WOSFL Premier Division	Match 01
Ardrossan Winton Rovers	2 (1)	Gillespie, Struthers
Glenafton Athletic	3 (0)	Mullen 2, Truesdale
Sat 25 Jul 2026	KO 2:00 pm	Winton Park, Ardrossan

The opening league game of the West of Scotland League Premier Division saw the Glens travel to face Ardrossan Winton Rovers, promoted from the 1^st Division. There were three former Glenafton players in the Rovers starting eleven – Findlay Frye, club captain; Craig Pettigrew, former Glenafton captain and Sam McKee.

The Rovers kicked-off and enjoyed early pressure within the Glens box which included two claims for a penalty kick only for the referee to be well positioned on both occasions to overrule a possible trip and another a hand ball, in reality as shot from a few yards that caught Andy Stirling on the chest

Glens countered through Andy McLaughlin clipping a ball into the right hand side of the box for Ross Smith to chase down and from the bye-line whip a cross to the near post for Michael Mullen only for Craig Pettigrew to win the aerial battle and Sam Lidlington chase down the loose ball and clear it up the park.

Play now raged back and forth and it was the home side that were first to threaten through Findlay Frye who clipped a ball from close to the corner flag on the right to the near corner of the six-yard box for Sam McKee only for his shot, under pressure from Craig Truesdale, to sail inches over the bar.

Glens countered through Mullen breaking through the middle before teeing up a shot at the edge of the ‘D’ only for Pettigrew and Dave Gray to turn their back on the ball and send the rebound clear of immediate danger only for Stirling to gather the ball and drive down the left to win a corner. Kieran MacDonald floated it high into the box to descend on the edge of the six yard bow where Ollie Rowe tussling with David Anderson won the header which fell safely into the hands of keeper James Barclay, only for Rowe to be penalised for climbing in any case.

At other end Frye was penalised for a foul on keeper Marc Fishier as he leapt to gather a ball at the corner of the six-yard box.

Back came Glens through Stirling clipping a ball into the left-hand side of the box for Mullen to pounce and crack a powerful left-footed shot only for Barclay to pull of a fine save and divert the ball past the post and the corner that followed was cleanly mopped up.

McLaughlin picked up a pass on the right and push forward to right hand side of the box before whipping the ball across towards the penalty spot for the inrushing Mullen only for it be intercepted and fall for Stirling on the far side to drill a low shot only for Barclay to pull of another good save, diving low to push the ball wide of the post.  MacDonald lofted the corner kick high to back post and although Craig McCracken got his head to the ball knocking it down into the heart of the box only Sam Lidlington to mop up and set up a counter-attack that the Glens defended well.

However the home side were soon back on attack after Ally Taylor from the half-way line dinked the ball forward into the path of Frye breaking through the middle who in turn clipped the ball forward for Joseph Gillespie overlapping to his left who then steadied himself and from the 18 yard line slipped the ball wide of the advancing keeper Fisher and into the net. Ardrossan 1 Glens 0, 24 mins.

Glens rallied and from wide on the right Truesdale curled a high ball into the box for Mullen on the six-yard line only for the leaping Pettigrew to send a header over the bar, while MacDonald’s corner from the right was headed clear of the box.

Rovers replied with a break down the left and it was McKee that leapt like a salmon to send the ball high into the air and descending goalward only for Fisher’s leap to tip the ball over the bar leaving Sam-on with his head in his hands! This led to a series of three corners for the home side as they continued to press.

Sides then exchanged corner-kicks with the home side proving the more threatening after a ball from the left was floated to the back-post where Fisher tip the ball from the head of the leaping Pettigrew only for George Sewell to chase it down before whipping a vicious shot that flew high over the bar. Soon after, at the other end Mullen’s shot from the right-hand side of the box had the same outcome.

The visitors then enjoyed a good spell of possession in the Ardrossan half without however threatening the goal. The first half concluded with McKee winning a corner on the right which after some head tennis saw Frye’s header cleanly clutched by Fisher.

