PDM Buildbase WOSFL | Match 15	09/10/2021 KO2:00pm	Loch Park, New Cumnock
Glenafton Athletic	3 (1)	Gilmour, McKee, Ryan
Cumbernauld United	0 (0)

Glenafton made one change to the side that started against Rossvale last Saturday with David Blyth making way for Ross Fisher.

Early action saw the visitors try a couple of shots from distance that had run out of steam before reaching keeper Brian McGarrity. At the other end a corner kick fell for Leon Murphy at the back post to cut back for Craig Pettigrew to fire a shot over the bar from 18 yards out.

On 8 minutes the Glens opened the scoring with a move beginning and ending with Mark Gilmour. The midfielder intercepted a header on the half-way line to the nod the ball forward for Murphy who quickly flicked it on for Sam McKee to gather and break down the left before whipping a low ball to the near post where the incoming Aaron Miller met it first time on the six-yard line only for keeper Michael McGee to pull off a point blank save. The loose ball drifted to the far side of the six-yard box where in a flash the incoming Gilmour got the jump on Stephen McDevitt to slam it into the net before McGee could reach it.

United fashioned another couple of chances. Top scorer Kieran Bouberki collected a long pass in the centre circle and body-swerved one Glens defender before progressing to the edge of the penalty box where he body-swerved another before curling a fierce shot that McGarrity clutched to his chest. Full back Lee Davidson, who would impress throughout, made a determined run down the left before weaving into the box only for the equally impressive Ollie Rowe to block his low shot.

Back came Glens through Gregor Fotheringham on the left to float a threatening ball high and deep into the box where as a pair each of defenders and attackers jockeyed for position McGee rushed from his line to rise above them all and push the ball to safety.

Play got scrappy for a time and was littered with free-kicks leading to a few yellow cards being brandished and disputed.

On 25 minutes a United corner-kick was safely plucked out the air by an unchallenged McGarrity and soon after another was cleared at the near post.  

At the other end Pettigrew gathered a short throw from Alan Cairns and rather than clip the ball into the box as expected the Glens captain skipped past two blue shirts before rifling a low shot from 18 yards that seemed net bound only to be deflected wide by Jordan Kennedy. Ross Fisher’s downward header from the corner kick was blocked in a packed six yad box.

Another Cumbernauld corner was swallowed up by McGarrity and his throw out set Gilmour off on a long run upfield before drilling a low shot from 30 yards that drifted wide of the target.

Three minutes from the break Aaron O’Hare burst down the left wing to clip a great ball into the box for David Cameron to leap and power a goal-bound header only for McGarrity to clutch under the bar. The quick-thinking keeper then lobbed the ball to McKee on the outskirts of the box to sprint down the left, leaving his marker in his wake, before cutting inside at the half way-line and wrong-footing McDevitt to drive through the middle before picking out Fotheringham at the edge of the box with a pin-point diagonal pass, only for the flag to go up as the midfielder clipped the ball over the keeper and into the net. A let off for ‘Nauld!

A dour half that had started so well drew to a close.

HT Glens 1 Cumbernauld 0

In stark contrast to the first half there was a glut of chances in the second half created from open play and the vast majority by the home side.

The first came just two minutes after the break when Fotheringham nicked the ball from the feet of McDevitt and slipped it to Murphy who run into the box to clip it past the outrushing keeper only for ball to hit the inside of post before being cleared by Davidson.

On 49 minutes the Glens doubled their lead with a deadly passage of flowing football. On the right wing and deep in his own half, Sean Bennie stripped Bouberki of the ball and picked out Gilmour who then played a slick one-two with Murphy to push forward over the half way-line. From there he drifted infield and laid the ball into the path of Sam McKee who switched on the after-burners to bomb past McCabe into the box and from a tight angle slotted the ball past the advancing McGee into the net.

Glens continued to press with shots from distance, first from Fotheringham and then Murphy after some great build up play. Bennie’s long throw into the busy box bounced high in the air and Rowe was first to react to beat the outrushing keeper to the ball only for his header to drop over the bar.

