Clydebuilt Home Improvements	SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP	Round 3
Glenafton Athletic	1 (1)	McLean
Darvel	2 (1)	Syme, J. Moore
Sat 04 Nov 2023	KO 2:00 pm	Loch Park

Prior to kick-off there was a minute’s silence in memory of Ian McLatchie who passed away recently. Ian was great Glenafton supporter and served on their committee some years ago.

Glenafton made two changes to the eleven that started against Hurlford on Saturday with Charlie Maxwell and Paul Paton (suspended) making way for Gary Fraser and Liam Caddis. In the Darvel side was former Glens player Leon Murphy while in the dug-out was assistant manager and former Glens striker Davie Winter.

This was the third meeting of the sides this season with Glens winning 2-1 in the opening league encounter at Recreation Park while more recently Darvel ran out 3-0 winners in the ‘big’ Scottish Cup tie at Loch Park. It is also the third meeting of the clubs in the Scottish Junior Cup with Glens winning 4-2 away from home in the 5^th round in Season 1961/62 and then again 2-1 away from home, after a 1-1 draw at Loch Park in the 3^rd round in Season 1982/83.

Darvel kicked off and within 5 minutes Glens opened the scoring. Ollie Rowe from inside the Glens penalty box launched a long high ball up the middle for Liam Caddis who won the aerial battle against Stephen Bronsky. He was then initially pulled back by the defender before breaking free and then nudged off the ball at the edge of the ‘D’ before the referee awarded a free kick. Caddis took his place at the left hand side of the Darvel wall as Scott Mclean lined up the kick which he threaded through the space left by Caddis as he broke away and the ball flew into the net at the near post with keeper Andy Leishman rooted on the middle of the goal line.

Play raged back and forth and on 9 minutes the visitors won a corner on the left which Leon Murphy floated into the heart of the box where Luke McBeth headed it clear only for it be gathered on the outskirts of the box by Dean Cairns to play a neat one-two with Ross Caldwell before whipping a shot from 24 yards that dipped over the bar. Soon after Jordan Moore held off two defenders on the edge of the before squaring it to Reegan Aitken on the left to cut into the box and tee up a shot from 10 yards that was bravely blocked by a well-timed tackle from Lyall Holding.  

At the other end McLean on the left played a forward pass to Michael Moffat and with his back to goal he rolled the ball back to Gary Fraser to thump a shot from 30 yards that sailed over the bar.

Back came Darvel to win a free kick some 30 yards of goal and as David Syme took it quickly the referee demanded a re-take since he hadn’t blown his whistle. A flustered Syme slipped the re-take (again before a whistle had been blown) down the left to the lively Aitken, but with his way into the box blocked, he reversed and laid the ball back to Syme who had advanced 5 yards or so, took a touch then lashed a ferocious shot before slipping to the ground but still got a view of the ball exploding into the top right had corner of the goal giving keeper David Markey no chance. The Cup-tie now all square on 19 minutes.

Glens responded with some good build up play that concluded with Fraser slipping the ball to Alex McWaters tight on the right to whip a ball high to the back post and although Caddis got the jump on Bronsky again, Leihsman leapt highest to cleanly pluck the ball out the air.

At the other end Markey had to be alert to dive at the feet of Jordan Moore. Soon after the Glens box was packed expecting Cairns to float a free kick from tight on the left but instead, he rolled it down the left for Aitken to gather and eye up his options before cutting back to the 18 yard line and unleashing a shot that flew just over the bar, albeit Markey appeared to have it covered.

The home side then enjoyed a decent spell of possession and some half-chances. Moffat on the right clipped a ball to the back post beyond the reach of Leishman for the incoming McLean only for Ross Barbour to intervene and head it wide for a corner. McLean played it to the near post where Moffat’s glancing header crashed off the back of Caldwell before Craig Pettigrew pounced on the loose ball only for his shot from 10 yards to rebound of Syme’s shin and Bronsky engineer an acrobatic overhead clearance.

On the half hour mark Michael McMullin from wide on the left lobbed a ball to the near post for Moffat only for Bronsky to send a flashing header over his own bar. The corner was also fired to the near post where Leishman punched the ball clear from the leaping McBeth, adjudged to have fouled keeper in any case. Another corner followed soon after patient build up play, it fell for Caddis in the six-yard box only for his shot to deflect off Mark Sideserf’s shin.

Darvel countered with a quick break down the right by Jordan Moore to lay the ball back to Aitken as he burst into the box to drill a low shot that the advancing Markey deflected on his six-yard line, the resulting corner was overhit and the chance gone.

