- McBookie West Region Super League Premier Division
- Match 10
- Loch Park, New Cumnock
- Saturday 17th February 2018
- GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 4 (3)
- Lynass, Andrew, Dallas, Moore
- GIRVAN 0 (0)
GLENS TURN THE TIDE AGAINST SEASIDERS
A minute’s silence was held before kick-off in memory of Glenafton supporter Jim Walker who passed away recently. The Walker family sponsored today’s matchball and young grandson Trey handed over the cheque to manager Craig McEwan posed for photos with the manager and club secretary John Stewart.
Glenafton hosted Girvan for the second time this season the Seasiders having won the previous encounter 3-2 in the West of Scotland Cup after racing to a 3-0 lead in the first half. Back to league business and the champions turned the tables on the visitors with three unanswered goals in the opening forty-five which were joined with a last-minute counter to deliver a well-deserved 4-0 victory.
Girvan started brightly with former Glens striker Michael Reilly looking lively up front. On 7 minutes he began a move that ended with Kieran Balfour gathering the ball in the box to turn and shoot only for Kyle McAusland to make a fine block. The ball went out for a throw that was launched to the Glens near post where keeper Brian McGarrity leapt to cleanly clutch the ball from the head of Marc Cameron.
The game however quickly turned in the Glens favour. Conor Lynass and Ally Park combined well down the right-wing before the latter floated a cross to the near post where keeper Scott Johnstone was off his mark to gather the ball as Chris Dallas threatened. Joe Andrew threaded a ball through the middle for Dallas who quickly picked out Marlow at the edge of the box and after a touch or two his shot skewed wide of the post.
On 14 minutes the New Cumnock side made the breakthrough with a piece of fine flowing football on a bumpy pitch. A long ball into the Glens box was headed cleared by Alan Cairns and snapped up by Darren McGill who set off down the left flank the after burners leaving the full back for dead on the half-way line. When level with the 18-yard line the midfielder squared the ball into the box which was dummied by Andrew to set up a low shot from Dallas from 14 yards out that was pushed away by the keeper only for the alert Andrew to pounce on the loose ball at the near post and clip it across the face of goal for the incoming Conor Lynass to side foot into the net at the back post.
Conor Lynass and Chris Dallas
Glens continued to press and two minutes later a McGill free-kick from 22 yards whizzed inches wide of the post. Soon after Marlow picked up a Dallas pass in a busy box and curled a shot that the keeper did well to hold.
On 19 minutes Girvan created their best chance after Jack McDowall whipped a great ball from wide on the left to the back post where Craig Reid’s header just dipped over the bar.
McDowall’s header dips over the bar
The home side were soon back on the front foot and midway through the half a Marlow header from a Jamie McKernon corner was headed of the line and over the bar by Scott Dinwoodie. From a short corner McKernon played a quick one-two with Andrew before returning the ball to the striker on the edge of the box about 15 yards from the bye-line and in a flash, Andrew turned to fire a powerful shot that caught the keeper unaware at his near post. Glen 2-0 on 24 minutes.
Celebrations after Joe makes it 2-0
The visitors responded through McDowall and Reid combing again the latter’s header causing a goal-mouth scramble in which Craig Menzies & McAusland got the better of Dinwoodie & Reilly and McGarrity gathered the loose ball. This proved to be Reilly’s last real action in the game as soon after he earned a straight red card for dissent and the Seasiders reduced to 10 men on 27 minutes.
Things went from bad to worse for Girvan two minutes later after the Glens added a third goal. McGill snapped up the ball on the left before cutting infield to ‘D’ of the penalty box to slip the ball to Lynass on the right-hand side of the box. The midfielder’s shot for goal deflected off the outstretched leg of Darren Mitchell sending the ball high into the air before dropping kindly for Chris Dallas at the back post to guide home his 20th goal of the season from close range.
