PDM HUWS GRAY	WOSFL Premier Division	Match 27
Glenafton Athletic	2 (1)	Kerr, Caddis
Kirkintilloch Rob Roy	1 (0)	?
Sat 04 May 2024	KO 2:00 pm	Loch Park, New Cumnock

Glenafton made five changes to the eleven that started against Beith with David Markey, Lyall Holding (suspended), Michael McMullin (suspended), Sam McKee and Harvey Gilmour making way for Ally Semple, Ryan Sinnamon, Ollie Rowe, Cammy Ross and Dylan O’Kane.

Apologies no team lines for Kirkintilloch

A crucial game in the battle for Premier Division survival as 4^th bottom Glenafton (Pl. 26 / 27 pts.) faced 3^rd bottom Kirkintilloch Rob Roy (Pl. 27 / 24 pts.)

The Rabs kicked off on an overcast day brightened up by a small band of the Glens Young Ultras.

The first chance fell to the home side after Dylan O’Kane was fouled just inside the Rabs half and wide on the left. Paul Paton floated the ball high into the box where Liam Caddis got the jump on centre-back Kevin Green only for his looping header to drop over the bar.

Soon after No. 6 brought down Caddis in the middle of the park about 25 yards from goal from where Gary Fraser fired a free-kick that bounced just inside the six-yard box before the keeper stooped to catch is safely.

On 17 minutes the visitors won a corner-kick on the right that was floated to the back post where No. 5 and Craig Pettigrew both got their heads on the ball and as it fell to the ground the Rabs man quickly reacted to fire a low volley from inside the six-yard box that keeper Ally Semple made a brave block full on his chest before the loose ball was cleared.  

Back came Glens. Hugh Kerr leapt to intercept a Rab’s clearance and then picked out Caddis who quickly returned it to Kerr and after skipping past two defenders he fired a shot from 25 yards that drifted high and wide of target.

Rabs replied through No. 3 driving down the left and whipping a cross deep into the box where Cammy Crooks sent a clearing header to the outskirts of the box which was recovered by the Rabs and after a slick one-two between No. 10 and No. 2, the former broke down the right only to be brought down by Crooks and the free-kick played into the six-yard box was scrambled clear by the home defence.

Midway through the half Ryan Sinnamon pushed up the right and drilled a low ball up the touchline for the lively Cammy Ross to give No. 6 the slip before rolling the back to Sinnamon to quickly curl a high ball to the edge of the six-yard box where although both centre-backs were marking Kerr and Caddis, it was the latter that leapt highest to bullet a header that the keeper safely palmed off his line.

Play then raged back and forth and with defences on top at either end there were few chances on show before the Glens broke the deadlock on 40 minutes.

Kerr won a corner on the left and made his way into the box as O’Kane lined up the kick. Although the six-yard box was packed to the gunnells Kerr had drifted out at the far-end unnoticed and unmarked. Seizing the moment O’Kane drilled a low ball towards the penalty spot to match Kerr’s run where although No. 6 rushed out to close him down, the striker sweetly smacked the ball first time through a ruck of players and the narrow space between the keeper diving at full stretch and the captain on the post. The celebrations were rightly joyous on and off the park, the Young Ultras doing their bit too!

Soon after the Glens won a corner on the right, on this occasion the plan went awry and Rabs cleared the danger. Time however for another corner before the break and back to the left-hand side. The bodies of each team were spread between the six yard box and the penalty area as O’Kane floated it perfectly between the two where Kerr bravely stooped to get a downward header away, as Green attempted to boot the ball clear, only for the ball to bounce inches wide of the post.

HT Glens 1 Rob Roy 0

The home side kicked off but quickly lost possession and No. 3 tried his luck from edge of the centre-circle in the Glens half launching a shot upfield only for the alert Semple to stand his ground and clutch the ball out the air.

Glens reciprocated and O’Kane’s shot from the edge of the box saw the keeper dive at full stretch to push the ball out to the side of the box and set up a counter-attack down the right that won the Rabs a corner. The ball was clipped towards the densely populated back-post where Semple did well to catch and hold the ball, under pressure from Green at his back.

Back at the other end Kerr was barged in the back as he approached the ‘D’ from where Fraser blasted a shot past the Rabs wall only for the keeper, 2 yards off his line, to leap and finger-tip the ball over the bar. O’Kane’s corner floated to the edge of the six-yard box where the determined Caddis won the aerial battle only his header ball to drift wide of the back post.

Played then flowed back and forth at a pace. Rabs No. 10 from tight on the right whipped the ball deep into the goalmouth where Semple leapt to push the ball away from the inrushing No. 9 and then the loose ball was cleared from the box only for Rabs to regain possession and win a corner. This was played to the near post where Paton under pressure from No.9 headed the ball out to the edge of the box where No. 6 quickly returned it with a looping header which slipped wide of the post.

