Glenafton Athletic

Captain Craig Pettigrew, Alan Cairns, Jamie McKernon and Hugh Kerr all returned from the summer break for the Glens second pre-season friendly. Starting for Maybole were former Glens players – keeper Ally Semple and striker Michael Riley while on the bench was midfielder Calum Thomson, a summer signing from Loch Park.

Ladywell Stadium was bathed in sunshine with the mercury rising by the minute!

The hosts looked lively from the start with Michael Riley leading the line and won back-to-back corners that the Glens defence dealt with comfortably. 

On 7 minutes Paul Paton nicked the ball and threaded a pass upfield for Sean McKenzie to chase down then drive into the box forcing Semple to rush from his line sending the striker tumbling to the ground with a slide tackle, leaving the ball to run aimlessly wide of the post. Glens continued to press and Jamie McKernon’s floated free kick into the six-yard box where Hugh Kerr leapt high above Semple and central defender only for his header to dip over the bar.

Play then ebbed back and forward for long periods without either side finding an opening to test the keepers, that was until midway through the half.

Maybole won a corner on the right and playmaker Paul Cameron clipped it into a busy box where central defender Lewis Kirkwood took a step forward before hooking the ball over his shoulder and into the air before it dipped over the heads of the keeper and defenders and into the net.

Normal service was resumed as play flowed from end to end with only a couple of half chances on show. Hugh Kerr made good progress down the left to whip the ball into the box only for Semple to intercept and clutch the ball cleanly. Later, Riley won the ball in the centre circle to break upfield and into the right-hand side of the box only for the back-tracking Michael McMullin to deflect the striker’s low angled shot wide and the corner kick that followed was cleared.

Some sustained pressure from the Glens began with Paton’s free kick to the back posted headed wide by a defender as Pettigrew threatened.  It was the Glens captain that met McKernon’s corner at the back post only for his header to be deflected wide for another corner. McKernon’s kick was headed on by McMullin and met by Kerr deep in in the six-yard box only for Semple to push away his point-blank header and his defenders scramble the loose ball clear.

On 36 minutes McKenzie’s perseverance in the box won another corner kick that was headed clear by Riley to initiate a neatly worked counter attack from Maybole.  It was Riley that picked up the ball on the centre circle to quickly feed Cameron wide on the left. From here he broke up the wing and then rolled the ball forward for No 11. on the overlap to whip the ball to the near post only for No. 10 to send his free header wide of the post – a let off for Glens.

Back came Glens and from the outskirts of the Maybole box Paton rolled the ball back to McKernon who quickly picked out Kerr on the 18 yard line where he turned quickly to crack a low shot that was comfortably held by Semple.

The hosts countered with a break down the left with Cameron and No.10 that ended with a corner which was headed clear by McKernon, hooked on by Paton and gathered by Sam McKie to drive from the centre circle to deep into the Maybole box only for his cut-back to blocked by two defenders.

At the other end McMullin and then Pettigrew headed cleared a couple of dangerous balls into the box.

HT Maybole 1 Glens 0

Glens kicked off the second half and 50 seconds later they were level. McKernon whipped a corner kick into the heart of the box for Michael McMullin to leap and bullet a header from 6 yards out that despite Scott Dinwoodie’s attempt to block it on the line his header sent the ball bulging into the roof of the net.

Played continued to rage back and forth as the sun continued to beat down.

Maybole broke down the right and although the ball into the box was cleared Craig Reid pounced on the loose ball to curl a powerful shot that whizzed wide of the far post.

On 52 minutes Glenafton made a triple change with Martin, McKernon, McKie making way for David Blyth, Calvin Kemp and Ryan Nisbet. While Maybole brought on Calum Thomson.

