PDM Buildbase WOSFL | Match 29	26/03/2022 KO 2:00 pm	Loch Park, New Cumnock
Glenafton Athletic	1 (0)	Kerr
Cumnock Juniors	0 (0)

Everyone at Glenafton Atheltic was saddened to hear that former player Tam Burley had passed away recently and their thoughts are with Tam’s family and friends. The big popular full-back played in the Glens side of the early 1970s. Prior to kick-off supporters from both sides joined Glenafton and Cumnock in observing a minute’s silence.

Glenafton made three changes from the eleven that started against Rob Roy last Saturday. Local goalkeeper James Hart made his debut in goal replacing the suspended David Markey while James Martin and Ryan Nisbet made way for David Blyth and Sam McKee. Meanwhile in the Cumnock starting eleven were former Glenafton midfielders Finlay Frye and Darren McGill.

Both sides were in good form with the visitors winning their last 5 games in a row while the home side had won two and drawn one of their last three. In the season’s head-to-head Glens defeated Cumnock 4-1 in the corresponding league fixture at Townhead while Cumnock knocked the Glens out the Scottish Junior Cup in a penalty shoot-out at the same venue.

Glens were first to threaten through a Leon Murphy free-kick floated high into the box where Ollie Rowe got the better of Alan Murdoch in the aerial battle only for his header to drift wide of the post.

Craig Pettigrew’s headed clearance was snapped up by Hugh Kerr in the centre cricle and quickly picked out David Blyth on the right to break forward before whipping a dangerous ball across the face of goal for the incoming Sam McKee on this occasion Murdoch came out on top to intercept and clear at the expense of a corner kick, which was well defended.

Cumnock responded with a good run through the middle from Ryan Carnwarth before releasing Jordan Moore down the left where he was quickly robbed of the ball by Ross Fisher setting up a counter-attack with a long ball up the right for McKee, only for Steven Tart to block his passage into the box, knocking the ball out for a throw near the corner flag. Sean Bennie’ s shy to Kerr on the edge of the box was instantly returned and his attempt to clip the ball into the box cannoned off Tart sending it high into the air and was clutched safely on its descent by keeper Kieran Hughes at his near post.

Back came Cumnock again through Darren McGill, in the centre circle, gathering a pass from Finlay Frye before clipping a perfectly weighted ball down the left for Jordan Moore to chase down and send a low ball across the box but too far ahead of Frye to finish off a good move.

Blyth’s free kick into the box was headed well clear by Murdoch but Mark Gilmour was quick to react and 30 yards from goal controlled the ball with his chest. At the same time McGill sprinted from the box to close him down only to collide with the referee, sending both men crashing to the ground just as Gilmour cracked a great shot to the top corner that Hughes pushed away with both hands before picking up the loose ball. Thankfully both the referee and Darren were able to continue after a nasty looking accidental collision.

Indeed it was McGill that initiated Nock’s next attack switching play from the right with a high ball into the left hand side of the box for Andy McLaughlin only for Bennie to intercept with a well judged header. The loose ball was snapped up by Greg Ferry to launch a high ball to the far side of the box but just beyond the reach of Frye’s outstretched leg.

HT Glens 0 Cumnock 0

The home were first to show after the break through a long ball ball from Bennie for McKee to collect and cut inside only for his short pass to Kerr at the edge of the box to be blocked. McKee regained possession and slipped the ball to Blyth on the right to drive to the bye-line and cut inside before his low-angled shot was deflected wide for a corner.

A game of head tennis in the box followed as ‘Nock repeatedly cleared their lines with the ball eventually falling for Pettigrew on the edge box to blast a powerful volley that was powerfully headed back out by Murdoch. Gilmour pounced on the ball and headed it on to Blyth who was impeded on the ouskirts of the box and although his free-kick curled round the wall it was easily held by Hughes.

The visitors responded through Regan Ross, wide on the right, switching the ball to Ferry, wide on the left, to chest a perfectly weighted ball inoto the box for the inrushing Andy McLaughlin only for Bennie to track back and time his tackle to perfection.

Glens then earned a couple free kicks on the right touchline the first of which whizzed wide of the back post and the second cleanly clutched by Hughes.

On 72 minutes Glens won a shy on the right, level with the 18 yard line. Long throw specialist Bennie opted for a short throw to Blyth and set off down the wing to gather the return ball and fire it into box at waist level before it dipped for Hugh Kerr to meet it first time with his in-step to guide it gloriously into the far corner of the net.

A Cumnock attack broke down in the Glens box and Bennie lauched the ball downfield where McKee and Blyth combined to pick out Gilmour who held off a challenge before drilling a low shot from 22 yards inches just wide of the post.

At the other end McLaughlin’s shot from 25 yards skewed well wide of Hart’s post. The visitors came close to drawing level however Ferry’s close range header from a corner-kick dipped over the bar. Cumnock continued to press with a long ball upfield by McLaughlin that Moore trapped in the box before taking two Glens defenders out of play with a cute ball intended for Smart Osaldor, forcing Bennie to resist risking a tackle, meanwhile Hart rushed from his line to bravely dive at the Nock striker’s feet to claim the ball on the six yard line.

In the last action of the match Carlo Monti tried a speculative shot from 30 yards out that trundled well wide of target ensuring Hart a clean-sheet on his debut and three points for the Glens.

FT Glens 1 Cumnock 0

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC

1. James Hart 2. Sean Bennie 4. Craig Pettigrew 5. Ross Fisher 3. Alan Cairns; 6. Mark Gilmour 7. David Blyth 8. Ollie Rowe 11. Leon Murphy; 9. Hugh Kerr. 10.Sam McKee (12. Ryan Nisbet): Subs Not Used: 14. James Martin 15. Aaron Miller 16. Calum Thomson 17. Darren Curtis

CUMNOCK JUNIORS

1, Kieran Hughes 2. Regan Ross 3. Greg Ferry 4. Steven Tart 5. Alan Murdoch 6. Darren McGill 7. Finlay Frue 8. Ryan Carnwarth 9. Jordan Moore 10. Carlo Monti 11. Andy McLaughlin Subs: 12. Nathan Baird 14. Smart Osaldor 15. Alistair Miller 16. Adam Strain (gk)