Saturday 06 Aug 2022 KO 2:00pm	Loch Park, New Cumnock
PDM Buildbase WOSFL Premier League	Match 02
Glenafton Athletic 1 (1)	Kerr
Arthurlie 0 (0)

Glenafton manager Ryan Stevenson and club secretary John Stewart were delighted to present Davy Barr with a gift to acknowledge his 43 years of service on the Glenafton Committee, as well as many years at the gate – missing all those early goals! Although Davy has now retired from the committee he remains a loyal Glens supporters.

Ryan and John also thanked Joan Hodge of local bar Munros for their continued support through pitchside advertising, sponsoring a player in our successful “Paying For The Jersey” scheme and sponsoring today’s match ball.

Remembering Adam Strachan

Prior to kick-off a minute’s silence was held in memory of former Glenafton player Adam Strachan who recently sadly passed away. The club’s tribute to Adam can be found here.

Glens made one change from the 11 that started the game at Largs with Cameron McKenzie replacing the unavailable James Martin to make his first start for the club, having come on as substitute at Barrfields.  On the bench was young local lad Dylan O’Kane signed from Ayr United.

Arthurlie returned to the Premier Division, having being relegated in 2017/18, as unbeaten Conference A Champions.  It was the visitors that enjoyed some early pressure, Tam McGaughey in particular looking lively, albeit without testing the Glens keeper Conor Cullen.

However, on 5 minutes it was the home side that took the lead after Jamie McKernon nicked the ball from the feet of Dale Simeon as he was about to square the ball to Andrew McLaughlin just inside the ‘Lie half. Jambo then broke upfield and shimmied past Lewis Magee before stroking a diagonal ball into the box for Hugh Kerr to gather and as Lance Pearce closed in, he drilled a low shot past the advancing keeper and into the corner of the net.

The Glens continued to press with McKernon and Paul Paton controlling the middle of the park. On 10 minutes Adam Caldwell and McKenzie combined on the right and an attempted cross into the box was deflected high into the air and Kerr was first to react to get between two defenders to trap the ball on the six-yard line only for keeper Garry Black to dive at his feet and eventually gain control of the ball with help from his defenders.

Arthurlie came back into the game as play began to flow back and forth. Cullen made light work of high balls played deep into the box plucking them cleanly out of the air while his counterpart Black elected to punch clear Kerr’s cross for the incoming McKenzie. Kerr then tried his luck from 25 yards out only for the ball to sail over the keeper and the bar.

The best of the rest of the chances came in the closing 10 minutes of the half. McGaughey from the middle of the park picked out Gary Carroll wide on the right of the box to clip a high ball to the far end of the box for the inrushing Aaron Healy only for Caldwell to intervene and head clear for a corner. Healy’s kick was headed high into the air by McKernon only for Jordan Leyden to meet it on the way back down and hook the ball goalward forcing  Cullen to scurry across his line to grab the ball at the back post.

At the other end McKenzie put Magee under pressure to concede a corner. Leon Murphy curled the kick into the six-yard box where Kerr got the jump on Magee to head the ball on a few yards where McKenzie and Pearce both fell to the ground as they challenged for the ball before Alan Dunsmore managed to kick it clear as far as Craig Pettigrew but his shot from 10 yards out was blocked by the timely outstretched leg of Conor Bradley sending the ball looping high over the bar. This corner was eventually cleared and the ball recovered by Glens who continued to press before the half-time whistle blew.

HT Glens 1 Arthurlie 0

Glenafton brought on David Blyth for Adam Caldwell at the break.

The hosts started the half strongly. Murphy released McKenzie down the left to break into the box and despite nutmegging the keeper he managed to get a hold on the loose ball. Soon after, Sam McKee broke into the right-hand side of the box and clipped the ball to the far side of the box for the incoming Blyth his attempt to stab the ball home was deflected wide by McLaughlin and had to settle for a corner. Blyth floated the kick towards the penalty spot where Michael McLaughlin leapt to bullet a powerful header that was headed clear by Dunsmore covering the near post. Glens quickly recovered the ball and McKernon and Paton combined to set up another attack which ended with Murphy laying the ball off to McMullin to lash a shot from the 18 yards line that flew over the fingertips of the leaping goalie and then the bar.

Some respite for ‘Lie after some build up play finished with Leyden cracking a shot from 20 yards that beat Cullen at full stretch only to crash off the post an although the loose ball fell kindly for Simeon, he mishit his shot sending the ball out for a throw in. Minutes later Simeon got on the end of a free kick to the back post only for his downward header to bounce up and safely into the hands of Cullen.