Glens then enjoyed a good spell of pressure. McKenzie’s determination down the left won a corner kick that Paton curled high to the back post where Craig Pettigrew outleapt Kirkwood only for his header to fly inches wide. McKenzie switched play to Blyth on the right to break forward to the corner of the penalty box before slipping the ball wide to Caldwell who cut it back into the box where McKenzie got the jump on two defenders to drill a low shot from 8 yards out only for Semple to pull off a great save and push the ball wide of target before a defender on the bye line launched the ball upfield.

Back came Maybole through Reid with a quick break down the right but his cross was blocked by Alan Cairns and the corner that followed was headed clear by Pettigrew only for the loose ball to be recovered by Maybole and after some neat one-twos the ball was whipped into the box where keeper Conor Cullen clutched it cleanly at the near post.

Pettigrew from deep on the right pinged a long diagonal ball upfield for McMullin to chase down on the left-hand side of the box before clipping the ball to the incoming McKenzie, who with a defender on his back turned to angle a shot for the back post only for Semple to get down low and hold at the near post.

At the other end a Kirkwood header from a corner kick dipped over the bar.

On 73 minutes Maybole regained the lead after substitute McKenzie Connelly, on the park for 5 minutes, intercepted a pass back to Cairns leaving him with a free run into box, where he then cut inside the back tracking Pettigrew before firing a low shot into the net past the wrong-footed keeper.

Soon after Pettigrew had to leave the field for treatment for a short spell and then later on call it a day.

Maybole came close again after fine footwork from Reid before laying of the ball to No. 18 on the left hand side of the box and although his low-angled shot beat Cullen at his near post the ball drifted wide of the back post.

At the other end Blyth chased down a ball to the right-hand side of the box before side-stepping the defender and curling a shot from the 18 yard line that sailed over the bar. Soon after he broke down the right wing and again cut inside the defender before shooting first-time from a tight angle only for the ball to find the side-netting. Glens continued to press and Semple did well to punch clear Nisbet’s dangerous ball into the box.

The closing five minutes came and went without any further chances of note.

FT Maybole 2 Glenafton 1

Footnote: It was great to have a blether with former Glens, Maybole and Kilmarnock player Chris Fleming at the game who was with his former Glens team-mate Jim Marshall; both now playing in the highly successful Cumnock Strollers walking football side.

Glenafton travelled to face West Park United in the first of their pre-season fixtures. The Bishopbriggs club recently gained entry to the Fourth Division of the WOSFL and are based at Huntershill Sports Hub.

Glens fielded their five new summer signings – goalkeeper Conor Cullen, defenders Adam Caldwell and Michael McMullin, midfielder Paul Paton and striker Sean McKenzie in the starting eleven. On the bench were five of the Glenafton Youth Academy (U17s) accompanied by their manager Cammy Black.

There were only a few clear-cut chances on show during the half as two well organised sides enjoyed some good passages of patient passing play while trying to create any openings. 

Glens were first to threaten after Paul Paton from deep on the right pinged a diagonal pass to David Blyth wide on the left where he cut inside and curled a shot from 20 yards that drifted wide of the far post. Soon after the same pair combined with Paton floating a ball to back post for the incoming Blyth only for his header to be pushed away by the keeper and the flag raised as he slotted the loose ball into the net.

At the other end a peach of a pass into the box set up No. 10 but under pressure from Michael McMullin he dragged his low shot inches wide of the post.

Glens made the breakthrough on 19 minutes after some sustained pressure.  Sam McKee broke down a West Park counter-attack in the Glens half before driving forward and rolling the ball to Ryan Nisbet wide on the right. From here he cut inside and switched on the after-burners to shake off a defender and from just short of the bye-line clipped the ball high to the back post, over two other defenders and the keeper, for Sean McKenzie to bullet a header home from 2 yards out.

The Glens continued to press with Adam Caldwell and McMullin initiating the moves from deep in their own half. However, they were up against a well organised side equally eager to build from the back. On 26 minutes a good move ended with No.18 fashioning a shot from the edge of the box that was cleanly held by keeper Conor Cullen.

