GREENVERSITY RENEWABLES	WOSFL Premier Division	Match 12
Glenafton Athletic	1 (0)	Mullen
Clydebank	1 (0)	Mulcahy
Sat 14 DEC 2024	KO 2:00 pm	Loch Park, New Cumnock

Glenafton made one change from the eleven that started against Gartcairn last Saturday with Hugh Kerr (injured) making way for Cammy Ross.

In the Clydebank starting eleven was former Glenafton player Lee Gallacher of course the Bankies manager Gordon Moffat is another former Glens player

Glens were first to show as Michael Mullen forced his way into the Bankies box and although surrounded by a clutch of defenders he got a shot away which was comfortably saved by keeper Andy Leishman. Soon after Chris Erskine burst through the middle only to be pulled back by Davie Syme and Mullen’s free-kick trundled wide of the right post.

The tide soon turned though as the visitors pressed time and again.

On 14 minutes Cieran Mulcahy broke down the left before cutting inside, 10 yards short of the bye-line, chipped the ball into the goalmouth and although it was just too high for Lee Gallacher and his guard Jared Willet at the nearside post it took a bounce in the six yard box and fell nicely for the inrushing Nicky Little as keeper David Markey scurried along his line, Little clipped it over his outstretched leg only for the ball to crash off the post.

Back came Bankies, Mulcahy won back-to-back aerial battles knocking the ball towards the ‘D’ for Liam McGonigle to chase with Lyall Holding on his heels before cracking a low shot from 18 yards only for the outrushing Markey to push wide with another outstretched leg then pick himself up to block the inrushing Little’s fierce shot before the loose ball was eventually scrambled clear before Craig Pettigrew launched it upfield.

The home side countered through the lively Erskine who gathered the ball 25 yards out and with his back to goal, a quick turn left Syme stranded before he leathered the ball which whistled past Leishman on his six-yard line and just wide of the post.

Play went back and forth with patient build-ups from both sides.

On 28 minutes Chris McGowan floated a free-kick high from the centre-circle into the Glens box and although Lewis Currie won the aerial battle with Oison McHugh his header was nodded high towards the back post by Dean Cairns where Currie and Pettigrew double-teamed to hold off Syme, Little and McGonigle, only to realise the offside flag had been raised.

Glens countered as Erskine outjumped McHugh to flick on a header for Mullen to gather and drive to the outskirts of the ‘D’ before slipping the ball to Erskine on the edge of the box from where he rolled it back to Evan Malley to drill a low shot from 25 yards out, this too drifted wide of the left post.

At the other end Bankies won a free-kick some 10 yards from the 18 yard-line from where Gallacher clipped it over the 4-man wall into the heart of the goalmouth only for Syme’s header, under pressure from Pettigrew, to fly well-wide of target.

In the closing minutes of the half Bankies won a corner which was cleared only be headed back towards the outskirts of the Glens box where Mullen gathered and with cheeky back heel released Erskine up the left to pick out McKee further up the wing but with his way blocked he played a one-two with Jared Willet before squaring to Maley in the middle who quickly switched play to Cammy Ross who in turn fed Holding on the overlap to whip the ball deep into the goalmouth which took  a bad bounce preventing the inrushing Willet having a shot at goal – great build up though.

The visitors had the final say of the half with a free kick floated high into the box only for Syme’s downward hard to bounce high and fall safely ‘into the arms of Mar(ke)y’ without a Quiver!

Played raged back and forth, now at a pace, but the first half concluded goal-less.

HT Glens 0 Bankies 0

The smirr now coating Loch Park would endure for much of the second half.

Bankies were quick off the mark and forced an early corner kick after some excellent touches in a confined space between Nicky Low, McGowan and McGonigle. Glens defence stood strong and cleared the danger and the second attempt.

The visitors continued to press and won and free 10 yards inside the Glens half which was floated into the box and cleared at the second attempt. Erskine pounced on the loose ball and in flash ghosted up the only seemingly to be pole-axed on the half way-line, play-on waves the ref, only for Ross to gather the loose back and burst up the left only to be pole-axed by Cairns some 8 yards inside the Bankies half, with the ref in no doubt. Willet floated the ball high into the box and the line of combatants drifted back in unison some 6 yards or so, other Michael Mullen who held back waiting to pounce on any clearance and he did so with great aplomb smacking the ball low through a gap in the fragmented line and beyond Leishman rooted 2 yards of his line, into the left-hand corner of the net. Glens 1-0 on 52 minutes.

Back came Bankies and a free kick from wide on the right was launched into the box and the ball took a bounce before heading for the back post where Ross and Mulcahy tried to chase it down only for them both to end up on flat on the ground, Mulcahy staying there for some time in the hope of a penalty while Ross was up challenging the claim as well as the ref’s decision to award a corner-kick! The kick was whipped to the far side of the box where Little had smartly positioned himself for effectively a free header which Markey cleanly clasped with both hands.

