GREENVERSITY RENEWABLES	WOSFL Premier Division	Match 25
Shotts Bon Accord	1 (0)	Martin
Glenafton Athletic	1 (1)	Mullen
Sat 05 Apr 2025	KO 2:00 pm	Hannah Park, Shotts

Glenafton made two changes to the eleven that started against Auchinleck Talbot last Saturday with Lyall Holding and Jordan Allan replacing Jamie Taggart and Kyle Fraser making his first start for the club, since signing from Ayr United U18. On the bench was fellow Ayr United U18 team-mate David Craig, signed in midweek.

Former Glenafton defender Chris Meikle was missing from Shotts line-up.

Shotts kicked off against a cold strong wind from the east albeit on a sun-drenched bowling green pitch. However, wind assisted Glenafton were soon breaking forward in numbers with former Shotts Junior Cup winner Shuggy Kerr and Evan Maley leading the line.

Ross Lindsay clipped a corner-kick from the left the centre of the goalmouth on the outskirts of the six-yard box for Ryan McCubbin only for his header to deflect off Taylor Evans and bounce wide for another corner. Lindsay lofted this one high towards the far side of the six-yard box tempting keeper Sandy Thomson to come off his and leap from the six-yard line only to fail to get a finger-tip the ball which descended and bounced at the corner of the six-yad box for the quick-thinking McCubbin to rush forward before hooking it back to Ollie Rowe who drilled a low shot from 8 yards out which deflected off Evans and fell for Michael Mullen to drive a low shot from 4 yards past the keeper and two defenders, including one on the goal-line, and into the net   Glens 1-0 on 6 minutes.

Play began to ebb back and forth with the only chances coming from long throw-ins at either end both of which were mopped up by each defence in turns.

Soon after the chances on show were elevated to corner kicks.  For Shotts, Adam Hunter curled the kick deep into the six-yard box where keeper David Markey leapt to take a touch and deny Rico de Marco a close-range header before Mullen hoofed the loose ball upfield for Jamie Taggart to chase down and win a throw which was gathered by Mullen to win a corner on the left!   Lindsay floated it high into the heart of a packed goalmouth and although Kerr won the aerial battle his header soared high over the bar.

Play now raged back and forth with Maley and Taggart looking lively for the Glens, nevertheless, chances at either end were thin on the ground, perhaps of greater concern to the visitors with the wind at their back.

Alistair Martin fired a low shot from 25 yards that deflected off Kyle Fraser sending the ball wide on the right to be chased down by Evans on the bye-line and as Jared Willet closed in he whipped the ball high into the six-yard box where Fraser was in place to head the danger clear.

Midway through the half Maley picked up a pass inside the Shotts’ half before slipping the ball to Lindsay who in turn released Taggart tight on the right to drive down the left only for his cross from the corner flag to be deflected wide. Keeper Thomson leapt high from a yard off his line to safely clutch the ball as Rowe waited to pounce at the back post.

Maley initiated another attack after threading a ball between two defenders for Kerr to gather and drive down the left to the bye-line and although Torrance was on his heels he whipped a low cross to the near post for the incoming Mullen but Thomson was quick off his mark to scoop up the ball.

Soon after Maley was the instigator again beating Jack Gordon to a loose ball and holding off the midfielder to drive to the edge of the ‘D’ only for his shot to take a slight deflection and Thomson did well to stop the corner on the bye-line.

On 33 minutes Shotts won a corner on the left which was floated into the goalmouth where Markey leapt to block with both hands before recovering the loose ball, as the air-borne Torrance threatened.  

Soon after a free-kick from wide on the right, close to the bye-line, was floated  to the far side of the box for the unmarked Barry Eley to head the ball high towards corner of six-yard box where it was won in the air by Kerr who fell awkwardly from de Marco’s challenge.

Glens then enjoyed a good spell of possession in their opponents’ half but converting this into chances proved more difficult. On 44 minutes Mullen picked up a pass from Taggart on the outskirts of the box and as Adam Hunter closed in, he curled a shot that dipped wide of the far post.

The final chance of the half fell to Shotts from a corner on the right that Gordon floated to the back post where Evans leapt to send a looping header that dipped inches over the crossbar, although the leaping Markey took no chances and had it covered with a leap and an outstretched arm.

HT Shotts 0 Glenafton 1

Shotts made a double substitution at the break with Adam Hunter and Jack Gordon making way for Ally Small and Ben Richford.

Glens kicked off, against the wind, and won an early corner on the right which was curled high into the six-yard box which Thomson cleanly collected under pressure from Rowe on the goal-line.

Willet launched a long ball down the right for Mullen in a chase with Torrance and on overtaking the Shotts defender at the edge of the box he forced the keeper to rush from his line which in turn forced Mullen to lob the ball from 16 yards out which sailed over the bar, as the Glens striker was floored by the keeper’s slide tackle – a long stare to the assistant referee fell on deaf eyes!