Back came Glens after Calvin Kemp won the ball in the centre-circle and quickly picked out McKenzie who squared the ball to McKee to crack a shot from 30 yards that the keeper finger-tipped over the bar. McKenzie’s glancing header from Murphy’s corner kick dipped inches over the bar. Shortly afterwards, McKenzie’s header from a Murphy cross drifted wide of the post.

West Park finished the half strongly and came close to drawing level on 37 minutes. No. 18 broke through the middle and played a neat one-two with No. 20 before progressing into the box and with McMullin closing in, he chipped the ball high in the air over the head of Cullen at his near post only for it drop on the cross bar and bounce to safety.

No. 10 then chased down a through ball but his shot from just outside the box lacked the power to test Cullen. In the last action of the half the same player skipped into the right-hand side of the box and picked out No.17 at the far post for a tap-in, but from an offside position.

HT West Park 0 Glenafton 1

Played ebbed back and forth in the early stages of the half with some half-chances at either end.  For the home side No. 26 did well to engineer a shot on target from outside the box under pressure from Caldwell only for it to fall into the hands of Cullen.

Midway through the half Caldwell then broke upfield and picked out Nisbet in a busy box who then rolled the ball back out to Blyth to crack a low shot from 22 yards that the keeper pushed round the post. Soon after James Martin broke down the right before clipping the ball to the back post where It was cleared only to the edge of the box where Blyth killed it on his chest before drilling a low shot inches wide of the post.

On 71 minutes the Glens doubled their lead after Kemp intercepted an uncharacteristic poor pass and knocked the ball on to Sam McKee who took a touch before side-footing a perfectly weight pass into the path of Ryan Nisbet to progress unimpeded into the box, draw the keeper from his line before clipping the ball over his head and into the gaping net.

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Glens dominated possession for a time stroking the ball about looking for openings and although West Park faded for a time the home defence remained difficult to break down.

As the game drew a close West Park made a final a push Cullen had to be alert to punch a corner-kick clear from under his bar and Paton was in place to clear the ball upfield. 

Glens countered with Murphy down the left who played the ball inside to McKee who in turn squared it to Caldwell to unleash a low thunderous shot from 30 yards that the keeper did well to get down low and then snatch the loose ball.

The last chance of the game fell to West Park after No. 26 broke down the left and whipped a great ball to back post for the incoming No.12 who looked certain to scire but his header glanced wide of target.

FT West Park 0 Glenafton 2

Glenafton started with the same 11 that kicked off against Blantyre Victoria last Wednesday. In the Cumbernauld United goal was trialist Scott McLellan, who had performed so well, again as a trialist, for Blantyre last week and was on Rutherglen Glencairn’s books at the start of the season.

The early exchanges were pretty even with a couple of half chances on show with shots from Calvin Kemp for the visitors which drifted wide and Kieran Boubreki for the host which was easily held by keeper David Markey. Soon after Kemp won Glens a corner kick which was headed clear by Jack Harrison.

On 14 minutes Glens were forced to make a change after Leon Murphy had failed to recover from an earlier knock and was replaced with Sam McKee.

Craig Pettigrew launched a free kick from the centre circle deep into the right-hand side of box for Ollie Rowe to rise and head it back from the goal-line towards the heart of the goalmouth where Hugh Kerr trapped the ball only for his shot from 8 yards to be blocked by Paddy McCabe.

Kerr then headed a high ball into the box for Jordan Ryan to gather before firing a low shot from a tight angle wide of the near post.  Rowe won the ball in the centre circle before threading a forward pass to McKee to burst through the middle and crack a shot from 25 yards that McLellan took the sting out off with both hands.

Cumbernauld came close on 20 minutes after Dale Fulton floated a free kick from wide on the left to the right-hand side of the box where David Cameron leapt to send a looping header high into the air before dropping and bouncing off the top the bar at its junction with the post.