The Glens then enjoyed a good spell of possession in the Bankies half albeit without seriously testing Leishman, however the visitors struck back in clinical fashion. McHugh, on the left 10 yards inside the  Bankies half, squared the ball to Syme who then pushed forward to the half-way line before drilling a deadly diagonal ball to Little who in turn threaded a perfectly weighted pass between Maley and Currie into the box, beyond the reach of Pettigrew, for the incoming Cieran Mulcahy to clip it wide of the advancing Markey and into the net. Glens 1 Bankies 1 on 61 minutes.

Glens made a change with Cammy Ross making way for Ollie Rowe while the Bankies brough on James Grant for Chris McGowan.

The visitors’ tails were up and Gallacher burst into the right-hand side of the box before driving along the bye-line and cracking a low shot that Markey blocked with a foot and gathered the loose ball at a crowded post. Soon after Gallacher floated a free-kick into the box only for Syme’s header to looopr over the bar.

On 70 minutes Bankies made a double substitution with Nicky Litte and Liam McGonigle making way for Keir Samson and Craig Truesdale.

Some respite for Glens as Mullen picked up a pass just inside the Bankies half and quickly switched the ball to wide on left for McKee to break down the wing before whipping the ball into the far side of the box for the inrushing Maley only for Leishman to intercept and grab the ball on his six-yard line.

At the other end the visitors passed up a glorious chance of taking the lead when Mulcahy gathered the ball in the box and held off the challenge of Holding only to scoop the ball over Markey and the bar. Bankies continued press only for Glens defence to stand firm.

On 76 minutes Glens brought on Jordan Allan for Sam McKee.

Glens were slowly beginning to get back into the game as am attacking force. Rowe won the tackle on Bankies 18-yard line allowing Erskine to pick up the loose ball and switch it to the left for Allan to blast a low shot that cannoned off a defender and fell for Willet on the 18 yard only for his shot to sail high over the bar.

Allan’s long throw in from the right directed for Rowe was headed wide by Grant for a corner which was played to the near post by for Erskine but although it seemed to be deflected by Cairns a goal kick was awarded.

On 84 minutes Bankies made their final substitution with Lee Gallacher making way for Tiwi Daramola. Glens followed suit and Ryan Walker replaced Ross Lindsay.

Plenty of goalmouth action at either end in difficult conditions as both sides went all out for the 3 points on offer.

On 89 minutes Mullen broke into the box with Hodge on his heels and Syme closing in but still got his shot away which Leishman clutched in difficult conditions.

At the other end Truesdale, from wide on the left, curled a free kick into the far side a packed box where the ball took a bounce and Grant stooped to head into the path of Syme but his shot was blocked by Rowe and Cairns effort to bury the rebound was held by Markey on his line.

Soon after Low and Truesdale combined on the left of the box to set up a low shot for the latter that Markey held at the base of the near post. The keeper then held a Syme header from a Truesdale cross on his line.

In the closing minute Glens had the Bankes pegged back and a throw in was intercepted by who sent a delicate lob to the right-hand side of the box where although McHugh had a head start Erskine chased him down and won the ball a yard from the box and a yard from the bye-line before cutting inside and drilling a low shot from the edge of the 6 yard box only for the advancing Leishman to block with his left foot.

…and yet there was another chance, as Bankies broke upfield with Daramola bursting forward with three defenders tracking back and it was Holding that made a timely tackle which deflected the ball back into the arms of Markey!

A share of the points and the Glens extend their unbeaten run to 6 games (4 wins, 2 draws) while the Bankies maintain their unbeaten league form (8 wins, 2 draws)

FT GLENS 1 BANKIES 1

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC
1. David Markey 2. Lyall Holding 5. Craig Pettigrew (Captain) 4. Lewis Currie; 9. Cammy Ross (14. Ollie Rowe) 6. Evan Maley 8. Ross Lindsay (12. Ryan Walker)7. Sam McKee (15. Jordan Allan) 3. Jared Willet; 10. Michael Mullen, 11. Chris Erskine Subs not used: 16. Mason McDougall 21. Keon Thurston (gk)

CLYDEBANK
1. Andy Leishman 2. Adam Hodge 19. Chris McGowan (24. James Grant) 16. Oisin McHugh 22. David Syme 23. Nicky Low 7. Lee Gallacher (21. Tiwi Daramola) 8. Dean Cairns 9. Cieran Mulcahy 10. Nicky Little (16. Craig Truesdale) 11. Liam McGonigle (17. Keir Samson). Subs Not Used: 20. Connor Keaney 3. Danny MacKenzie 5. Jamie Darroch

Match Photos

Glenafton Athletic v. Clydebank