The Kilmarnock Pie WOSFL Cup 2nd Round	16/04/2022 KO 2:00 pm	Showpark, East Kilbride
East Kilbride Thistle	1 (0)	Skinner
Glenafton Athletic	6 (3)	Murphy 2, Rowe, Kemp 3

Glenafton made a number of changes to the eleven that started against Rutherglen Glencairn last Saturday with Calum Thomson, James Martin, Jamie McKernon and Hugh Kerr replacing Ross Fisher (injured), David Blyth, Mark Gilmour and Calvin Kemp. Also on the bench from Glenafton was goalkeeper Scott Johnston returning after being out injured.

In the East Kilbride dug-out was former Glenafton striker Aaron Connolly but unfortunately was out through injury.

East Kilbride kicked off and played the ball upfield which was quickly returned to their half where Sam McKee and Hugh Kerr combined to set up before the latter curled a ball into the box for the inrushing James Martin only for his header o whizz wide of the post.

The game got bogged down for spells as play was peppered with petty fouls along with loud shouts of ‘he’s aff ref’ as the lonely referee had no supporting assistants (linesmen).

However, the home side had some decent half chances in the opening 15 minutes. Andrew Skinner burst down the left and although his low cross into the goalmouth was blocked, he recovered the ball and floated it to the back post for the incoming Evan Duffy only for keeper David Markey to clutch it cleanly.

On 11 minutes a long clearance up the park by the Glens was smartly mopped up by the EK defence and the ball gathered by David McKean in the centre circle to play a long superb pass upfield to the right-hand-side of the penalty box for Duffy to instantly dispatch it to the heart of the goal mouth but just inches beyond the reach of the incoming Skinner. However, the home side, as they say recycled the ball brilliantly with a string of passes to set up Adam Edgar deep in the box, only for his shot from a tight angle to bulge the side-netting.

Glens began to get the upper hand in terms of possession and James Martin’s runs were keeping the EK defence on their toes. On 14 minutes he intercepted a clearance from the corner flag and from the right flank cut inside along the 18-yard line skipping past defenders at will before cracking a shot from the ‘D’ that flew wide of the post.  The visitors won a couple of corners that were well defended before Martin cut inside from the right again and on this occasion keeper Harry Purves comfortably held his shot from 20 yards.

Glenafton broke the deadlock on 30 minutes. Another Glens corner-kick was cleared with a long high ball upfield for Skinner to chase only for Alan Cairns to intercept with a header that was gathered at the left hand-side of the centre circle by Martin who twisted and turned to shake off a defender. The midfielder then switched the ball to Jamie McKernon on the right who took another defender out of play before slipping the ball into the box for Sam McKee to give yet another defender the slip before driving to the bye-line and cutting the ball back into a busy six-yard box where although the keeper got a hand to it, the ball fell for Leon Murphy to fire home from 5 yards out.

Glens continued to press and on 37 minutes doubled their lead. Calum Thomson launched a long ball down the right where Kerr won the aerial battle with Cole McIntrye before Sam McKee snapped up the loose ball and after giving McKean the slip he rolled a perfectly weighted pass to Leon Murphy, free on the 18 yard line, to break into the box and from 10 yards out clip the ball beyond the reach of the advancing keeper into the far corner of the goal. Despite protestations (either about Kerr’s challenge or a possible off-side?), the goal stood.

Three minutes later Markey launched a goal kick high upfield where Kerr trapped the ball on his thigh before cutting inside and unleashing a low shot from 30 yards that keeper Purves did well to get down low and push wide for a corner. Murphy floated the corner kick into heart of the six-yard box which by-passed attackers and defenders and fell for McKee at the back post where his shot was deflected by Ross McLellan sending it high in the air back toward Murphy wide on the right of the penalty box who side-stepped Alexander McDonald before clipping a glorious ball to the back post where Ollie Rowe outjumped Paul Smith to send a header past the keeper from 3 yards out. Glens 3-0 up on 41 minutes.

In the closing action of the half Stephen White earned a free kick on the bye-line five yards from the 18 yard box. The ‘short-corner’ however was over-hit and the chance gone leaving a shell-shocked Thistle to go in at the break having conceded three goals in an 11 minute spell.