Glens won a free-kick in the centre circle which Jamie McKernon floated into the box and although Rowe won the aerial battle against Stephen McDevitt and Cameron the ball didn’t fall kindly for him and his shot from the edge of the six-yard box flew high over the bar. The visitors continued to press and won another free-kick which McKernon blasted past the wall from 30 yards before McLellan pushed the ball round the post. Rowe then headed McKernon’s corner kick wide of target.

Some respite for the home side after Boubekri released Jay Blair down the right only for his cross into the goalmouth to be intercepted by Pettigrew at the expense of a corner which was cleared.

The visitors then enjoyed another good spell of pressure.

On 30 mins Kemp nicked the ball from the feet of Boubekri to break through the middle before unleashing a shot from 22 yards that whistled wide of the post. Kerr then slotted a great ball into the box for McKee to chase down and clip the ball from the bye-line into the box which was headed clear by McDevitt. McKernon then rifled a shot from 25 yards that McLellan got down low to push past the post. Although Rowe got the better of Cameron in the box his header from the corner looped high over the bar.

Cumbernauld countered with a break through the middle by Boubekri only for Pettigrew to nick the ball at the outskirts of the box and pass to Gilmour who then picked out McKee to break forward before squaring to McKernon who tried his luck from 25 yards only for the ball to take a bounce and the shot sail well over the ball. McKernon then curled a free-kick into the box where Ryan outleapt McDevitt to flash a glancing header over the bar.

Three minutes before the break the hosts won a corner-kick that was mopped and then another break which ended in the same fashion.

Glens countered down the left with Gilmour and McKee with the latter clipping a ball into the six-yard box for Ryan only for McDevitt to intercept and clear to the outskirts of the box where McKernon blasted a shot from 18 yards that whizzed wide of target.

HT Cumbernauld 0 Glenafton 0

Glens were quickly on the front foot with an early corner kick that glanced off the head of Sean Bennie before falling for Ryan at the back post who rolled it back to Kemp only for his shot to fly over the bar. Ryan and Kemp then combined down the right to set up a cross to the back post for Kerr to outjump two defenders only for the header to drift wide. The visitors continued to press with runs down both flanks with Martin and Gilmour pushing up in support of Kemp & McKee.

On 58 minutes, Bennie on the half-way line broke down a good run by Aaron O’Hare and launched a high ball upfield for Kerr to trap and push forward before drilling a low angled shot from 20 yards that bobbled along the ground and bounced wide of the post.

The hosts then enjoyed a decent spell of possession. Boubekri gathered a shy on the outskirts of the box and evading a pocket of three Glens defenders slipped the ball to Cameron who drilled a low angled shot from the edge of the ‘D’ forcing Markey to get down low and at full stretch push the ball away with a strong hand. The resulting corner-kick came to nothing

Back came Glens and from just inside the Cumbernauld half McKernon clipped a high ball into the right-hand side of the box where Kemp did well to trap it and give Martin Lawrie the slip to get a shot away only for it to dip over the bar.

Just after the hour mark Cumbernauld replaced Jay Blair with Gavin Mackie.

Glens continued to press and Kerr switched play to the left where McKee gave McCabe the slip only for his cross from the bye-line to be headed out by McDevitt and hooked to the edge of the box by Cameron where Kemp snapped up the loose ball before firing a shot over the bar.

The home side countered through O’Hare breaking forward before laying the ball of to Fulton and from fully 35 yards he cracked a shot that thundered off the boards behind the goal.

Midway through the half McKernon struck a sweet free kick from 28 yards that got up and over the four-man wall only for McLellan to pull off a fine save and push the ball away with both hands.

At the other end Lawrie made good progress up the left before curling a ball into a busy box only for for it to drop safely into the arms of Markey.

Back came Glens with McKee down the left skipping past Mackie to get to the bye line and although his cross deflected off a defender Ryan was in place to send an overhead kick across the face of goal where Lawrie managed to guide it out for a corner as Rowe closed in. McKernon’s kick was bulleted goalward by a Bennie header only to be blocked by McDevitt’s head and then headed clear for another corner by Fulton which ended with Pettigrew’s glancing header being held on the line by the keeper.

