Sat 25th Aug 2018 KO 2:00pm
McBookie West Region Premiership | Match 5
Loch Park, New Cumnock
Glenafton Athletic 1 (0) Troon 2 (2)
Glenafton’s three game winning run in the league came to an end with a home defeat to Troon. Indeed the Seasiders could have been out of sight if their second spot kick of the half hadn’t thundered off the post to take a 3-0 lead into the break.
The visitors looked lively from the kick off. A sliced clearance by the Glens defence saw Darren McLean challenge Dan McKay for the loose ball just inside the box and referee instantly pointed the spot. McKay dusted himself down and slam home penalty kick to put Troon ahead on 5 minutes.
Troon celebrate at 1-0
Glenafton struggled to make any headway into the Troon box against a well marshalled defence and attempts at goal were restricted to shots from distance while the visitors looked less laboured in their attacks with target man Christian Nade, former Hearts striker, always available for a long ball to initiate another break upfield.
On 18 minutes former Glens player Tony Murphy played a low corner kick into the box where Dean Keenan’s dummy set up a shot for Scott Chatham that as blocked and the ball ended back with Murphy tight on the right to send a Hail Mary ball skyward to the back post where it dropped almost be design for Robert Love to side foot the ball home from a tight angle.
Robert Love makes it 2-0
Ten minutes later the Glens came within a whisker of halving the deficit. Syme fouled Dallas on the outskirts of the box and McLean curled a wonderful free-kick over the wall only for the ball to crash off the post with the keeper rooted to the spot.
Darren McLean’s free-kick crashes off the post
On 38 minutes Dallas gathered a throw-in from McLean on the right flank and picked out Andrew at the corner of the box who took a touch before engineering a superb shot from 20 yards forcing Johnstone into an equally superb save with a strong hand pushing the ball high over the bar.
Darren Johnstone pulls off a super save
A minute later a Troon break down the left ended with the ball being played deep into the box where Love’s cut back saw McCrea end up on the deck after Park’s challenge and the referee point to the spot again. Although McKay’s spot kick beat McGarrity’s finger tips by the width of a finger-nail the ball thundered off the inside of the post with such force that the rebound went out for a throw-in.
H/T Glens 0 Troon 2
The Glens were on the front foot for most of the second half with the visitors less of an attacking force. Breaking down a well-marshalled defence however proved a challenge.
Joe Andrew’s shot from just inside the box was save comfortably by Johnstone and soon after the keeper plucked Moore’s cross destined for Dallas at the back post cleanly out the air. Scott Chatham countered for the visitor with a mazy run but had ran out of steam by the time he mustered a shot at goal and McGarrity collected easily.
Glens continued to struggle to penetrate the Troon box with any potency and were restricted to shots from distance, On 58 minutes Ally Park sent one wide of the left post with Johnstone scurrying across the face of goal. Five minutes later Dallas lashed a shot from 22 yards that whizzed inches wide of the right post with the keeper beaten.
Chris Dallas and David Syme
With 15 minutes to go McCann broke into the box and claims for a spot-kick after a challenge from the impressive David Syme were waved away. Two minutes later the Glens halved the deficit through fine combination play between Alan Cairns and Findlay Frye. The former’s corner kick was well cleared and the latter gathered the ball 30 yards from goal before giving a defender the slip to return the ball to Cairns still on the right flank. The defender then squared the ball to meet Frye’s run into the box who killed the ball with his left foot before drilling a low shot through a busy box and beyond the reach of the keeper.
Findlay Frye halves the deficit
Glens pressed for the equaliser but the centre back pairing of Syme and Dean Keenan stood firm while Johnstone continued to show a safe pair of hands and punched the ball from the head of substitute Kit Cummins, Glens now playing with four strikers. Half-hearted claims for a penalty following Syme’s challenge on Park cut no mustard with the referee and to rub salt in the wound Johnstone then cleanly held Park’s looping header from the edge of the box. FT Glens 1 Troon 2
Glenafton Athletic: 1. Brian McGarrity 2. Darren McLean (12. Mick MCann) 3. Alan Cairns 4. Craig Menzies 5. Kyle McAusland 6. Findlay Frye 7. Dale Moore 8. Ally Park 9. Chris Dallas 10. Joe Andrew 11. Cameron Marlow (14. Kit Cummins). Subs 15. Ryan McChesney 16. Robert Neil 17. Craig Burns (gk)
Troon: 1. Darren Johnstone 19. Andy Strachan 3. Jack Sherrie 4. Dean Keenan 5.David Syme 6. Tony Murphy 7. Ross McRea 8. Scott Chatham 9. Christian Nade (15. Jamie Martin) 10. Dan McKay (12. Dean Fulton
Glenafton Athletic 