Sat 29 Apr 2023 KO 2:00 pm	Loch Park, New Cumnock
PDM Buildbase WOSFL Premier League	Match 26
Glenafton Athletic 1 (0)	Kerr
Cumnock Juniors 0 (0)

Glenafton made two changes to the eleven that started against Petershill on Saturday with Ryan Nisbet and Leon Murphy making way for Hugh Kerr and Michael McMullin.

Captaining Cumnock Juniors was former Glenafton defender Kyle McAusland who played four seasons at the club including the 2016/17 treble-winning season. Also lining up for the ‘Nock was midfielder Findlay Frye who had two spells at the Glens including in the 2013/14 team that were runners-up in the Scottish Junior Cup.

Prior to kick-off a minute’s silence in memory of John Cathcart and James McAusland both of whom passed away recently. John played outside right for Glenafton in the mid-1950’s at Connel Park. James was a regular visitor to Loch Park, making many friends along the way and followed the team to watch his son Kyle enjoy great success with the Glens.

There was little between the two sides in the first half and chances from open play were thin on the ground. Scott McLean’s cross into the box was headed clear and fell for Dylan O’Kane only for his shot to sail over the bar. A similar fate befell Hugh Kerr’s header from a ball curled into the box by Michael McMullin.  A Cumnock corner-kick was cleared only for Findlay Frye to return it to the danger area where Andy McLaughlin tapped the ball home bit from an offside position.

The Glens started the second half brightly. Alex McWaters hooked a ball up the middle which was trapped by Kerr and then slipped to Michael Moffat who held up the ball allowing Kerr to advance to the heart of the box and although he just failed to connect with Moffat’s cross the incoming O’Kane dived low to send a header that crashed off the post then his attempt to bury the rebound held by keeper Jamie Barclay.

The home side continued to press with patient build up play. Moffat broke into the left-hand side of the box but his way to goal blocked rolled the ball back to the incoming McMullin who whipped the ball into the goalmouth only for Barclay to push it wide for a corner which was scrambled clear.

At the other end a Cumnock cornered was clutched cleanly by keeper Aiden Glavin. Soon after McLaughlin’s header looped over the bar.

Back came Glens and McMullin’s breaks down followed by dangerous balls into the box were keeping Cumnock on the back foot. The home side broke the deadlock on 59 minutes. Captain Craig Pettigrew gathered the ball in the centre-circle and slid to arrow a superb pass up the left for McLean to knock it further up the wing before giving chase to catch it at the goal-line and curl the ball deep into the box where Hugh Kerr, in space between two defenders,  leapt unchallenged to bullet a header into the net.

Another Glens corner was scrambled clear by the ‘Nock and soon after Sam McKee and Kerr combined to set up Moffat on the 18 yard line to curl a shot round the advancing McAusland only for the ball to inches wide of the post with the keeper rooted to the spot.

Cumnock enjoyed a late spell of pressure and Gavin pulled off a fine save from Jamie Wilson’s volley from outside of the box.

Glens brought on fresh legs on 82 minutes with Cameron McKenzie and Ryan Nisbet replacing Sam McKee and Hugh Kerr.

In the dying minutes Cumnock won back-to-back corners with keeper Barclay arriving in the Glens box to add to the numbers. The ball was floated deep into the six yard box and Graham Boyd’s header seemed to be net-bound only for McWaters off the line. Danger over? No! The ball rolled along the goal-line toward the corner-flag and driven back into the box, where the ball struck Moffat on the arm with his back to goal.

Up stepped Findlay Frye, who had recently scored two penalties (one after a re-take) against the Glens in the Scottish Junior Cup semi-final. However, on this occasion he ‘Kane-d’ it well over the bar in what was the final kick of the game. Credit to several Glens players who commiserated with the midfielder. The three points saw the Glens leapfrog Cumnock to 10^th place in the league and secure their place in the Premier Division next season.

FT Glens 1 Cumnock 0

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC
1. Aiden Glavin 20. Dean Currie 22. Ollie Rowe 4. Craig Pettigrew (captain) ; 7. Sam McKee (14. Ryan Nisbet) 3. Scott McLean 6. Alex McWaters 18. Dylan O’Kane 35. Michael McMullin; 9. Hugh Kerr (19. Cameron McKenzie) 15. Michael Moffat.  Subs Not Used: Callum McFadyen, Craig Burns (gk).

CUMNOCK JUNIORS
Jamie Barclay, Mark McLennan, Kyle McAusland (captain), Steven Tart, George Sewell; Jamie Dolan, Findlay Frye, Jamie Wilson, Andy McLaughlin; Graham Boyd, Cammy Ross. Subs: Adam Strain, Ryan Carnwath, Jamie Conn, B. Skilling, A. Stanborough, C. McClure, E. McBlain