HT East Kilbride 0 Glens 3

Glenafton made one change at the break with Calvin Kemp coming on for Sam McKee and he was soon off the mark extending the visitors lead on 48 minutes. McKernon released Murphy down the left who jinked past White before slipping the ball to Cairns in the box only for the back tracking White to nick the ball from his feet sending the Glens defender stumbling to the ground. However, Matthew Gray’s attempt to clear the ball saw Cairns, still on knees, nod the ball down into the path of Kerr who swivelled and whipped the ball between two defenders to pick out Kemp on the six yard line to turn and slam the ball home with the keeper stranded at the post and McLellan closing in.

The visitors made a change with Ollie Rowe making way for Aaron Miller.

On 50 minutes Thistle pulled one back after Skinner was impeded at the edge of the box. Smith curled a cracking free-kick over the wall only for the ball to smack off the bar and the alert Skinner to pounce and slot the ball past Markey and into the net.

Incredibly the Glens restored their four-goal cushion a minute later. Gray’s upfield clearance from the bye-line was cut-out by Cairns and played into the path of Kemp who turned before lashing an unstoppable shot from 22 yards. Glens 5-1 up in 51 minutes.

Glens continued to press with captain Craig Pettigrew initiating a number of the breaks, pinging long passes from the heart of the defence. On 54 minutes  Kemp threaded a great ball through for Kerr to chase down in the box only for Purves to rush from his line and deflect the striker’s shot from the penalty spot wide of the post. The corner-kick ignited a good old stramash in the six-yard box with Miller’s shot blocked by McLellan and Kemp’s attempt to bury the rebound battered off the post. The visitors recovered the ball and it eventually fell for McKernon on the left-hand side of the box to curl a shot that beat Purves but slipped past the far post.

On the hour mark Thistle brought on Dean Fitzpatrick for Alexander McDonald.

Soon after a great through ball from White saw Skinner chase it down in the box only for Markey to block his shot with an outstretched leg and then push away Adam Edgar’s attempt to bury the rebound before Thomson mopped up the loose ball.

Thistle made a further change with Kyle Kidd coming on for Evan Duffy.

Kerr had another lung-bursting run into the box chased by Gray and claims he had been pulled back wee away. Later he showed the defender a clean pair of heels as the broke forward to edge of the box before blasting a ball that dipped over the bar.

Play then flowed from end to end but with defences on top clear cut chances were thin on the ground with the best of those falling to the Glens.  On 82 minutes Murphy curled a corner to the far corner of the six yard box where Pettigrew towered above two defenders to bullet a seemingly net-bound header only for White to head it off the line with the keeper beaten. The loose ball fell for Bennie and his powerful shot smacked the brave White full on the chest and Kemp’s attempt was then held by the keeper.

Glens made their final change with Jamie McKernon, after a great shift, made way for Darren Curtis.

Kemp switched play from eft to right where Kerr held off White to fashion a low angled shot from 10 yards that Purves did well to block with his feet.

Thistle then enjoyed a spell of pressure in the closing minutes winning a corner-kick that was eventually scrambled cleared in a busy box. Soon after the tireless Skinner whipped the ball across the face of goal only for Bennie to block Edgar’s effort and Cairns to clear the ball from Kidd.

However, it was Glenafton that had the final say on 89 minutes. Martin from tight on the right clipped the ball into the box for incoming Kemp to meet it on the bounce and lob it over keeper’s head to complete his hat-trick and the scoring.

The final whistle soon after the Glens celebrations had concluded and the New Cumnock progressed to the 3rd round of the Killie Pie Cuo.

FT East Kilbride Th. 1 Glenafton 6

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC

1. David Markey 2. Calum Thomson 4.  Sean Bennie 5. Craig Pettigrew (c ) 3. Alan Cairns, 7. James Martin 6. Jamie McKernon (17. Darren Curtis) 8. Ollie Rowe (16. Aaron Miller) 11. Leon Murphy; 9. Hugh Kerr 10. Sam McKee (12. Calvin Kemp). Subs Not Used: 14. David Blyth 16. Mark Gilmour 21. Scott Johnson (gk)

EAST KILBRIDE THISTLE

1. Harry Purves 2. Stephen White 3. Ross McLellan 4. Matthew Gray 5. Cole McIntyre 6. David McKean 7. Evan Duffy (12. Kyle Kidd) 8. Alexander McDonald (15.Dean Fitzpatrick) 9. Andrew Skinner 10. Paul Smith 11. Adam Edgar Subs Not Used: 14. Jack McKenna)

East Kilbride Thistle v Glenafton Athletic

Match Photos