On 65 minutes the Glens doubled their lead through shear determination and patience. Kerr chased down a ball and burst into the right-hand side of the box with Green tracking his moves while Fraser was pushing through the middle waiting on a pass. However, with defenders congregating around Kerr he retreated from the box and gave two other defenders the slip before laying the ball off to Paton who neatly rolled the ball back into the right-hand side of the box where Fraser had now positioned himself. Both centre-backs raised their hands for offside (while both looked to have played him on) nevertheless the assistant referee had a clear view of No. 2 at the far end of the box playing Fraser on by a good three yards before he clipped a low angled pass to the edge of the six-yard box where Liam Caddis got the jump on No. 2 to drill the ball into the net despite the keeper’s best efforts. Glens enjoyed their celebrations while Rabs licked their wounds and quickly regrouped with 25 minutes of the match still remaining.

Substitute No. 15 cracked a shot from 20 yards that dipped over the bar although Semple appeared to have it covered. Soon after, the keeper had to get both fists to punch away a corner kick curled to the near post and the loose ball quickly hoofed upfield. O’Kane gave chase despite No.2 having a head start and he rolled it back to his keeper to hoof it back up the park only for Fraser to fend of three defenders before unleashing a diagonal shot from 25 yards that whizzed beyond the reach of the airborne keeper and high over the junction of bar and far post.

On 71 minutes Glens made a change with Dylan O’Kane coming off to well-earned applause and to be replaced by Sam McKee who took up his position on the left wing with Cameron Ross switching to the right.

Shortly afterwards, another good run by No. 15 ended with Paton’s challenge at the edge of the box and he opted to take the free-kick himself only for Caddis on the right-hand side of the wall to meet it full on with a powerful header sending it high into the air and for Rowe to then head it clear for Ross to gather and break down the right where the Glens won a free-kick.  Paton curled the kick to edge of the six-yard box where Caddis won the header but it deflected off Green for a corner which McKee floated into the goalmouth and Kerr’s header was cleanly clutched by the keeper.

On 76 minutes Rob Roy halved the deficit after the ball was launched up the park where the lively No. 15 gathered it at the edge of the box before slipping a forward pass to No 17 to draw Semple off his line before drilling a low shot from a tight angle and beyond the reach of the back-tracking Glens defenders to nestle in the far corner of the net.

Glenafton made another change with Shug Kerr leaving to appreciative cheers and Michael Moffat joining Caddis upfront.

Meanwhile the Rabs tails were up as they went on search of an equaliser. Pettigrew, Rowe and Crooks were winning the aerial battles while Paton and Sinnamon were scrambling balls clear of the box. No. 15 posed another threat and it was Sinnamon on this occasion that was penalised for the trip inside the ‘D’.  The free kick was left to No. 5 who curled a great ball wide of the Glens wall and beyond the reach of the diving Semple who was relieved to see it slip wide of the base of the post.

After another scramble in the Glens box the ball fell for No. 2 on the right-hand side of the box who set up the inrushing No. 18 to dig out a well struck shot that Semple caught and held firmly as No. 17 looked to capitalise on any spillages.

Some respite for the home side as McKee broke down the left before clipping the ball to Moffat at the left-hand corner of the box from where he rolled it back to Fraser to fire a low shot from the edge of the ‘D’ which deflected off a Rabs boot sending it wide of the post with the keeper stranded. McKee’s corner was won by Caddis sending the ball soaring high to the air and on its descent was retrieved to initiate a counter-attack by Rabs that fizzled out.

Another Rabs attack ended with Rowe nicking the ball from No. 18 on the 18 yard line before Fraser snapped up the loose ball to release Ross through the middle who drifted out to the touchline and left two defenders in his wake before the afterburners took him to the bye-line only for his cut-back for the incoming Caddis to be intercepted and cleared.

With 2 minutes remaining of regulation time Rabs responded in almost lethal fashion as No 17. burst up the left before cutting along the bye-line and forcing Semple off his goal line to cover the near post and curl a shot that battered off the base of the far post, while No. 18 was hoping for a cut-back that would have presented him with an open goal.

On 89 minutes Glens made their final change with Cammy Ross coming off to a great ovation after some shift, to be replaced with Alex McWaters who was quickly in thick of the action. He received a ball from McWaters on the right to curl a cross into box for Caddis which was intercepted by a defender only for McWaters to recover the ball and slip the ball to the unmarked Moffat to push forward towards the penalty spot and pick his spot only for the outrushing keeper to block his shot with an outstretched leg and along with No. 7 scramble the ball clear.

The final whistle blew on 94 minutes and a valuable 3 points were well earned.

FT Glens 2 Rob Roy 1

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC
21. Ally Semple 11. Ryan Sinnamon 20. Ollie Rowe 5. Craig Pettigrew (captain) 15. Cammy Crooks 2. Cammy Ross (10. Alex McWaters)6. Paul Paton 8. Gary Fraser 19. Dylan O’Kane (7. Sam McKee) 12. Liam Caddis 18. Hugh Kerr (9. Michael Moffat) Subs Not Used: 1. David Markey

KIRKINTILLOCH ROB ROY

Match Photos

Glenafton Athletic v Kirkintilloch Rob Roy