INDIGO Comms	WOSFL Cup	Round 1
Dalry Thistle	2 (2)	Cowan, A. Catlow
Glenafton Athletic	7 (2)	Moffat 2, Fraser, McLean, McWaters, McBeth, Harkins
Sat 21OCT 2023	KO 2:00 pm	Loch Park, New Cumnock

Dalry kicked off on an overcast and chilly day but it was Glenafton that would turn up the heat during the early encounters. Scott McLean floated a corner kick into a packed six yard where Luke McBeth got the final touch sending the ball just wide of the post. At the other end a Thistle cross was clutched cleanly under the bar by keeper David Markey.

Back came Glens through McBeth who switched play to McLean tight on the left wing to launch a high ball into the six-yard box and although keeper Derrin Fairns leapt to get both hands on it, he fumbled the ball which fell for Alex McWaters who cracked a well-placed a shot that flew past the grounded keeper and two defenders on the goal-line only for a third defender to block it on the line before rebounding off the back post. The ball was now back in play and eventually recovered by Glens to win a corner kick that came to nothing.

Controversy on 15 minutes when McWaters gathered a through ball and burst forward with Jamie Gray in pursuit and as the Glens midfielder set up to shoot from the 18-yard line the Dalry player got an outstretched foot to the ball simultaneously sending McWaters to the ground. As Gray retrieved the ball and headed upfield the referee arrived to point to the penalty spot and book Gray. However, a trio of Dalry defenders pleaded that the referee talk to his assistant and after some discussion the decision was overturned; to be fair McWalters had no issue with the outcome.

Nevertheless, the home side continued to press and broke the deadlock on 21 minutes. Keeper Derrin Fairns strolled off his line with the ball and passed it to Cameron Fairns at the corner of the box, however he took a bad touch and the alert McLean burst forward to steal the ball and slip it to Michael Moffat to take a good touch on the 18 yard line before casually guiding a well struck shot into the far corner of the net, beyond the back-tracking goalie.

The visitors responded well beginning with a Jamie Gray leathered a shot from inside the box that swerved inches wide of the junction of the post and bar. Glens countered with Michael McMullin down the left slotting the ball into the six-yard for McWalters only for Fairns to bravely dive at his feet to secure the ball.

Another Glens attack was broken down and Thistle countered with a great run upfield by Fraser Cowan trough the middle at first then breaking up the left wing cutting inside along the bye-line skipping past players before tumbling as Craig Pettigrew and Ollie Rowe blocked his way, the referee not impressed all the hard work concluded with a yellow card. Soon after Markey leapt to pluck another Dalry cross from under the bar.

The home side then piled on the pressure with a wave of attacks. McBeth drove forward and rolled the ball into the box for Moffat to chase and drill a low angled shot that was blocked by Tony Etherson and the incoming McBeth pounced on the loose ball only for the keeper’s outstretched leg to block his shot before Paton then fired the rebound over the bar. Soon after Paton chipped a ball into the box were McLean with his back to goal killed it on his chest before swivelling to fire a volley from 12 yards that beat the keeper but whizzed wide of the post.

On 35 minutes the Glens pressure paid off. Rowe robbed the industrious Tinashie Mugwanda of the ball in the centre circle before releasing McMullin down the left to send it up the touchline to McLean only for his attempt to pick out Moffat in the goalmouth to be intercepted by Chris Love’s powerful header sending the ball upfield only to be blasted back by Gary Fraser from 35 yards and to whiz past the keeper before bulging the net.

Thoughts of a stress free half-time on the terracing soon evaporated as Dalry struck back in lethal fashion. Mugwanda broke into the left-hand side of the box only for Rowe to strip the ball from his again and the Paton clear it upfield where Cameron Fairns blasted the ball from 25 yards out and although it was always rising Markey had to tip it over the bar. The corner that followed was cleared at the near post by Fraser.

Back came the visitors and on 40 minutes Gray floated a free kick from inside the Glens half high into  right hand side of the box where Chris Love won the aerial battle sending the ball high into the air and on its descent Fairns sent a looping header into the six-yard box where Fraser Cowan got between Rowe and Markey to guide the ball into the net.

It was Thistle that were now doing the pressing and their efforts were rewarded on 45 minutes. From tight on the left-wing Gray played a forward diagonal pass inside to Gary Duggan who quickly picked out Cowan breaking down and from the edge of the box clipped the ball deep into the goalmouth over the heads of defenders at the near post and the unmarked Aidan Catlow was left free to head home from a few yards out.

There was still enough added time for both teams to muster an attack to try and break the deadlock before break but to no avail.

Dalry 2 Glens 2

No doubt words were said at the break about surrendering a two-goal lead in a five-minute spell and within two minutes of the start the Glens regained their lead. They won a free kick some 25 yards from goal outside the right-hand side of the box. McMullin, Fraser and McLean congregated around the ball and it was the latter Scott McLean that stabbed a super free-kick over the jumping wall and through the space between keeper’s finger tips and the underside of the bar. A glorious goal, Glens 3-2 on 47 minutes.