Back came Glens and Paton’s long pass down the left for Kerr to chase and forced the keeper to charge out his box but his attempted clearance ended with a ‘fresh-air’ shot allowing Kerr to recover the ball and pick out McKenzie on the six-yard line, with Black still back-tracking to his goal, only for Leyden to intercept and head the ball over the keeper and the bar. Blyth floated in another fine corner for Craig Pettigrew to rise above everyone and send his header looping over the bar.

On 64 minutes Arthurlie made a double substitution with Dunsmore and McGaughy making way for Lee Roulston and Miller

Midway through the half McKernon from the half-way line pinged a great ball down the left for Kerr to break deep into the box before he rolled the ball back to Blyth who curled a cracker from 10 yards round a defender only for Black pull off a magnificent save and push the ball wide of the post.

McMullin outjumped Leyden at the back-post to send Blyth’s corner dipping over the bar. McKee then broke down the right and his cut-back from the bye-line for Murphy was cut-out by Simeon sending the ball towards his goal but Leyden was well placed to launch it clear. Another McKee cross from the right ended with Kerr’s header sailing high over the bar.

Arthurlie responded with a fine move down the left that saw McLaughlin thread a ball upfield to Roulston who then played a one-two with Healy before skipping past a defender in the box to drill a low shot from a tight angle that found the gap between Cullen on his near post and McMullin only for the ball to drift inches wide of the back post.  The visitors continued to press but the Glens defence of Ollie Rowe, Pettigrew and McMullin stood firm preventing any further shots at goal.

Glens always looked dangerous on the break and another burst from box to box by McKee down the left won a corner that was eventually cleared.

Back came ‘Lie through Healy down the left to whip a ball to the back post where Murphy’s attempted clearance fell was gathered on the line by Cullen and the referee waving away loud calls of ‘pass-back’. Less than a minute later the visitors earned a free kick on the outskirts of the box after Rowe was adjudged to have fouled Carroll. Up stepped Leyden to curl a cute ball from 22 yards over the wall and beyond the outstretched hand of Cullen only for the ball to bounce on the top of the cross bar and out for a goal-kick.

On 77 minutes Cameron McKenzie left to well-earned applause after a great shift and was replaced with Dylan O’Kane. Arthurlie also made a change with Conor Bradley making way for Kyle Elrick.

Roulston cut into the box from left before laying the ball off to Healy to shoot from close range but Cullen made a point blank save and McMullin quickly launched the loose ball out for a throw. Cullen then cleanly clutched a high ball to back post out the air with McMullin in an attendance as back up. The visitors continued to push for an equaliser and won a free-kick on the goal-line 5 yards from the corner flag but again the home guard were not to be bettered. 

On 84 minutes the Glens broke down another Lie attack allowing McKee to pick up the ball on the outskirts and set off on his trade-mark lightning run down the right only for the chasing Leyden to grab a handful of his shirt to halt his free run into the Lie half. The two confronted each other and Leyden was shown yellow, presumably for the original foul but not a second yellow for kicking out; while McKee was also shown yellow. ‘Lie lucky not to be down to 10.

Murphy broke down the left before chipping the ball upfield for Kerr but with two defenders on his back he did well to win a corner which was floated into a busy six-yard box only for the ball to pop out from the pack and safely into the keeper’s hands.  O’Kane then chased down Paton’s header deep into the ‘Lie half but with Magee on his back the keeper was able rush from his line to collect the ball as it entered the box.

At the other end Cullen was able to clutch an overhit high ball unchallenged. A few minutes later he performed the same feat albeit on this occasion there were 5 ‘Lie players in the six-yard box.

Murphy then fed Kerr down the left again and the tireless striker held the ball at the corner flag as the referee blew for time.

FT Glens 1 Arthurlie 0

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC
1. Conor Cullen 2. Adam Caldwell (16. David Blyth) 3. Michael McMullin 4. Craig Pettigrew 5. Ollie Rowe 6. Jamie McKernon 7. Sam McKee 8. Paul Paton 9. Hugh Kerr 10. Cameron McKenzie (14. Dylan O’Kane) 11. Leon Murphy Subs: 15. Ryan Nisbet 17. Jordan Ross

ARTHURLIE
1. Garry Black 2. Alan Dunsmore (14. Lee Roulston) 3. Conor Bradley (Kyle Elrick) 4. Lance Pearce 5. Lewis Magee 6. Andrew McLaughlin 7. Tam McGaughey (15. Miller) 8. Jordan Leyden 9. Gary Carroll 10. Dale Simeon 11. Aaron Healy Subs: Scott (gk), McLachlan, Ross

More Match Photos

Glenafton Athletic v Arthurlie