• Joe Meldrum Trophy
• Loch Park, New Cumnock
• Saturday 22nd July 2017
• GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 4 (2)
  • Ryan Borris, Cameron Marlow, Joe Andrew, Chris Dallas
• Rutherglen Glencairn 0 (0)

Glenafton hosted Rutherglen in the pre-season Joe Meldrum Trophy at Loch Park and the final score-line does not wholly reflect their part in a very competitive match.

The home side opened the scoring on 18 minutes when Ally Park’s header from just inside Rutherglen’s was gathered by John Carter in the box where he twisted past one defender only to be dispossessed by tackle of another, however the ball fell kindly for Ryan Borris to take and fine the space and curl the ball home from 12 yards. Glenafton doubled their lead on 32 minutes after Cameron Marlow anticipated a pass back to the keepr and was in the right place to snap up the hurried clearance and clip the ball past the belegaured KP McAllister.  The keeper made amends later with a stunning one-handed save from the same player from close range. H/T Glens 2 Rutherglen 0

Although both teams created a number of chances after the break it would be 80 minutes before the second stale-mate was broken. David Gray played a short corner-kick to Alan Cairns and his cross into a crowded box was headed clear with the Glens defender quickly recovering the ball before delicately with the outside of his foot lobbing the ball over the head of three defenders deep into the box where former Glencairn forward Joe Andrew gathered before mimicking his team-mate’s touch to lob the goalie. Five minutes later Cairns turned provider again with a ball into the box for Chris Dallas who was having his shirt pulled by a defender at his back; the big striker stepped up to lash the resulting spot kick home and complete the scoring. F/T Glens 4 Rutherglen 0

Glenafton Athletic: McGarrity, Park, Cairns, Menzies, McAusland, Marlow, Borris, McKernon, Andrew, Carter, McGill. Subs: Dallas, Gray, Moore, McKnight, Potter, Watson.

Rutherglen Glencairn: McAllister, McGregor, Neil, Donaldson, Fraser, McGuire, Hall, Hamilton, Smith, McArdle, McKay. Subs: Savarese, Team, Ndlovu, Young, Grier, Dempsey, McGurgan, Hutchison.

Photo courtesy of Glenafton TV