Cumbernauld countered with their best passage of passing play in the match. The keeper launched a long ball up the park which was gathered by Scott Thomson on the right and with Gilmour blocking his way he rolled the ball back to Mackie who pinged a long ball into the box for Fulton only for Bennie to cut it out with a diving header. Thomson, still on the right touchline, snapped up the ball and again with his way blocked he played a great diagonal ball to Boubekri in the middle of the park who took a touch before stabbing a perfectly weighted pass into the box to march Fulton’s run who was then forced to go wide by McKernon and Bennie but still fashioned an angled shot at goal that was deflected wide for a corner kick. Yet, again the corner came to nothing for the home side. However, they continued to press but without creating a clear-cut chance.

Glens then won a corner of their own but this too was cleared albeit at the third attempt.

Thomson’s determination on the right, on the half -line, saw him shake off a clutch of Glens players before cutting inside before clipping a ball forward for Boubekri only for Bennie to intercept with another header which was gathered by Rowe, quickly bundled off the ball by Thomson who then cracked a shot from 25 yards that was deflected wide by Bennie for a corner. At las, a corner for the home side caused some panic in the Glens box. Mackie’s kick was head flicked on to the far post by Cameron where Harrison hooked the ball back across the face of goal and Fulton’s header for the back post was headed out by Bennie for another corner kick. No panic this time as Gilmour and McKernon cleared their lines.

On 77 minutes Glens pushed forward with Kemp and Ryan combining through the middle. Soon after Ryan was then brought down in the middle of the park. McKernon floated the free kick into the heart of the box and although McDevitt won the ball in the air his header was heading for his own net only for McLellan to move swiftly along his line to get a hand to the ball which hit of the post. Ryan chased the loose ball and rolled it back to Kemp to clip a high ball back toward the back post where Rowe beat McCabe to head it back toward the other r post where Kerr dipped to head the ball over the line and into the net. Joy turned to despair as the assistant referee raised a flag for offside, although McDevitt certainly had played Kerr onside.

Cumbernauld replaced Kieran Boubekri with Tom Neil.

Glens won back-to-back corners with the latter ending with Bennie’s header flying past the post. McKernon then picked out McKee on the left to break into the box and Kerr got on the end of his cross, but his shot was blocked by Harrison. Soon after another McKernon corner was won in the air by Rowe at the back post sending the ball to the near post but clipped the bar in the way down and cleared as Bennie and Kerr were outnumbered by four defenders.

Some respite for United as Fulton picked the ball up in the centre-circle and pushed forward squaring to Mackie on the right who whipped the ball into the box for the incoming Cameron only head the ball wide from 8 yards out.

Glens responded with Gilmour, wide on the left, launching the ball into the goalmouth where McLellan leapt to clutch the ball cleanly under the bar and under pressure from Rowe fell to the ground, still holding the ball tightly.

Martin then picked out Kemp at the right-hand corner of the box, where with his left foot flicked the ball over the head of Lawrie and then met the ball on the drop with his right to lob it to the edge of the six-yard box where Ryan’s header fell into the hands of McLellan.

In the closing minutes of added time Fulton tried his luck from distance but his shot drifted well wide of target and soon after Bennie headed clear a dangerous ball into the box.

FT Cumbernauld 0 Glenafton 0

Footnote

This game was played before a decision was made regarding the outcome of Glenafton v Blantyre game played on 18th May 2022 and which was abandoned in the 1st half after Blantyre (who strarted with 7 players) were reduced to 6 players through injury and with Glens leading 2-0 .

27th May 2022

Following a West of Scotland Management Committee meeting this evening, we have been awarded the three points from the abandoned match against Blantyre Victoria. The result will stand as a 2-0 victory.