On 55 minutes McLean turned provided after Craig Pettigrew released him down the left with a peach of the pass and from here, he bided his time to accelerate past the covering defender to drive to the left hand side of the box and drill a low ball across the face of the goal where the inrushing Alex McWaters to smash it home at the back post.

Dalry made a double substitution with Cameron Fairns and the industrious Tinashie Mugwanda making way for Fraser McLaughlin and Aaron Miller.

The Glens continued to press in numbers. Paton was hauled down at the edge of the box and McLean’s free-kick dipped over the bar.  Soon after McLean picked out Moffat in the box who rolled the ball out to McMullin on the touchline to fire a wicked cross into the goalmouth that Frains did well to push over the bar. Mclean played the corner short to Moffat and then floated the return pass to the back post where Rowe rose to head the ball back into the busy goalmouth only for it to be hooked clear.

Just past the hour mark Thistle broke down another Glens attack when Aidan Catlow nicked the ball in the centre circle before driving forward to the edge of the box before slipping a through ball to Millar only for Pettigrew to intercept and initiate a rapid counter attack which saw Fraser gather the ball and push to the centre circle before squaring to McBeth to drive forward to the outskirts of the box and lay it off to McWaters bursting down the right wing from where he clipped a ball into the six yard box for Moffat to side foot goalward only for Fairns to pull off a great save and guide the ball round the post with an outstretched let. McLean rolled the corner-kick up the touchline for Paton to launch a high ball into the box only for McMullin’s header sail over the bar.

On 64 minutes Dalry made another double substitution with Aidan Downie and Jordan Lynch replacing David McNair and Gary Duggan.

Back came Glens. Paton picked out McWaters on the outskirts of the right-hand side of the box from where he worked his way across to the left hand-side, playing a one-two with Moffat then another with McLean who then burst into the box to gather the final return pass from McWaters before trying to curl the ball home from 8 yards only for Fairns to get down low and push it wide of the post. The corner was headed clear of the box and met by Fraser by his long range shot on this occasion flew high over the bar.

Dalry got into a fankle while trying to play the ball out from the back after McLaughlin’s pass bounced off McLean’s chest and the ball fell for Moffat on the outskirts of the box who in turned laid it off to Luke McBeth to curl a low powerful shot from 18 yards, that beat the keeper at full stretch. Glens 5-2 up on 68 minutes.

The home side then brought on Lyall Holding for Craig Pettigrew.

Five minutes later Fraser launched a long ball down the right for McWaters to chase and clip a high ball into the box for the incoming Moffat only for his header from 6 yards to flash inches wide of the back post.

Alex McWaters earned a richly deserved rest and was replaced with Gary Harkins.

Credit to Thistle they continued to battle and came close to pulling one back on 76 minutes. Millar whipped free kick from the right deep into the six yard box where it was by defenders and attackers before Downie stole in a the back post only for his header to crash off the underside of the bar and the loose ball gratefully grabbed by Markey who quickly initiated another counter-attack.

The keeper rolled the ball out to Zak Ross deep on the right who played a long one-two with Harkins before playing the ball over the top for Moffat to chase (clearly on side with two defenders behind the defender claiming offside) and break to the edge of the box and but with the two defenders in front of him he slipped the ball wide to McLean (also onside) to drill a low shot the Fairns saved well with his feet clearing the ball from the box.

Dalry defended a wave of Glens attacks before enjoying a spell of pressure in the closing minutes as they sought some consolation. Miller switched play from the left to Gray on the left who then cut inside to drive forward into the ‘D’ before thumping a shot that Markey pushed round the post at full stretch. Gray then fired the corner to the back post for the incoming Millar only for Markey to finger-tip the ball out for another corner which was headed clear at the near post by Fraser.

Back came Thistle. Millar nicked the ball in the centre circle and Aidan Catlow gathered to push forward to the edge of the box and although his pass to Cowan was intercepted the ball fell kindly for Downie to blast an angled shot from 15 yards that Markey pushed wide of target and then clutched the corner kick that followed from under the bar.

On 90 minutes McMullin won a corner on the left for the Glens which McLean floated to the near side of the six-yard box where Gary Harkins leapt to send a glancing header into the net at the back post for his first goal for the club.

Then into added time Paton from the centre circle fired the ball high into the box where Michael Moffat killed it on his chest before sweeping the ball home to complete the scoring, 7-2 to the Glens.

FT Dalry 2 Glens 7

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC
1. David Markey 15. Zak Ross 5. Craig Pettigrew (captain) (14. Lyall Holding) 20. Ollie Rowe 3. Michael McMullin 10. Alex McWaters (19. Gary Harkins) 8. Gary Fraser 4. Luke McBeth 6. Paul Paton 2. Scott McLean 9. Michael Moffat. Sub Not Used: Mark Roberts

DALRY THISTLE
Derrin Fairns, Tony Etherson, Chris Love, Cameron Fairns (Fraser McLaughlin), David McNair (Aidan Downie), Jamie Gray, Aidan Catlow, Jamie Catlow, Tinashie Mugwanda (Aaron Millar), Gary Duggan (Jordan Lynch). Subs. Andrew McIntyre, Logan Ellis, Chris Brogan

Match Photos

Glenafton Athletic v Dalry Thistle