On 58 minutes Murphy cut inside from the right wing and clipped the ball into the box where in a flash Fisher bulleted a header from 6 yards out that the keeper pushed over the bar with both hands. It was the head of Fisher that met the resulting corner, powering the ball inches wide from close range.

Some respite from the visitors with a decent spell of pressure. Davidson advanced down the left to the touchline before whipping a cross into the heart of the box for Bouberki only for Pettigrew to intercept and head clear. Bouberki and McCabe then combined well down the right before the latter fired a dangerous low ball into the goalmouth which was smothered by McGarrity at his near post.

Back came Glens with Miller playing a one-two with Fotheringham before feeding Murphy on the outskirts of the box only for his curled shot to sail over the bar.

On 70 minutes Ross Fisher made way for Jordan Ryan.

Soon after Murphy intercepted a cross field pass from McDevitt and skipped past a couple of defenders on the way to the edge of the box before picking out Ryan, only for the striker to lose his footing and sky his shot over the bar.

The Glens made another change with David Blyth replacing Aaron Miller who had earlier picked up a rather harsh yellow card.

The menacing Murphy effortlessly strolled down the right before cutting inside to pick out Ryan in the box who rolled the ball back to Gilmour to drill a low shot from 22 yards that whizzed wide of the post. Glens broke down another fruitless United attack and Ryan from wide on the left found Murphy in the box who squared it to Blyth to blast a shot from 16 yards over the bar. Rowe won the ball in the centre circle and clipped the ball up-field for Blyth to pick out Murphy but his shot too, finished over the bar.

On 85 minutes the visitors enjoyed a good spell of pressure.  Davidson and substitute Jay Blair combined down the left to win a corner which skimmed off the head of McDevitt and the ball recovered on the right by Cameron to win another corner. This was headed clear only to be recovered again by Davidson to loft a ball deep into the box that was punched out by McGarrity and hooked up-field by McKee for Blyth to chase down with McCabe on his heels throughout his run into the box where his heels were clipped for a stonewall penalty. The unfortunate McCabe was shown a second yellow card and made the short walk to the dressing room. However, a glimmer of hope for the 10 men was restored when McGee saved Murphy’s spot kick and then blocked his attempt to bury the rebound.

At the end of the regulation 90 minutes Glens made their final substitution as Mark Gilmour with a goal and an assist made way for Darren Curtis.

Glens continued to press and McKee set up Blyth in the box only for his shot to drift wide of the far post. On 94 minutes Curtis gathered the all in the centre circle and laid the ball off to Blyth who slipped it to Murphy to cut inside an whip a wicked shot from 24 yards that McGee managed to push up into the air with both hands and as the ball seemed certain to drop into the net the keeper somehow managed to claw it away with one hand as Jordan Ryan closed in. However, the danger was not over as the Glens striker turned quickly and beat Blair to the ball, now at the corner of the six-yard box, another nifty turn gave Blair the slip and the room to lash a low angled shot beyond the hapless McGee and into the net.

The final whistle blew soon after.

Glens extended their unbeaten run to 7 games and have accrued 13 from a possible 15 points in their last 5 league games to climb to 11^th place in Premier Division.

FT Glens 3 Cumbernauld 0

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC

1. Brian McGarrity 2. Sean Bennie 4. Ollie Rowe 6. Craig Pettigrew 3. Alan Cairns 7. Aaron Miller (11. David Blyth) 5. Ross Fisher (16. Jordan Ryan) 8. Gregor Fotheringham 13. Mark Gilmour (15 Darren Curtis) 9. Leon Murphy 10. Scott McKee. Subs: 12. Calum Thomson 14. Ryan McChesney 17. Scott Sherrie 18. Scott Johnson (gk)

CUMBERNAULD UNITED

1. Michael McGee 2. Jack McMahon 3. Lee Davidson 4. Jack Harrison 5. Jordan Kennedy 6. Stephen. McDevitt 7. Paddy McCabe 8. Dale Fulton 9. Aaron O’Hare 10. Kieran Bouberki 11. David Cameron Subs: 12. Jay Blair 14. Danny Boyle 15. Craig Sideserf 16. Klark Thomson 17. Tom Neill 18. Chris Zok 21. L. Forbes

MATCH PHOTOS

Glenafton Athletic v Cumbernauld United