PDM HUWS GRAY	WOSFL Premier Division	Match 12
Glenafton Athletic	2 (0)	Moffat, McBeth
Clydebank	3 (1)	Graham, Mulcahy 2
Sat 28 Oct 2023	KO 2:00pm	Loch Park, New Cumnock

Glenafton kicked off with the eleven that started against Largs Thistle last week. Clydebank, sitting top of the league are managed by former Glens player Gordon Moffat while another former player, Lee Gallacher was on the bench.

Although Glens kicked off on a dull and breezy day it was Bankies that blasted out the blocks with Callum Graham driving deep into Glens’ box forcing keeper David Markey to dive at his feet. Soon after the two met again as Graham broke into the left-hand side of box only for outrushing Markey to get a touch off the ball and deflect it wide for a corner. McGonigle floated the ball to near post where it was headed over the bar by Paul Paton and his follow up corner was headed on at the near post by

On 5 minutes the visitors took the lead. Adam Hodge from deep in the right launched a long throw to the centre circle where the ball was knocked on to James Grant to break into the left-hand side of the box. As Sam McKee and Ollie Rowe closed him down, Grant chipped a great ball to the edge of the six-yard box where the inrushing Callum Graham leapt and with a raised outstretched leg he guided it beyond the advancing Markey into the net – a classy finish.

Glens countered as McBeth clipped a ball down the right for McKee and although Graham intercepted, he could not prevent the ball going out for a corner. McWaters floated the kick to the edge of six-yard box where it was headed clear by Ciaran Mulcahy only to be gathered by McKee to pick out Rowe to clip it into the goalmouth where keeper Jamie Donnelly clutched it cleanly.

Back came Bankies pushing forward in numbers but the Glens defence stood firm and started to enjoy good spells of possession.

Paton floated a free-kick from the left high into a packed box and although Niven headed it back out Paton lobbed the ball to the far corner of the six-yard box where Graham’s weak header was trapped by Liam Caddis who then side-stepped Matt Niven to set up a shot from 5 yards that was blocked by keeper Donnelly on his line.

Played ebbed back and forth through a packed midfield and although chances were thin on the ground the home side were enjoying much of their possession in the visitors’ half.

On 23 minutes Frazer Johnstone nicked the ball from Caddis just inside the Glens half and as he we went to gather it team-mate Grant intercepted only to lose control of the ball. The inrushing Lyall Holding was now favourite to win the loose ball as Grant backed out of the tackle and the Glens full back slid in to win the ball cleanly and as the Bankies man tried to block the clearance he got caught with the follow through, tumbling to the ground. Within seconds the Clydebank team were surrounding the referee baying for a red card but credit to the official he kept his head before making a decision and Holding was shown a yellow card. 

Grant quickly recovered and a minute later he cracked a shot from 22 yards that flew wide of the far post.

Glens countered through McKee’s swift break down the right leaving Oisin Hughes chasing his shadow (if there had been any sunshine!) as he drove to the by-line to cut the ball back across the width of the box to be met by Michael McMullin bursting into the left side only for his shot to be blocked by Larry McMahon.

On the half hour mark McKee got the better of Hughes again to clip a ball in from the right across the six-yard line for Gary Fraser only for the midfielder to lose his footing as Niven’s header bounced off the back of Liam McGonigle’s head, sending the ball high into the air. Fraser, still flat on his back tried to line up an overhead kick as the ball descended while keeper Donnelly rushed from his line stumbling over the grounded Glens man’s head while the loose ball was cleared. Fraser’s appeal for a penalty came to nothing.

The home side continued to press with lots of possession but without testing Donnelly while the visitors countered with some fine build-up play that was switched from right to wide on the left setting up McGonigle to clip a high ball to the back post for Thomas Collins only for Markey to leap and pluck the ball from under his bar.

In the closing action of the half the Bankies won a free kick a few yards wide of the right-hand corner of the box. McGonigle floated it high into a crowded six -yard box where Craig Pettigrew won the aerial battle against Niven, to head the ball clear of danger … and of time, as the half-time whistle blew.

HT Glens 0 Clydebank 1

Glens made two changes at the break with Gary Fraser & Alex McWaters making way for Michael Moffat and Scott McLean while Bankies brought on Craig Truesdale, recent signing from East Kilbride, to replace Callum Graham.

The home side were very much on the front foot in the early stages of the new half albeit without seriously testing Donnelly who was in no hurry to get the ball back into play.  

However, on 55 minutes the Glens pressure paid off. Moffat, from inside the Bankies half, slipped the ball forward to Caddis who cutely side-footed it to McKee on the overlap down the right wing to drive to the bye-line. From there the winger rolled the ball back to Paton to thread a diagonal ball between Truesdale and McMahon into the box where Moffat gathered the ball only to be tripped from the back by Frazer Johnstone. It was Michael Moffat that stepped up to send Donnelly the wrong way and tuck the penalty-kick into the corner of the net.

