PDM HUWS GRAY	WOSFL Premier Division	Match 11
Benburb	1 (1)	MacDonald
Glenafton Athletic	1 (0)	McLean
Sat 11 Nov 2023	KO 2:00pm	New Tinto Park, Glasgow

Prior to kick-off a minute’s silence of remembrance was observed on this Armistice Day of the 11^th November.

Glenafton made two changes to the eleven that started against Darvel last Saturday with Gary Fraser and Michael Moffat making way for Paul Paton and Charlie Maxwell.

In the Benburb dug-out was assistant manager and Glenafton legend Ian Gray of the successful side of the 1990s including winning the Scottish Junior Cup and League Championship double in 1992/93.

Bens kicked off with the low sun creating long shadows that stretched across the width of the pitch while the game quickly settled into one which flowed back and forth the length of a pitch at a relentless pace.

There were few clear-cut chances on show until the home side took a short throw-in from deep on the left, only yards from the corner flag, which was headed down by Lewis Lovering and although he seemed to be boxed in by a couple of red shirts he retreated towards the corner flag before whipping a great ball from the bye-line into the busy goalmouth where Declan McDonald leapt to bullet a downward header that beat keeper David Markey on his goal-line and into the net.

Benburb continued to press chiefly through a long ball high into the box that were scrambled clear – including Markey rushing from his line to punch the ball away; Craig Pettigrew hooking a cross away and a clearing header from Ollie Rowe.

On 25 minutes Alex McWaters and Lyall Holding combined down the right, the former’s cross was blocked by a defender and the latter then curled a high ball into the box where Liam Caddis got the better Daryl Convery only for his header from 6 yards to be cleanly clutched by keeper Grant Hay.

Nevertheless, it heralded a period of play where the visitors were on top for a good spell. Luke McBeth was pulled down on the half-way line and it was McBeth that leapt to win Paul Paton’s free kick floated into the box which fell for the inrushing Charlie Maxwell only for his shot from 18 yards, under pressure from Lee Duncanson, to fly over the bar.  

Paton nicked the ball just inside the Bens’ half and it fell for McLean down the left from where he cut inside before lobbing the ball into the goalmouth for Caddis to meet on the drop but his acrobatic volley looped high over the bar.

Benburb countered on 33 minutes with a quick break down the right by Olly Smith where a neat one-two with Ally Taylor took him to the edge of the box and although Mick McMullin stripped the ball from him it was quickly retrieved by Taylor to slip a pass to Aaron Black but his hooked shot from inside the box slipped wide of the far post.

Back came Glens and McLean from wide on the left whipped a high ball deep into box where Ryan Livingston won the aerial battle to send the ball skyward while on its descent Caddis tried to guide a header home but keeper Hay gathered comfortably.

HT Bens 1 Glens 0

Glens made a change at the break with Sam McKee on for Mick McMullin.

The visitors were first to threaten and McWaters burst down the right to win a corner which was rolled back to Paton but his ball to the back post was overhit and floated wide. Soon after McLean gathered the ball at the corner of the Glens box and clipped a long ball up the left wing for McKee to chase down, leaving Convery in his wake, only for his cut back for Caddis to be intercepted by Jordan Bow at the expense of a corner. McLean floated the kick to the far side of the six-yard box and although Rowe won the aerial battle Taylor pounced to hook the ball clear as McKee closed in.

On 55 minutes the visitors made another change with Charlie Maxwell making way for Dylan O’Kane.

The Bens responded through Shaun Fraser whipping a ball from wide on the left to the far post for Smith to guide a header across the face of goal for McDonald only for his glancing header to drift wide of target and the ball eventually cleared.

Back came Glens and Paton released McWaters down the right to drive to the touchline before clipping the ball into the box where it was headed on by Caddis and then trapped by McKee who squeezed between two defenders before firing a low angled shot from the side of the six-yard box only for Hay to come of his line and deflect the ball over the bar and onto the roof of the net.

McLean rolled the corner-kick to McWaters to take a touch before unleashing a shot from 18 yards forcing Hay to pull off a great one-handed save to punch the ball wide. McLean clipped the corner low into the box where McKee lost his marker to fire a low angled shot that was blocked.

