| Saturday 12 Nov 2022 KO 1:30pm | Loch Park, New Cumnock |
|---|---|
| West of Scotland Football League Cup | 1st Round |
| Glenvale 1 (1) | Christie |
| Glenafton Athletic 2 (1) | O’Kane, Paton |
Manager Ryan Stevenson and club secretary John Stewart posed with Glens’ supporter Derek Beagrie to thank him for sponsoring today’s match ball.
Glenafton welcomed Glenvale F.C. to Loch Park in the first meeting between the two clubs for this 1st round tie of the West of Scotland Football League Cup. The Paisley side, who play in the 4th Division of the WOSFL, were drawn at home and requested the game be switched to New Cumnock.
Glenafton made four changes to the starting eleven that faced Hurlford on Wednesday evening. In came new signing, defender Dean Currie, Adam Caldwell, Ollie Rowe and Dylan O’Kane replacing Craig Pettigrew (injured), Sam McKee (suspended), Ryan Stevenson and Leon Murphy. Also, on the Glens’ bench was 16-year-old attacking midfielder Callum McFadyen, the first player to sign a dual contract with the First team and the U17’s squad, within our new youth academy pathway.
Prior to kick-off a minute’s silence was observed to mark Remembrance Day.
Glenafton created an early chance through Adam Caldwell and Dylan O’Kane combining deep on the right touchline before the latter turned inside and a fired a shot from the corner of the penalty box that keeper Daniel Moncrieff clutched safely on his goal-line.
On 6 minutes, from the same area of the pitch, Caldwell took a short throw to O’Kane who quickly returned the ball for Caldwell to roll it back to McKernon. From here he picked out O’Kane on the edge of the box and then continued his run forward expecting to complete a one-two, only for O’Kane to hold off the challenge from Ben McDowall and cut inside along the 18-yard line before sweeping a shot into the far corner of the net beyond the reach of Moncrieff.
Glenvale’s heads didn’t go down after the early set-back and on 10 minutes Darren Taylor fashioned a shot from 22 yards that was blocked in the box by Dean Currie accompanied with appeals for hand-ball that were turned away.
Glenafton continued to enjoy the bulk of possession but much of the slick passing took place in their own half as creating a decent opening against a disciplined defence was proving difficult.
On 20 minutes Michael McMullin broke down the left only for his cross into the box to be deflected wide for a corner which was floated to the back post where Taylor was in place to head it clear out the box from where Paul Paton pounced and drilled a low shot from 24 yards through a ruck of players and safely into the arms of the keeper.
Vale won a shy on the left which appeared nothing of any note until Stewart Perry launched an almighty long throw high into the six-yard box and although Paton won the aerial battle against McDowall, notice had been served.
The ‘home side’ enjoyed another good spell of possession without creating any decent chances still facing a stubborn defensive line.
On 25 minutes Luke Christie curled a free kick from wide on the right to the far post forcing Caldwell to hook it clear for a throw on the left. As Perry lined up the throw no fewer than 3 of his teammates congregated at the near post and on cue, he catapulted the ball high in the air to descend on the threesome and their marking defenders forcing Markey to leap and palm it over the bar. Christie’s corner into the goalmouth was won by the unmarked McDowall but his header was more of the cushioned variety lacking any power and the loose ball was snapped up by Markey.
Back came Glens but there were no takers for Caldwell’s cut back across the face of goal and soon after O’Kane ‘s effort from outside the box flew high and wide of target.
Vale responded with a break down the left where they won a throw-in some25 yards from the bye-line. Perry’s shy found his target McDowall on the outskirts on the 6-yard box, with Ollie Rowe tight on his back, and as he stooped to head the ball it struck the Glens defender on the forearm and the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Luke Christie to send Markey the wrong way and level the tie on 33 minutes.
Glens countered and McKenzie held of a posse of Vale players to fashion a shot from 24 yards that sailed over the bar. Soon after he chipped a neat ball into the box for McKernon to chase down but Kieran Love blocked his path allowing the keeper time to rush from his line to grab the ball. McKenzie then held off Taylor before threading a ball into the box for Kerr to chase down only for the alert and brave Moncrieff to dive at his feet and clutch the ball at the expense of an accidental knock, from which he quickly recovered.
As the half drew to a close Perry had a couple of long throws, one from the right and the other from the left, both of which were headed clear by Currie and Paton in turn.
At the other end Paton lofted a free-kick into the six-yard box where Moncrieff leapt high to pluck the ball out the air as Kerr and Rowe threatened.
In the last action of the half Reece Robertson won the ball in the centre circle and then pushed up the left wing before trying to pick out Kamil Leszczynski at the edge of box only for Aldin El-Zubaidi to intercept and roll the ball back for Markey to clear.