HT Ardrossan 1 Glens 0

Glens kicked-off and were quickly on the front-foot with wave after wave of attack and were duly rewarded. Stirling gathered the ball in the Rovers’ half of the centre circle before clipping it forward to Smith on the left hand side of the ‘D’ and in turn he rolled a diagonal forward pass to MacDonald breaking into the box to drill the ball into the goal-mouth beyond the reach of the outstretched leg of the charging Sewell and then the gap between Pettigrew and Anderson to fall for Michael Mullen to fire a low shot into the net past defender Gray and keeper Barclay rooted on his line. Ardrossan 1 Glens 1, 52 minutes.

The visitors continued to pile on the pressure with attacks down both flanks.

Some respite for Rovers on 57 minutes as Sewell from the 18-yard line clipped a diagonal pass past two defenders towards the back post only for it to sneak wide inches wide of the inrushing Frye.

Back came Glens with Mullen chasing the ball down the left and rolling it back into the box for Truesdale who held off two defenders before drilling a low angled shot from 18 yards out which was comfortably saved by Barclay.

Play now raged back and forth and the home side threatened as substitute Ewan McIver looked set to pounce on the ball on the 18-yard line only for McLaughlin to intercept and clear at the expense of a corner which was cleared for a shy, near the flag. A long throw high into the box was won by McIver sending the ball high into the air and eventually cleared.

Glens countered through MacDonald gathering the ball inside the Rovers half before drilling a low ball upfield into the left-hand side of the box for Ross to chase down, albeit marked by Pettigrew only to lose his footing, allowing the striker to progress to the bye-line and then cut the ball back between two defenders for Michael Mullen to guide ball into the net from 12 yards out. Ardrossan 1 Glens 2, 67 minutes.

The visitors continued to press through MacDonald down the left who rolled the ball back to Truesdale to weave into the box and drill a low shot the Barclay got down low to smother the ball.  

Soon after the Glens extended their lead through Craig Truesdale changing wings and breaking deep into the right-hand side of the box and from 8 yards out, he lashed a shot beyond the reach of Barclay’s outstretched arm and before bulging the net.  Ardrossan 1 Glens 3, 76 minutes.

Glens made a couple of changes with Andy McLaughlin making way for Lee Duncanson for Andy McLaughlin and soon after Kyle Huttton replacing Jamie Wilson.

Rovers fought back through Gillespie breaking down and holding off McCracken to get to the bye-line and lobbing a ball to the back post where it bounced up perfectly from the corner of the six-yard for the inrushing Sewell to bullet a header and although Fisher got a hand the incoming David Struthers stooped to head the ball into the net. Ardrossan 2 Glens 3, 84 minutes.

The home side’s tails were up and a corner from the right was headed clear of the six-yard box by Hutton and gathered by Mullen who combined with Stirling to clear the danger from the penalty box

On 87 minutes Glens made a double substation with Michael Mullen and Crag Truesdale making way for Jamie Petre and Cammy Ross.

The visitors enjoyed a spell a possession, but the home side were still eager to seek an equaliser and came close only for Gillespie to find the net from an offside position in added time.

FT Ardrossan 2 Glens 3

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC
1. Marc Fisher 18. Andy McLaughlin (2. Lee Duncanson) 5. Craig McCracken 8. Ollie Rowe  3. Kieran MacDonald 19. Craig Truesdale (17. Jamie Petre)7. Callum Wilson 6. James Wilson (14. Kyle Hutton) 12. Andy Stirling (captain) 9. Ross Smith 10. Michael Mullen (11. Cammy Ross). Subs Not Used: Harry Sutton (gk), Robert McDougall, Jordan Allan/

ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS
. Jamie Barclay 2. George Sewell 3. Sam Lidington 4. Craig Pettigrew 5. David Gray 6. David Anderson 7. Ally Taylor 8. David Struthers 9. Joseph Gillespie 10. Findlay Frye (captain) 11. Sam McKee Subs: 12. Declan McFadyen 14. Zack Simpson 15. Sam McCloskey 16. Darren Frye 17. Ewan McIver 18. Aidan Ferris 19. Rocco O’Neil

Match Photos

Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Glenafton Athletic