Played ebbed back and forth with moves and set pieces breaking down with both keepers safely clutching balls out the air. Matters intensified in the closing minutes of the half. McLean curled a free kick from the corner of box high into the six-yard box over the head of the leaping Syme head which was met on its descent by Caddis only for his bullet header to whizz over the bar.

On 45 minutes Darvel passed up a great chance to go in front at the break. Leishman launched a long ball up the left which was chased down by Murphy who then squared the perfect ball for the incoming Jordan Moore seemingly for a simple tap-in but the big striker lost his footing, tumbled to the ground and the chance was gone.

Glens won another corner on added time which Leishman comfortably collected as Pettigrew waited on any spillage.

HT Glens 1 Darvel 1

Glens kicked off and were first to threaten with Fraser breaking through the middle before releasing McWaters down the right to clip the ball into the box for Moffat only for his shot from 14 yards to be well blocked by Bronsky.  Soon after Moffat chased a ball down right and cut into the box drawing Leishman from his line before clipping a low ball past the keeper to Caddis in the six-yard box only for the tracking back Bronsky to intercept and knock the ball wide of target. The corner was rolled back-up the touchline to be floated into box where Pettigrew’s header from 10 yards was gathered by Leishman.

Darvel were seeing a lot ball, with Aitken in particular still busy in and around the box, without creating any clear cut chances until almost the hour mark when Caldwell from the left hand corner of the box curled a ball into the goalmouth for the incoming Syme but he guided his free header a foot wide of the post.

Glens made a change with Sam McKee coming on for Alex McWaters.

Caddis from the left touchline at the half-way life lobbed a ball up the wing for Moffat to chase and give Bronsky the slip before whipping the ball across the goalmouth, taking out 3 defenders, where the inrushing Fraser won the race for the ball and cut it back to McKee on the six yard line only for Sideserf to intercept and the chance was lost.

Midway through the half Darvel brought on Craig Moore for Nathan Aitken.

Just inside Darvel’s half Fraser picked up a pass from Moffat and rode a tackle from Caldwell before nutmegging Cairns and driving forward to slip the ball to Caddis to drill a low shot from the 18 yard line that Leishman got down to save comfortably.

Glens continued to press and won a throw in on the right a few yards from the corner flag only to lose possession. Caldwell snapped up the ball to drive forward and then from the Darvel edge of the centre circle slotted a ball through the middle seemingly for Craig Moore with Rowe closing him down, however the midfielder dummied the ball superbly and let it run on for Jordan Moore to gather and side-step Pettigrew at the ‘D’ before curling a shot beyond the diving Markey and into the net. Darvel lead 2-1 on 71 minutes.

The home side brought on Dylan O’Kane for Liam Caddis.

On 76 minutes Glens came close after McLean burst down the right leaving Sideserf in his wake before cutting into the box and when level with the six yard box clipped the ball back to Moffat on the penalty spot to dive and bullet a header that whizzed inches wide of the far post.

Darvel responded and won a free kick on the edge of a ‘D’ but the Glens wall stood firm to block Craig Moore’s shot.On 79 minutes the visitors brough on Nathan Baird for Mark Sideserf.

Another break down the right by McLean saw him flash a low ball across the face of goal just beyond the reach of O’Kane and the two defenders were glad to marshall the ball out for goal-kick.

On 84 minutes McLean from just inside the Darvel half floated a free-kick into the box which Moffat killed on his chest before volleying the ball past Leishman only to be flagged offside

Darvel countered without a number of breaks but without testing the keeper. On 90 minutes Darvel replaced Leon Murphy. Three minutes into added time and a final break from Darvel ended with Jordan Moore blasting the ball high over the bar.

FT Glens 1 Darvel 2

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC
1. David Markey 14. Lyall Holding 5. Craig Pettigrew (captain) 20. Ollie Rowe 3. Michael McMullin 10. Alex McWaters (7. Sam McKee) 8. Gary Fraser 4. Luke McBeth 2. Scott McLean 9. Michael Moffat 12. Liam Caddis (18. Dylan O’Kane).  Subs Not Used: 17. Charlie Maxwell 15. Zak Ross

DARVEL
1. Andy Leishman 2. Ross Barbour 4. David Syme 5. Stephen Bronsky 3. Danny O’Halloran 14. Mark Sideserf (Nathan Baird) 8. Dean Cairns 23. Ross Caldwell 10. Reegan Aitken (16. Craig Moore) 7. Leon Murphy (Mille) 9. Jordan Moore. Subs 21. Andrew Wilson, 15. Graham Wilson, Scott Paterson, Brown

Match Photos

Glenafton Athletic vs. Darvel