The Bankies quickly adopted a new sense of urgency resorting to their usual slick passing play and regained their leaded on 59 minutes. Adam Hodge pushed forward down the right before slipping the ball to Truesdale to jink past McMullin and from the touch-line curled a ball into the heart of the six-yard box, which eluded a line of defenders, leaving the incoming Ciaran Mulcahy free to stoop and head the ball home from 3 yards out. (too dark for my camera)

Although the visitors turned up the heat with the introduction of Lee Gallacher for McGonigle the Glens enjoyed a decent spell of possession in the Bankies’ half with Scott McLean now on the right flank and McKee on the left; albeit again without creating any clear-cut chances.

At the other end Gallacher from the right picked out Collins in the box but with Holding tight on his back he clipped the ball back to Mulcahy to flash a shot from 8 yards that whizzed inches wide of the post.

Play flowed back and forward as the light diminished and the breeze intensified and it was Bankies that created the best of the chances on show when Niven outleapt all others to send a glancing header wide of the post from a Gallacher corner.

On 70 minutes Glenafton brought on Dylan O’Kane for Sam McKee.

Another good spell for the home side beginning with McLean’s free-kick that crashed off the Bankies wall on the 18-yard line and out for a corner on the right which McLean floated towards the penalty spot where McBeth, with his back to goal, turned to flash a header that was deflected wide. McLean curled the corner from the left into the goalmouth where Donnelly leapt to push the ball high out of the six-yard box and Collins met the ball on its descent to hoof it clear of danger.

Truesdale and Gallacher combined down the right before the latter floated a ball to the back post for the inrushing Collins only for Markey to intervene and cleanly pluck it out the air.

At the other end McBeth was tripped on the outskirts of the ‘D’ and although McLean’s free-kick beat the wall Donnelly got down low to stop the ball and then fall on it as Rowe closed in.

Back came Bankies through Gallacher on the right who then cut along the bye-line to drive into the six-yard box, and with Rowe marking Muchaly at the near post, the winger tried to curl the ball into the net from a tight angle only for Markey to pull off a fine block and McMullin then blocked Collins attempt to bury the rebound.

Glens then pressed again and on 81 minutes drew level for the second time.  McLean, from just inside the Bankies half, floated a ball high into the box where Rowe managed to get in front of Niven as it dropped into the six-yard box his attempt to slide it home from 2 yards was blocked by Donnelly, only for Luke McBeth to get the jump on McMahon and guide the loose ball home from 3 yards beyond the reach of the grounded goalie. (too dark for my camera)

Déjà vu as the visitors struck back again to regain the lead a minute later. Truesdale weaved down the right and threaded a perfectly weighted ball to Hodge on the overlap to whip it across the face of goal for the incoming Ciaran Mulcahy. However, his attempt to side foot it home struck the grounded Holding and although Markey got an outstretched leg to the ball, he knocked it into the path of the Bankies’ striker to bag his brace from 2 yards out. Glens 2 Bankies 3 on 81 minutes. (too dark for my camera).

A minute later substitute Alan Kelly broke into the left-hand side of the Glens box before cracking an angled shot that Markey pushed wide of the back post. Gallacher curled a corner into a packed box and the ball eventually cleared as the visitors looked to kill off the game.

The Glens regained their composure and pushed to try and get level once again but to no avail while the visitors still sensed another goal. Gallacher falling backwards hooked a high ball upfield for Truesdale to chase, however on trying to control the ball as it descended, he raised his leg and caught Holding on the head with the full force of his knee, flooring the young defender.  Having been booked minutes beforehand Truesdale was shown a second yellow and ordered off a minute into added time.

Glens continued to look for a late-late equaliser and O’Kane’s header from 16 yards out sailed wide of the post.  The home side brought on Alan Frizzell for Lyall Holding and a minute later it was time for handshakes.

FT Glens 2 Clydebank 3

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC
1. David Markey 14. Lyall Holding 20. Ollie Rowe 5. Craig Pettigrew (captain) 3. Michael McMullin 10. Alex McWaters (9. Michael Moffat) 4. Luke McBeth 6. Paul Paton 8. Gary Fraser (2. Scott McLean) 7. Sam McKee (18. Dylan O’Kane) 12. Liam Caddis (16. Alan Frizzell). Subs Not Used: 11. Ryan Sinnamon 21. Blair Cousar (gk)

CLYDEBANK
1. Jamie Donnelly 2. Adam Hodge 24. James Grant 4. Matt Niven 15. Oisin McHugh 6. Frazer Johnstone 14. Thomas Collins (Creag Little) 17. Larry McMahon 9. Callum Graham (16. Craig Truesdale) 19. Ciaran Mulcahy 11. Liam McGonigle (7. Lee Gallacher.)  Other Subs Used: 21. Alan Kelly Not Used: Kieran Hughes (gk), Connor Greene, Danny MacKenzie

Match Photos

Glenafton Athletic v Clydebank