HT Glenvale 1 Glenafton 1
Glenafton brought on Sean McKenzie for Hugh Kerr and he was soon in the thick of the action threading a ball from centre circle upfield to the left-hand side of the box for his brother Cameron to chase down and from the bye-line clipped the ball into the goalmouth for the incoming O’Kane only for Moncrieff to intervene and push the ball over the bar.
McKernon’s corner-kick was headed clear from the packed box by Lewis Brown and here again Paul Paton pounced to side foot a low shot from 20 yards that took a deflection of the foot of Perry on the penalty spot sending the ball into net on the keeper’s right, who was already committed to dive to his left. Glens 2-1 up on 47 minutes.
Once again Glenvale showed their mettle and quickly won a corner-kick which fell for Leszczynski in space at the back post only for his low shot to be blocked by the legs of Markey before Leszczynski retrieved the loose ball and his attempted cut-back into the six-yard box to be deflected wide for a corner-kick, which was headed cleared by Rowe.
Glens countered through a great run down the right by Caldwell who played one-two’s with Sean McKenzie and then O’Kane on his way to the outskirts of the box where he picked out Cameron McKenzie who then rolled the ball on to Rowe to lash a dipping shot from 15 yards which although it beat the leaping Moncrieff the ball bounced off the top the bar and out for a goal kick.
Play then raged back and forth with both sides winning corner-kicks, all of which were headed clear by the opposition other than a Glens kick that ended with Currie’s header dipping over the bar; while another Perry throw-in created a scramble in Glens’ box which ended with Markey smothering the ball.
Michael McMullin picked up a groin injury and Caldwell moved to left back while substitute James Martin filled the vacant position on the right. Vale also made a change with Brodie Gillanders making way for Nicky Donnelly. A couple of corner kicks, one-a-piece, came and went before Glens brought on Ryan Nisbet for Dylan O’Kane midway through the half.
Soon after Glenvale passed up a great chance to level the match again. McDowall nicked the ball from Nisbet at the corner flag and slipped the ball forward to Donnely who in turn released Leszczynski to break down the left who then whipped a wonderful ball to the back post for the incoming Robertson but under pressure from Caldwell his attempt to guide the ball home drifted wide of target.
The closing fifteen minutes felt almost like a game of two-halves with Glenafton dominating the ‘first-half’ during which time they won four corner-kicks. Although one of these came after Moncrieff pulled off a great save from a wicked ball whipped in from wide on the right by Nisbet neither of the four corners forced a save from the goalie. However, one corner had Sean McKenzie appealing for a penalty when McDowall appeared to have Cameron McKenzie in a stranglehold but play continued and Martin’s snap shot in a crowded box sailed over the bar. During this period Glenvale made three changes with Jack Doak, Jamie Sidebotham and Sean McMonagle in turn coming on for Darren Taylor and Lewis Brown and Kamil Leszczynski
The tables then turned and Glenvale won four corner-kicks in quick succession, The first coming from Markey tipping a great free kick over the bar, floated into the box by Christie and the keeper repeated that feat with Christie’s first two corner kicks.
Then, from open play Paton clipped a ball down the right for Nisbet to drive to the bye line and whip the ball high beyond the reach of Moncrieff at the near post only for Rowe’s header to sail over the bar. At the other end McDowall’s header in the box from Christie’s free-kick suffered the same fate. In the last action of the match Glenvale equalled Glenafton’s corner-kick tally of ten but came short of taking the tie to a penalty shoot-out as Markey clutched the ball to his chest.
FT Glenvale 1 Glenafton 2
| GLENAFTON ATHLETIC |
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| 1. David Markey 20. Dean Currie 33. Aldin El-Zubaidi 3. Michael McMullin (17. James Martin )2. Adam Caldwell 6. Jamie McKernon (captain) 5. Ollie Rowe 8. Paul Paton 18. Dylan O’Kane (15. Ryan Nisbet) 9. Hugh Kerr (16. Sean McKenzie) 19. Cameron McKenzie Subs: 10. Callum McFadyen |
| GLENVALE |
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| 1. Daniel Moncrieff 2. Luke Christie 19. Lewis Brown (5. Jack Doak) 8. Brodie Gillanders (14. Nicky Donnelly) 10. Kamil Leszczynski (9. Sean McMonagle) 16. Kieran Love 6. Ben McDowall 11. Darren Taylor (13. Jamie Sidebotham) 18. Stewart Perry 13. Craig Reilly 12. Reece Robertson Subs: 3. A. Riley 20. K. Clark |
| More Match Photos |
| Glenvale v Glenafton Athletic |
Glenafton Athletic 