- McBookie West Region Super League Premier Division
- Match 13
- Hamilton Park, Girvan
- Saturday 24th March 2018
- GIRVAN 1 (1)
- P.Cameron
- GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 3 (0)
- Borris, Moore, Andrew
Glens made three changes with from the starting line-up against Kilwinning Rangers. Ian McKnight, Ryan Borris and Dale Moore came in for Alan Cairns (suspended), Conor Lynass and Darren McGill while centre back Ryan McChesney is still out through injury. With manager Craig McEwan on a family break assistant manager Craig Potter was at the helm.
Laurence Dinwoodie took over the hot seat at Girvan following the departure of manger Scott Clelland and his staff midweek and the home side look eager to get off to a flying start under their new boss.
With less than 2 minutes gone Paul Cameron within a whisker of guiding the ball home at the back post after a good cross from the right. Two minutes later Craig Reid whipped another wicked ball into the box for the leaping Darren Mitchell but his powerful header flew wide of target.
Glens carved out their first chance after Dale Moore picked up a pass from Mick McCann on the left before cutting infield and driving forward to hit a low drive from 25 yards that slipped wide of the post. On 10 minutes McCann won a corner that was headed clear only for the Glens to recover the ball and set up Ally Park to thunder a shot from the corner of the penalty box that found the side netting.
Ian McKnight and Michael Reilly
Girvan broke upfield and Michael Reilly gave the Glens defence the slip and with the only the keeper to beat the former Glens striker dragged his show wide of target. A minute later he nearly made amends only for his header from a corner kick to dip over the bar.
The game continued to flow from end to end at a good tempo with clear-cut chances thin on the ground before the Glens made the breakthrough on 24 minutes. Jamie McKernon’s free kick was floated deep into the box and although Michael Mossie won the header the ball fell kindly for Ally Park to blast a shot from 15 yards which took a nick off Chris Dallas on the six-yard line before falling for Ryan Borris to pick his spot from 5 yards out.
Ryan slots home the opener
The goal heralded a sustained period of pressure from the visitors with Kyle McAusland and Borris combining well down the right flank and McKernon bossing the midfield. Park had a shot from inside the box blocked while Borris’s effort flew wide of the post. On 28 minutes it was Park again then engineered space to get a shot at goal only for keeper Scott Johnstone to pull off a great save from 12 yards out.
Paul Cameron celebrates the equaliser
Girvan weathered the storm and McKnight kept Reilly at bay coming out on top of a couple aerial battles. The striker however had better luck on the ground after picking up a pass in the box from Jack McDowall. Initially he lost his footing but on recovering he collided with Craig Menzies before tumbling to the ground and the referee pointed to the spot before booking Park for his protests. Paul Cameron kept his cool to slam the ball beyond keeper Brian McGarrity and level the match on 40 minutes. Although the Seasiders pushed for a second it remained all square at the break.
HT Girvan 1 Glens 1
Glens forced an early corner-kick which was cleared. Girvan through Reid with a quick break down the right and cross into the box that was clutched by McGarrity.
Three minutes into the second and the visitors suffered a set back when captain Craig Menzies pulled up injured. He was replaced by Darren McGill who filled an unfamiliar full back role while McAusland moved to centre back to partner McKnight. The reshuffled defence was quickly tested by consecutive Girvan free kicks into the box and the danger cleared both times.
At the other end McKernon clipped a wonderful ball into the box for Chris Dallas but his downward header lacked power and the keeper saved comfortably. Marlow then did well in a crowded box to roll the ball out to McKernon and his low drive from 20 yards was deflected wide for a corner kick, which after a good old stramash was eventually cleared.
Back came Girvan but Reilly couldn’t get the better of McKnight in the box, the young centre half having a fine game, and McKernon was on hand to clear the ball upfield.
Dale Moore fires home to make it 2-1
On 62 minutes Glenafton regained the lead after Dale Moore chased down a ball into the box and held off the defender before unleashing an unstoppable shot from 12 yards past the keeper at full stretch.
Dale celebrates
Midway through the half and Glens brought on Conor Lynass for Ryan Borris and five minutes later Joe Andrew replaced Mick McCann.
Attacks down both flanks by Lynass on the right and then by McGill on the left were repelled. The clearance from the latter ended with Paul Cameron seeing red for an over the ball tackle on Moore. McKernon’s free kick was pushed wide for a corner-kick which was partially cleared but it wasn’t long before the ball was back in the Girvan box as the Glens pressed for a third goal.
On 75 minutes McGill made excellent progress down the left and threaded a great ball between two defenders to pick out Andrew in the box albeit with his back to goal and defender Adam Caldwell in close attention. In a flash Andrew turned the defender and lashed a low angled shot that was brilliantly by the feet of the keeper.
The 10 men of Girvan were still very much in the game and brought on striker Craig Harvey for defender Caldwell in an attempt to salvage a point.
In safe hands!
Play, although a bit scrappy, was now end-to-end with both sides rewarded with corner kicks for their endeavours. However, on 83 minutes it was a Scott Dinwoodie free kick from just outside the right-hand side of the penalty box that the home side almost claimed the equaliser but McDowall’s header brushed off the back of McAusland’s head and the ball bounced agonisingly inches wide of the post. McGarrity then clutched the corner-kick cleanly under his bar as Stevie O’Donnell challenged.
The next Girvan attack saw McKnight win another header at the back post and McAusland launching the loose ball upfield where it was gathered by Dallas on the right. The striker then rolled the ball back for McKernon to chip the ball over the Girvan defence freeing Marlow to beat the offside trap and run unimpeded to the bye-line before cutting the ball back for Joe Andrew to stroke it home from 3 yards out on 85 minutes. The striker also ended up in the back of the net after being caught badly by the Johnstone; earning the keeper a yellow card.
The closing 5 minutes were played at 10-a-side as Andrew continued to receive treatment and the game ended with handshakes.
FT Girvan 1 Glens 3
Glenafton Athletic: 1. Brian McGarrity 2. Kyle McAusland 3. Cameron Marlow 4. Craig Menzies (12. Darren McGill) 5. Ian McKnight 6. Jamie McKernon 7. Ryan Borris (Conor Lynass) 8. Ally Park 9. Chris Dallas 10. Mick McCann (Joe Andrew) 11. Dale Moore Subs 17. Scott Watson (gk)
Girvan: 1. Scott Johnstone 2. Adam Caldwell (16. Craig Harvey) 3. Marc Cameron 4. Michael Mossie 5. Stevie O’Donnell 6. Scott Dinwoodie 7. Craig Reid 8. Paul Cameron 9. Michael Reilly 10. Darren Mitchell 11. Jack McDowall subs 12. Stephen Auld 14. Mark Doolan 15. Kieran Balfour 17. Mark Higgins(gk)
Glenafton Athletic 