Taggart and Maley continued to look lively as the visitors just edged the possession play which perhaps forced Shotts into another substitution as Joshua Gracie made way for Daniel Burns on 56 minutes. A minute later Paul Byrne from wide on the left whipped a ball into box, which took a big bounce over the head of Taggart and fell for the inrushing de Marco and the coming together of the two players ended with the forward being sent tumbling to the ground. Up stepped captain Alistair Martin to slot home the penalty, sending Markey the wrong way and the ball into the right-hand corner of the net. Shotts 1 Glens 1 on 58 minutes.

With their tails up Shotts won back to back corners from left and right respectively that were stoutly defended by the visitors. The home side introduced fresh legs on 62 minutes with Andrew Duffy replacing Barry Eley.

Shotts were upfield in numbers when Lindsay nicked the ball from Sexton to burst through the middle into their opponents half and although his attempt to pick out Cammy Ross wide on the left was intercepted, Maley recovered the ball and picked out Taggart on the left to drive forward and cut inside to the edge of the box only for Sexton to rob the ball.

Soon after another Shotts attack was snuffed out with Taggart and Maley leading the counter-attack that concluded with the former driving deep into the left-hand side of the Shotts box only for his attempt to square the ball for the incoming Mullen to be blocked by Evans at the expense of a corner kick. Lindsay floated the ball high into the six yard box for the leaping Kerr but keeper Thomson leapt higher and plucked the ball out the air.

Midway through the half the Glens made a tactical change with defensive midfielder Ryan McCubbin replaced by attacking midfielder Chris Erskine who was immediately in the thick of things, switching play from the right to Taggart on the left to cut inside Sexton only to sky his shot from the edge of the ‘D’.

Back came Glens through Erskine playing a one-two with Mullen on the right, before driving inside and picking out Maley, who in turn slipped the ball to Taggart on the left-hand corner of the box to take Sexton out of play and complete a glorious one-two with Maley who then progressed to the corner of the six-yard box before squaring the ball across the face of goal but neither Mullen or Kerr could connect.

Glens continued to press but could not break down a well drilled defence. Ross burst down the right to the edge of the box before drilling a diagonal pass for Kerr on the penalty spot only for Duffy to intercept. Mullen then chased down a ball to progress to the ‘D’ and with three defenders in his path he lobbed the ball over their heads only for Thomson to comfortably collect on the six-yard line.

On 75 minutes Shotts countered with a powerful run from Evans through the middle, showing Erskine and Taggart a clean pair of heels, before lobbing ball from 25 yards that flew over Markey’s head and the bar.

On 81 minutes Glens brought midweek signing David Craig on for Ross Lindsay.

Soon after a Shotts free kick was won in the air by Duffy at the edge of the box but the header drifted wide of the far post.

On 83 minutes Shotts brought on Liam Craig for Rico de Marco while Glens brought on Ryan Walker for Jamie Taggart.

Cammy Ross burst down the left, weaving past Sexton, before whipping a ball into the box for Walker to gather at the far end only for his shot to flash wide of target.

Glens continued to press before Shotts enjoyed a spell of possession in and around the Glens box. In the closing the minute Burns from wide on right drilled a low ball right across face of goal, beyond the reach of Markey at near post to pick out two Shotts players at back post, only for Fraser to get a crucial touch and Rowe to clear the danger.

Back came Glens launching a ball upfield for Mullen to gather and driving forward, slipping wide of Sexton to blast a shot from 25 yards that Thomson pushed wide before tumbling to ground. Ross gathered the loose ball and picked out Erskine to roll it back out to the edge of box for Maley, to curl a shot from the 18 yard line that drifted wide of the far post.

FT Shotts 1 Glens 1

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC
1. David Markey 2. Kyle Fraser 5. Ollie Rowe (captain) 3. Jared Willet; 7. Cammy Ross 6. Ryan McCubbin (14. Chris Erskine) 8. Ross Lindsay (15. David Craig) 4. Jamie Taggart (12. Ryan Walker)  9. Shuggy Kerr 10. Michael Mullen 11. Evan Maley

SHOTTS BON ACCORD
1. Sandy Thomson 2. Joe Sexton 3. Paul Byrne 4. Robbie Torrance 5. Barry Eley (12. Andrew Duffy) 6. Alistair Martin (captain) 7. Jack Gordon (14. Ben Richford) 8. Adam Hunter (18. Ally Small) 9. Taylor Evans 10. Rico de Marco (15. Liam Craig) 11. Joshua Gracie (16. Daniel Burns) Subs Not Used: 22. Thomas Starrs (gk) 17.James McDonald

Match Photos

Shotts Bon Accord v Glenafton Athletic