably clutched a ball under his bar as Chris Robertson challenged.
Glenafton gradually worked their way into the game with Aaron Connolly’s movement causing concern in the home defence. On 25 minutes a cross field ball from Jamie McGeoghan on the right flank picked out Findlay Frye deep in the left hand side of the box, where he quickly skinned Gavin Brown and then outfoxed James Lundie before cutting the ball back across the box for the incoming McGeoghan only for his shot to sail well over the bar.
Townhead line out
Two minutes later Cumnock were reduced to ten men when Steven Crawford was shown a straight red after a rash tackle that saw him win the ball with one foot and pole-axe Craig McEwan with the other. Soon after Brown was fortunate not to follow his team-mate following what looked a blatant kick at McChesney, a yellow card sufficing on this occasion.
Glens made the breakthrough on 37 minutes following Ray Montgomerie’s foul on Cameron Marlow wide on the left. Jamie McKernon whipped the free-kick into the box and a glancing header by Ryan McChesney from 15 yards out beat keeper Willie Muir at full stretch and the ball nestled in the far corner of the net..
Local Hero Chessy celebrates the opener
Clear cut chances remained thin on the ground and Glenafton went in at the break a goal to the good. H/T Cumnock 0 Glens 1
The new half began brightly with end to end play resulting in chances for both sides. On 47 minutes a Glens’ corner was only partially cleared and the ball played back into the box and although McKernon met it sweetly his volley was well held by Muir. Cumnock forced a couple of corners of their own, one of which ended with a Steven McGuire header back across the face of goal sneaking inches wide of McGarrity’s far post.
On 51 minutes the visitors let slip the chance to double their lead. Frye picked up a headed clearance and shrugged off former Glens player Paul McInnes before feeding Alain Kinney in the box who squared the ball across the six yard line where a combination of Frye and Connolly tried to force the ball beyond the reach of the grounded Muir but the keeper made a fine block and then another to foil Marlow.
Glens go close
Back up the park and a Cumnock free kick from the corner of the box saw McGarrity in the right place to gather MacGuire’s close range header. Glens replied on the hour mark with a clever ball from Kinney that released Marlow for a run in on goal only for the irrepressible Robertson to recover the situation with a well timed tackle in the box and although McChesney won the header from the resultant corner it too was cleared by the ‘Nock defence. Two minutes later Marlow was the Glens architect again his run taking him all the way to the six yard box only for Muir’s shins to block his shot at goal and although fighter Frye won the race for the loose ball it cannoned off the keeper high into the air, then off the bar and Montgomery kept his cool to clear the ball off the line.
Glens go close again
Instead of being two ahead the visitors found themselves pegged back as Cumnock broke upfield and won another free kick at the right hand corner of the box. Mongtomerie’s free kick found its target and Chris Robertson powered home a header to square the cup-tie with 62 minutes gone.
Chris Robertson heads home equaliser
Both sides introduced fresh legs and with 15 minutes to go Stevie Miller, on for Marlow, engineered a shot at goal from the corner of the six yard box from which Muir pulled off a fine save to parry the ball on to the post, before any notice of an offside flag had been taken. Five minutes later Kinney sandwiched between Brown and Johnston on the six yard line powered a header goal-ward only for Muir to clutch safely.
McGarrity matched his counter-part with another goal-line save from another header by Robertson from another Cumnock free-kick. Glens quickly broke down the right flank and substitute Michael Reilly’s cut back into the box was partially cleared by Lundie and the ball gathered for Frye , his shot from the 18 yard line was blocked by Colin Williamson, with Glens appeal for hand-ball waved away.
Michael Reilly puts the Glens ahead
On 83 minutes Glenafton regained the lead after Alan Cairns and Miller combined well down the left before the latter’s cross picked out McGeoghan in the six yard box and although Muir parried the resultant header Michael Reilly was first to react to force the ball home from two yards out and score his first goal for the club.
Cumnock regrouped and substitute John Bradford made good progress down the right flank only for McEwan to bring the run to the end in the box with a fine tackle, the grounded Cumnock striker’s appeal for a penalty waved away. At the other end substitute and former Cumnock midfielder Darren McGill’s effort from the edge of the box beat Muir before sailing over the keeper’s cross bar.
The home side won a corner kick two minutes into time added on and their last hopes of an equaliser appeared to have vanished as the ball was fired well beyond the back post. However as McChesney with Robertson all over his back raced to where they both expected the ball to land it struck the Glens defender’s arm and a spot-kick was awarded. The referee’s interpretation of a deliberate hand-ball under such circumstances left the visiting side bemused and the home side hopeful of a late late reprieve.
Chris Robertson sinks the spot kick
On 93 minutes Chris Robertson stepped up and slotted the ball home despite McGarrity’s gallant attempt to prevent the replay. FT Cumnock 2 Glens 2
Cumnock Juniors: Muir; Brown, Crawford, Robertson, Lundie; Montgomerie, Johnston, Williamson, McInnes, Maguire & Love. McInnes. Subs. McKnight,Bradford, Wood, Hanvey, Kinnaird.
Glenafton Athletic: McGarrity; McEwan, McChesney, Menzies, Cairns; McGeoghan, McKernon, Frye, Marlow (Miller); Connolly (Reilly) & Kinney (McGill) Subs. Dimilta, Brown
Glenafton Athletic 