GREENVERSITY RENEWABLES	WOSFL Premier Division	Match 19
Hurlford United	3 (1)	Kerr 2, Morrison
Glenafton Athletic	2 (1)	Mullen 2
Sat 22 Feb 2025	KO 2:00 pm	Blair Park, Hurlford

Glenafton made four changes from the eleven that started against Cumnock last Saturday with keeper David Markey returning for stand in keeper Ally Semple while Ollie Rowe (unavailable), Ryan Walker and Jamie Taggart made way for Jordan Allan, Ryan McCubbin and Chris Erskine.

Of course, there are several Glenafton connections with Hurlford with manager Darren Henderson, coach John Dempster and Captain Paul ‘Taz’ McKenzie on their 12th the season at Blair Park following the great Loch Park exodus (aka ‘The Blair Switch Project’) at the start of 2012/13 season. More recently Ross Fisher and Liam Caddis both returned for another spell at Blair Park while former Glens manager and striker Mick McCann sadly suffered a bad injury on his Ford debut at the end of January.

Hurlford kicked-off in the bright sunshine and were first to threaten in the early stages. Paul McKenzie picked up the ball in the centre circle just inside the ‘Ford half before clipping it up the right for Kris Kerr to chase down and cut into the edge of the box to drill a low shot that was well held by former Ford keeper David Markey at his near post. Soon after, the leaping Carter Frew’s header from a corner-kick was cleared off the Glens goal-line by the leaping Craig Pettigrew’s header.

The visitors countered in lethal fashion after Chris Erskine snapped up the ball in the Glens half before driving and weaving through the middle to clip a forward pass to match Michael Mullen’s run into the left-hand side of the box and after a touch or two the former Ford striker slammed a shot from 14 yards that flew past keeper George O’Connor and smashed off the inside of the post to end up in the far corner of the net. Glens 1-0 up on 11 minutes.

Play began to rage and forth with only a few half chances on show, the majority of which fell to the home side. Lewis Morrison and Kerr combined to press their way deep into the box only for Markey to come off his line and smother the ball. Jack Whittaker then breached the Glens box and slipped a ball to Morrison on his left who lashed a low angled shot that beat the advancing Markey only to slip inches wide of the back post. Ford won a couple of corner kicks each of which were defended well.

At the other end Sam McKee burst down the right before squaring into the box for the incoming Erskine only for Frew to intercept and clear the danger. Soon after Erskine stole the ball from a Ford attack on the edge of the Glens box and burst upfield and on reaching the centre circle clipped the ball right for Shuggy Kerr to chase only for his shot to be blocked by the back-tracking defenders.

Back came Hurlford with an attack down the right where the ball was pinged to Morrison to take a touch on the 18-yard line before rolling it wide into the path of the incoming Kris Kerr to slam the ball home from 10 yards into the net past the advancing Markey.  1-1 on 35 minutes.

(apologies no photo camera probs)

The Glens responded with McKee’s break into the right-hand side of the Ford box and three yards from the bye-line, with Ben Hughes closing in, he clipped the ball back for the inrushing Mullen only for Ross Love to intercept at the expense of a corner-kick which was cleared.

Two minutes from the break Shuggy Kerr burst into the Ford box leaving defenders in his wake only for keeper O’Connor to rush from his line and block Kerr’s shot on the penalty spot.

HT Hurlford 1 Glens 1

Glens brought on Jamie Taggart at the break for Chris Erskine who had picked up an injury

During the half-time break heavy dark clouds had gathered over Blair Park and soon after they unloaded their heavy rain, forcing spectators to pack the covered enclosures, while credit to both teams in bravely battling the elements. During this period Glens made another change with Jordan Allan making way for Lyall Holding.

It would be the hour mark before the rain subsided and soon after sun broke through again as play ebbed back and forth.

Glens won a corner kick on the left. McKee played a one-two with Pettigrew at the near post who quickly returned it for McKee to float the ball into the box only for it to be headed clear and gathered by Pettigrew at the corner of the box to curl a shot that flew wide of target.

Hurford countered with an attack down the left only for Kris Kerr to lose control off the ball under pressure from Ross Lindsay leaving Whittaker and Holding to challenge for the loose ball, the young Glens defender adamant he had won the ball, but the referee thought otherwise and awarded Ford a free kick. Lewis Morrison stepped up to whip a stunning free-kick that flew over the heads of the leaping two-man wall and the outstretched arm of the leaping Markey on the centre of his goal line and into the the far corner of the net. Hurlford 2-1 on 68 minutes.