Paton switched play from the right to McKee on the left who cut inside, turning Smith one way and then the other, before picking out Paton in the middle of the park who slipped the ball to McWaters on the right to float a cross to the back post where it was cut out by Convery’s header only for McKee to meet the ball on the dropand fire a shot that deflected of Convery for another Glens corner. McLean’s kick from the left was partially cleared before Glens recovered the ball and returned to McLean and again his cross was cleared to the outskirts of the box for McWalters to lash a ferocious shot that was deflected high over the bar for another corner, which was eventually hooked clear.

On 63 minutes McDonald won the ball in the centre circle and slotted a diagonal pass into the right- hand side of the box for Black to chase down and then clip the ball square across the face of goal only for the ball to bobble off Pettigrew’s shins allowing Convery to nick in but lost his footing and his attempt to guide the ball home trickled into the hands of Markey, while the referee waved away Benburb’s claims for a penalty.  

Glens then mopped up another attack before countering with one of their own. Paton squared a ball from the centre circle to McLean and with a devastating burst pace he left Smith for dead before cracking a shot from 25 yards that bounced before the keeper who still managed to push the ball away with both hands only for it to fall from McWaters but his low angled shot was deflected wide for a corner.  After some head tennis in a packed box McKee killed the ball and cushioned a pass to the unmarked O’Kane on the outskirts of six yard only for his shot to be blocked and the keeper pounced on the loose ball.

Benburb launched a free kick from the half-way line high into the box which eventually fell for Shaw only to sky his shot from 12 yards high over the bar – a let off for Glens. The home side continued to press and Markey blocked Lovering’s shot from deep in the box at the expense of a corner which was headed high into the air for McBeth and fell for McDonald only to skew his shot wide under pressure from Paton.

Back came Glens through McLean on the left to release McKee down the wing and give Smith the slip to drive to the bye-line and cut the ball back across the face of goal, but no takers. McWaters then won another corner on the right which was headed clear to the outskirts of the box and it was McWaters that sent a shot whizzing just wide of the post.

On 76 minutes Glens pressure was rewarded with a cracking goal. Paton switched play from wide on the right on the half-way line to wide on the left where McKee chased down the ball before it went out for a shy. He then slowly cut inside to progress to the edge of the box and with Convery blocking his way while backing off, he clipped a perfectly weighted diagonal pass to the outskirts of the front of the box for Scott McLean to laser a sweet strike from 22 yards beyond the reach of the keeper.

Both sides went in search of a winner.  O’Kane’s shot from 25 yards was plucked out the air by keeper Hay. At the other end a long throw to the near post was clutched by Markey who then launched a long ball upfield for McKee to chase and chip into the box where Caddis’s glancing header landed at the feet of McWaters but his shot was deflected wide for yet another corner.  

The kick was cleared and the Bens broke upfield in numbers but the final ball into box was grabbed under the bar by Markey. The home side pressed again and Markey comfortably held a shot from distance and soon after Lovering’s aerial challenge in the six yard box concluded with both Holding and Pettigrew requiring treatment. Indeed on 87 minutes Glens made their final change with Gary Fraser coming on for Lyall Holding.

In the closing minutes the Glens came closing to claiming all three points on two occasions.

Paton from the centre-circle clipped the ball wide to McLean on the right touchline and in a flash a telepathic one-two with McKee saw McLean drive into the box and from 12 yards drill a low shot that beat the keeper at full stretch before striking the base of the post.

A minute later McLean was fouled on the outskirts of the box and it was McLean that curled the free kick high into the box where Rowe ghosted in at the back post and with an out stretched leg tried to guide the ball home only for it to strike the outside of the post and go out for a goal kick.

Ironically the last kick of the ball fell to the Bens with Markey punching away a corner at his near post.

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC
1. David Markey 14. Lyall Holding (8. Gary Fraser) 5. Craig Pettigrew (captain) 20. Ollie Rowe 3. Michael McMullin (7. Sam McKee) 10. Alex McWaters 17. Charlie Maxwell (18. Dylan O’Kane) 6. Paul Paton 4. Luke McBeth 2. Scott McLean 12. Liam Caddis Subs Not Used: 19. Gary Harkins

BENBURB
1. Grant Hay 2. Daryl Convery 3. Lee Duncanson 4. Jordan Bow 5. Ryan Livingston 6. Shaun Fraser 7. Olly Smith 8. Ally Taylor 9. Declan McDonald 10. Aaron Black 11. Lewis Lovering. 12. Ryan McCrone 14. Nathan Canning 15. Paul Doyle 16. Jayden McGivern 18. Correy Murray

Match Photos

Benburb v Glenafton Athletic