Chris Dallas makes it 3-0
One-way traffic towards the Girvan goal ensued with chances to add a fourth coming thick and fast. On 31 minutes Park’s angled shot from the right-hand side of the box cannoned off the base of the far post. Johnstone then punched clear McKernon’s corner-kick from the head of Marlow. A minute later Marlow’s low drive from the 18-yard line drifted wide of the post and soon after Marlow’s third bite at the cherry, a powerful shot from outside the box was well held by the keeper.
In a rare Girvan attack a well-timed and executed tackle by McAusland denied Cameron a clear shot at goal.
H/T Glens 3 Girvan 0
At the break Stevie O’Donnell replaced Kieran Balfour and slotted into the centre of defence with Mitchell now pushed forward. 10 men Girvan regained their composure and play in the early stages of the new half flowed from end to end with defences dealing well with the half chances on offer.
Conor Lynass
McDowall’s shot was parried by McGarrity and the keeper was quick off the mark to recover the ball before ending in the net. McKernon’s determined run into the box was halted by an equally determined well-timed tackle by Michael Mossie. McKernon tried again with another strong burst into the box and his square ball for Dallas seemed certain to set up a fourth goal only for Mossie to intervene again and cut out the pass at the expense of another corner-kick for the home side which was headed clear. At the other end Mitchell picked out McDowall but his shot, although on target lacked any power to test the keeper.
On 58 minutes Lynass’s run from deep ended with a pass to Dallas who gave Mossie the slip before thundering a shot from the edge of the box that beat the keeper at full stretch before zipping past the post.
On the hour mark the Glens made a double change with Andrew and McGill making way for Mick McCann and Dale Moore. Soon after Ryan McChesney replaced Ally Park with McAusland now filling the right full back slot. Girvan followed suit with Paul Cameron coming on for Marc Cameron.
Darren McGill
On 72 minutes McDowall and Mitchell combined well down the left before the latter burst into the box and although he stumbled he kept his feet but the chance had gone while delayed claim for a spot kick, for a push in the back, was waved away.
The lively Lynass then leathered a powerful shot from outside the box which was pushed round the post Johnstone. Although this sparked a sustained spell of pressure for the hosts the Girvan defence stood firm. At the other end McDowall cut in from the left to curl a shot just wide of the post.
The Glens dominated the dying embers of the game. Moore beat the offside trap to earn himself a free run into the box only to lose his footing on the bumpy surface as he closed in on goal. McAusland’s perseverance won the Glens a corner-kick which was headed out of the box to be met with Moore and his well struck first time daisy-cutter was well held by the keeper.
Cameron Marlow and Andrew Hunter
With two minutes to go McKernon forced his way into the box and shot from 12 yards crashed off he crossbar and Moore’s acrobatic attempt to bury the rebound was bravely blocked by former Glens defender Andrew Hunter before McKernon then tried again, but his shot slipped wide of the target.
On 90 minutes Girvan’s hopes of a consolation goal were dashed when McGarrity promptly plucked Mossie’s header from a corner kick out of the air. Glenafton however had the last say and McGarrity’s clearance upfield was pounced on by Lynass and after pushing forward whipped a peach of a ball across the goal for Moore to bullet home a header from 4 yards out.
Dale Moore completes the scoring
F/T Glens 4 Girvan 0
Glenafton Athletic: 1. Brian Mcarrity 2. Ally Park (14. Ryan McChesney) 3. Alan Cairns 4. Craig Menzies 5. Kyle McAusland 6. Cameron Marlow 7. Conor Lynass 8. Jamie McKernon 9. Chris Dallas 10. Joe Andrew (12. Mick McCann) 11. Darren McGill (15. Dale Moore) Subs not used: 16. Ryan Borris 17. Scott Watson (gk)
Girvan: 1. Scott Johnstone 2. Stephen Auld 3. Andrew Hunter 4. Darren Mitchell 5. Michael Mossie 6. Scott Dinwoodie 7. Craig Reid 8. Kieran Balfour (15. Stevie O’Donnell) 9. Michael Reilly 10. Marc Cameron (12. Paul Cameron) 11. Jack McDowall Subs not used: 14. Caldwell 16. David Cunningham 17. Higgins
Glenafton Athletic 