Glens brought on former ‘Ford player Ryan Walker for Sam McKee.

The home side’s tails were up and several good chances came and went in a five-minute spell. Lidlington, from tight on the left, fired a low ball across the face goal for the inrushing forwards at the near post forcing Jared Willet to knock it past the back post as Kris Kerr threatened. The corner was played short and eventually cleared. Hughes, also from tight on the left again, whipped a ball into goalmouth only for Markey to cleanly clutch it from under the bar. Morrison, yes from the left again, lashed a low shot that beat Markey at the near post before slipping wide of the back post.

Some respite for the Glens as Taggart beat Blair Anderson for the ball deep in the Ford box only for keeper O’Connor to rush from his line and dive on the loose ball. Soon after, Taggart was back in the Glens box to win the aerial battle against Morrison to clear the danger.

On 84 minutes Glens brought on Cammy Ross for Ryan McCubbin.

Back came ‘Ford through Anderson breaking down the right and from the corner of the box squared the ball for Kris Kerr to turn and drill a low shot that was well held by Markey. Soon after Whittaker from wide on the left picked out Morrison on the edge of the box at the ‘D’ and as three defenders closed in, he turned and drilled a low shot that beat Markey at the near post, but again another effort drifted just wide of the back post.

Glens countered as Willet switched play from deep on the left to wide on the right for Ross to drive up the touch line before cutting into the box to drill a low angled pass between two defenders which was trapped by Michael Mullen on the six-yard line and with his back to goal with Anderson in close attendance he turned on a tanner and slammed the ball into the net. Hurlford 2 Glens 2 on 88 minutes.

Ford were quickly on the front foot and a free-kick from tight on the right was floated high into the box and tipped over the bar by Markey as the heavy rain returned. Into added time and the corner from the left was met at the back post by Frew, his header flying past Markey only to be cleared off the line by Lewis Currie, sending the ball high into the air and after another goalmouth scramble it was knocked out for a goal-kick.

At the other end Ross broke into the right-hand side of the box before drilling a low shot beyond two back-tracking defenders only for the advancing keeper to punch it high and back towards Ross and with defenders closing in, he quickly rolled the ball to Walker on the touchline to lob it into the goalmouth only for Frew’s diving header to send it wide for a corner. Lindsay curled the kick to the near post where it dipped over the head of the leaping Hughes before taking a bounce a few yards from the goal line where O’Connor pushed it further out into a pack of players and eventually the ball was booted upfield.

The visitors recovered the ball and Taggart from wide on the left whipped a high cross for Shuggy Kerr at the back post only for the airborne O’Connor to clutch it cleanly and hold it tightly as he crashed to the ground.

With the Glens up in numbers the Ford countered to clinch the winner. Whittaker was released down the left (the away support claiming for offside) and his lung bursting run took him just inside the Glens box and a yard from the bye-line only for his attempt to cut the ball across face of goal deflect off the outstretched boot of the back-tracking Willett and pop up and fall perfectly for the inrushing Kris Kerr to volley home from 4 yards on 92 minutes.

FT Hurlford 3 Glens 2

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC
1. David Markey 2. Craig Pettigrew (captain) 4. Lewis Currie 5. Jordan Allan (16. Lyall Holding)3. Jared Willet; 7. Sam McKee (12. Ryan Walker) 6. Ryan McCubbin (14. Cammy Ross) 8. Ross Lindsay 11. Chris Erskine (17. Jamie Taggart), 9. Shuggy Kerr 10. Michael Mullen Not Used:, Mason McDougall, Finn Monaghan, Keon Thurston (gk).

HURLFORD UNITED
1. George O’Connor 2. Gareth Armstrong (12. Blair Anderson) 3. Sam Lidlington 4. Carter Frew 5. Ross Love 6. Ben Hughes 7. Paul McKenzie 8. Calum Watt 9. Jack Whittaker 10. Lewis Morrison (16. Liam Miller) 11. Kris Kerr Subs Not Used: 14. Lewis Mackle 15. Kyle Dunnet 22. Ross Fisher

Match Photos

Hurlford United v Glenafton Athletic