GREENVERSITY RENEWABLES	WOSFL Premier Division	Match 26
Troon	1 (0)	Viviani
Glenafton Athletic	2 (2)	Rowe, Mullen
Sat 12 Apr 2025	KO 2:00 pm	Portland Park, Troon

Glenafton made one change from the eleven that started against Shotts Bon Accord last week with Shuggy Kerr making way for Chris Erskine. On the bench was midweek signing Dean Currie on his second spell with the club.

The Troon starting eleven included former Glenafton attacking midfielder Dario Viviani while in the dugout was the former Glens assistant manager Andy Bell and legendary attacking midfielder Craig Bingham.

An early chance for Troon when a free kick from the left was floated to the far side of the box where Mark Morrison headed the ball back across the face of goal for Sam Jamieson to crack a shot that was deflected off Ollie Rowe sending the ball high over the bar.  The corner kick from the right was played short before switching play to the far side of the box where the ball was clipped into the six-yard box to be headed clear by former Troon midfielder Evan Maley.

Morrison from just inside the right-hand side of the box threaded a forward pass between a clutch of defenders for Kyle Gilroy to drill a low angled shot into the net, however from an offside position.

Troon continued to press, breaking forward in numbers with slick passing, without however forcing keeper David Markey into making a save.

Similarly, Glenafton had enjoyed the occasional break up the right wing without any joy, until midway through the half, when the visitors broke the deadlock. 

Cammy Ross bombed up the right with Sam McCloskey in his wake and 12 yards from the bye-line he squared the ball to Michael Mullen on the penalty spot only for the back-tracking Logan Smith to intercept and sliding to knock the ball out for a corner.  Ross Lindsay kick from the right was curled high into the heart of the goalmouth where Mullen on the six-yard line cushioned his header between two defenders towards the back post where Ollie Rowe arrived to slide and guide the ball into the net between Morrison and Jamie Gallacher; Glens 1-0 up 25 minutes.

The goal not only put the Glens in front, for just like nearby Barassie beach the tide was about to turn on Portland Park as the visitors began to enjoy long spells of possession with Ryan McCubbin, Ross Lindsay and Evan Daley in the midfield, Cammy Ross and Jamie Taggart on the wings and Chris Erskine and Michael Mullen spearheading attacks.

However, it was the defence played their part in the Glens doubling their lead after Jared Willet lofted a free kick from the centre circle into the left-hand side of the box for Rowe, only for Luke Watt to get a touch and knock the ball out for a corner-kick.

Lindsay curled the ball high to the back post over a packed six-yard box and although it escaped the grasp of the leaping keeper Burgess it was headed cleared beyond the penalty spot by Smith only for Erskine to meet it on the drop and blast a low vicious shot that deflected off a group of three players and bounce up beyond the reach of Burgess on his six-yard line before being blocked by Morrison’s raised hand, in full view of the referee. Despite the Troon pleas the official pointed to the spot and up stepped Michael Mullen to send the keeper the wrong way, slamming the ball low into the right corner.  Glens 2-0 up on 40 minutes.

The visitors continued to press through McCubbin gathering the ball, just outside the centre circle in the Troon half, before squaring to Taggart on the left to burst up the wing and then twist and turn to shake off Callan Veitch before progressing a few yards from the bye-line to clip the ball to the back-post for Erskine and Ross, both tightly marked, and it was the former that got his head to ball only for Burgess to clutch it on his goal-line.

Troon took brief comfort and a determined break down the left won a corner which the masked Leyton Dunlop floated into the goal-mouth where Markey leapt to punch clear with both hands from which the Glens countered with a lightning attack. Ross gathered the ball wide on the right and released Maley who then cut inside at the half-way line and with Dario Viviani on his heels he slipped the ball to Mullen who with further assistance from Maley pushed forward to the junction of the left-hand side of the 18 yard box and the bye-line to win a corner by deflecting the ball of the shins of Viviani.

The kick was scrambled clear of the box and the ball snapped up by Erskine to send opponents one way and then the other before slipping it wide to Ross on the right who drilled it up the wing for McCubbin to hold off defenders and progress to the corner flag to whip it into the six yard box for Taggart but he was unable to leap as Morrison appeared to have a fistful of his shirt, out of view from the officials.

Troon countered with a break down the left with Viviani trying to make his way into the box only for Kyle Fraser to stand his ground forcing him instad to pick out Dunlop to switch play to the right- hand side of the box for Gilroy only for the ball to drift over the bye-line.

HT Troon 0 Glens 2

Troon kicked off and two minutes later Glenafton came close to adding to their tally with a scintillating move. Erskine gathered inside the Glens half who took Dunlop out of play with a pass to Mullen on the centre spot who squared it right to Ross who quickly cut inside and as McCloskey and Watt threatened, he laid the ball back Erskine to prod it forward towards the box before chasing it down forcing Burgess to race some 16 yards from his line and then get the slightest of touch on Erskine’s chip to deflect the ball out for a corner kick which was cleared.

Glens pegged Troon deep in their own half with Ross’s runs down the right in particular presenting all sorts of problems as Mullen and Erskine hovered about the box.

On 55 minutes Troon made a double substitution with Sam McCloskey and Kyle Gilroy making way for Stephen Bronsky and Dean Fulton. Soon after, a break down the right saw Jamieson drive to the bye-line and chip the ball into the goalmouth for the inrushing Fulton only for Markey to leap and clutch it cleanly.

At the other end Lindsay picked out Erskine on the edge of the ‘D’ to weave deep into the box between Dunlop and Bronsky but the alert Burgess rushed from his line again to strip the ball from striker before getting a shot away.

On 64 minutes the lively Taggart took a sore on the back as he challenged for a ball with Smith, the towering centre-back landing on top of him.

Midway through the half Lindsay floated a free kick into the box where Rowe got the jump on Smith to bullet a diagonal header that left Burgess stranded at the near post only for the ball.

Troon replied in dramatic fashion after Dario Viviani gathered the ball some 25 yards from within a cluster of red shirts in front of him before cracking a superb dipping shot that left Markey rooted to his line as it flew into the net. Troon 1 Glens 2 on 70 minutes.

Glens made a substitution on 72 minutes with the injured Jamie Taggart having to leave and making way for Sam McKee.

Play continued to rage back and forth at a relentless pace while defences remained on top.

On 84 minutes Troon made a final substitution with Jack Allan replacing Sam Jamieson and soon after Glens made a change with Chris Erskine making way for David Craig.

The visitors came close to securing the points on 89 minutes after Mullen blasted a low shot from just shy of 30 yards only for Burgess on his six-yards line to dive at full stretch and finger-tip the ball inches wide of the post.

At the other end a ball from wide on the right was whipped to the back post for the inrushing Viviani only to come within a whisker of getting a touch as Markey rushed across his line. Back came Troon with a break down the left and again the ball fired to the back post for Allan only for Willet to win the duel and head the ball to the outskirts of the box where it was quickly recovered by the home side and fine play for Morrison to fire the ball across the goal only for Markey to smother it at the near post as Fulton and Viviani lurked to pounce.

Evan Maley, who had covered every blade of grass of his former hunting ground had taken a knock and was replaced with Ryan Walker. On 96 minutes Rowe took a sore one in the face in accidental clash of heads.

Tension was high and thoughts drifted back to the game at Loch Park when Shuggy Kerr equalised for the Glens on the 95^th minute in a 2-2 draw.

Troon continued to press and Dunlop from wide in the right whipped the ball high into a packed box where Lindsay won the header sending the ball out for a shy some 18 yards from the bye-line. Watt, recently known for scoring twice straight from the corner, launched the ball high into the six-yard box where Bronsky under pressure sent his header high into the air before descending, with snow on it, behind the net.

30 seconds later, on 98 minutes the referee blew for time, 3 valuable points for Glenafton.

FT Troon 1 Glens 2

A special mention for the Troon physio who treated both the Troon and Glenafton knocks and injuries today.

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC
1. David Markey 2. Kyle Fraser 5. Ollie Rowe (captain) 3. Jared Willet; 7. Cammy Ross 6. Ryan McCubbin 8. Ross Lindsay 4. Jamie Taggart 11. Evan Maley (12. Ryan Walker) 4. Jamie Taggart (16. Sam McKee) 9. Chris Erskine (15. David Craig) 10. Michael Mullen Subs Not Used: Shuggy Kerr, Dean Currie

TROON
21. Dale Burgess 3. Sam McLoskey (4. Stephen Bronsky) 5. Logan Smith 8. Leyton Dunlop 9. Sam Jamieson (16. Jack Allan) 10. Kyle Gilroy (14. Dean Fulton) 11. Callan Veitch 12. Luke Watt 15. Mark Morrison (captain) 17. Dario Viviani 19. Jamie Gallacher (7. Ben Black). Sub Not Used: 1. Rohan Harkins (gk).

Match Photos

Troon vs Glenafton Athletic