Glenafton Athletic

McBoookie.com West of Scotland League Super League Premier Division : Match 12

Saturday 5th March 2016, Loch Park, New Cumnock

GLENAFTON ATHLETC 1 (0)

TROON 1 (1)

Prior to kick-off club captain Craig Menzies posed with mascot Sonny Coughtrie wearing the new Fun Fours strip sponsored by Afton Homes. Joining them was Hughie Holland who played for the Glens in the 1970s and was visiting with match day sponsors Catrine Whisky Bond. Hughie thoroughly enjoyed his visit and said it brought back many happy memories. A big thanks to Zee, who went on to win the Sponsors award on the day.

Craig Menzies and Hughie Holland with Sonny Coughtrie

Glenafton made two changes to the side that started against Benburb last week with John Paul Boyle and Darren McGill coming in for Mick McCann and Craig McGuffie. On the bench was midweek signing Cameron Marlow, making a return to the club on a loan deal from Queen’s Park until the end of the season. Starting for Troon were former Glenafton players Ally Semple and Martin Ure.

Troon came flying out the traps and the home side found themselves on the back foot for much of the half facing waves of attacks. The visitors opened the scoring on 3 minutes after Dale Moore darted down the right and although his route to goal was blocked he earned his side a throw-in which was collected on the bye-line by Adam Forsyth. The Troon hit-man shook off a couple of defenders as he progressed along the line before firing for goal and although keeper Brian McGarrity got a hand to the ball the alert Forsyth pounced and drilled the loose ball through a ruck of legs and into the net.

Adam Forsyth celebrates the opener

Three minutes later Forsyth came within a whisker of doubling the lead. Good build up play down the left set up Colin Spence to stroke a measured pass into the box which was cutely dummied by Forsyth for Moore to gather and turn a defender before clipping the ball into the danger area only for Forsyth’s header to fly inches wide of the near post. No respite for the Red shirts and after gifting possession upfield the lively Scott Chatham lifted a lethal ball over the home defence for the menacing Moore to trap with one foot and then attempt to lob the outrushing McGarrity with the other, only for the ball to drop over the bar.

On 13 minutes Glenafton won a corner-kick courtesy of Ure after he shanked a cross-field pass that had the ball heading for Royal Troon! Ryan McChesney’s header was partially cleared and the big defender was robbed of the ball by Forsyth who then also saw of the challenge of McGill before exploding upfield and picking out Craig Harvey wide on the right to cut back the ball into the box and there was the back chasing McChesney to mop up the danger.

“Me and my shadow”  – Joe Andrew and Chris McKnight

The visitors continued to dictate play and the alert Forsyth chased down an under-hit back pass only for McGarrity to win that race and his clearance cannon off the shins of the striker and the ball spin harmlessly wide. Midway through the half the keeper foiled Forsyth following another excellent passage of play by the Portland Parkers which concluded with a quality through ball to Moore to deftly dink over the Glens defence for Forsyth to collect and tee up a shot before McGarrity bravely dived at his feet to smother the ball. A minute later another fine move culminated in Jordan Muir floating the ball to Moore at the corner of the box to head back for Spence to meet sweetly on the volley and send the ball whizzing over the bar.

The home side continued to toil with only glimpses of half-chances on show. Jamie Hay gathered the ball in the centre circle and his ball through the middle was touched on by Andrew for Ally Park to  slip into box for Boyle to chase but Semple had a head start and gathered safely. Semple came out on top in a similar race with Boyle before the break only on this occasion he had to kick the ball clear. H/T Glens 0 Troon 1

The half-time oranges added a much needed zest to the Glens play and within two minutes of the restart they equalised with a peach of a goal. McGarrity launched a free kick from the outside of his box to the edge of his opponents’ box where Andrew got the jump on his shadow Chris McKnight to knock the ball into the box where John Paul Boyle with his back to goal gave Gavin Collins the slip and let the ball bounce a couple of times before lashing a net-bulger beyond the reach of Semple.

JP slams the equaliser home

The goal set the scene for the Glens to lift the tempo of their play and press forward while the visitors crisp passing moves were less of a feature of their play. Hay tried his luck from distance only for his low drilled free kick to take a deflection and Troon clear the corner-kick that followed. Craig Menzies lofted the ball from half-way and Andrew triumphed in the aerial battle with Collins to head the ball back into the path of Ally Park to curl a shot for goal that was well held by Semple. The keeper was then head and shoulders above both attackers and fellow defenders to clutch a wicked ball into the box by Alan Cairns.

Ally Park takes on Troon

On 57 minutes Semple pulled of his save of the match. Cairns broke down a Troon attack deep in his own half and quickly found McGill tight on the left flank. The midfielder carried the ball for a few strides before launching it up-field where Andrew outpaced Dale Keenan and McKnight before he trapped it with his right and in a flash fired with his left only for Semple to push the ball away with both hands and McKnight clear up the rebound.

Moore fashioned a chance for Troon on the hour mark when he picked out Chatham in the box who showed great determination to force his way past a clutch of defenders on his run across the face of goal only to scoop his shot over the bar. Back came the Glens and Park pounced on a slack defensive header by Collins before powering to the edge of the box and drilling a low fierce shot that beat Semple and slipped inches wide of the post.

More chances were now coming the way of the visitors. Midway through the half substitute Peter McGill snapped up a misplaced pass at the edge of the Glens’ box only to be brought down by Hay and although McKnight’s curled the free-kick round the wall McGarrity gathered comfortably.

On 74 minutes the injured Hay was replaced by Craig McGuffie and his jinking runs were soon giving Troon a new threat to consider. Five minutes later he picked up a square ball in the middle of the park from Andrew and pushed forward before thundering a shot from 25 yards out that boomed off McKnight and out for corner kick. Glens used the break swap the front pairing of Andrew and Boyle for Chris Dallas and Mick McCann before Meikle’s header from the corner was deflected wide by a fellow red shirt.

Craig McGuffies skips past Dale Keenan

The visitors brought on Dean Keenan for Chatham to shore things up at the back while no doubt hoping for an opportunity to exploit his notable dead-ball skills. With 5 minutes to go McGuffie slide-ruled a ball into the box for Dallas to chase and round the keeper only for the offside flag to bring the move to an end, much to the relief of Keenan who appeared to have played the Glens man onside. At the other end McKnight played a clever one-two with Forsyth at the edge of box and with McChesney closing down, he instantly shot for goal but McGarrity was his match.

A Glens’ corner won by McCann was scrambled clear of the box before Menzies took matters into his own hands and slalomed his way back into the box only for Ure to time his last ditch tackle to perfection. Further half chances came and went at either end before the whistle blew without the deadlock being broken. FT Glens 1 Troon 1

Glenafton Athletic: 1.Brian McGarrity 2. Craig Menzies 3. Alan Cairns 4. Ryan McChesney 5. Chris Meikle 6. Jamie Hay (15. Craig McGuffie) 7. Ally Park 8. David Gray 9. Joe Andrew (12. Mick McCann) 10. John Paul Boyle (14. Chris Dallas) 11. Darren McGill. Subs: 16. Cameron Marlow, 17. David Buchanan (GK).

Troon: 1. Ally Semple 2. Martin Ure 3. Dale Keenan 4. Chris McKnight 5. Gavin Collins 6. Scott Chatham (14. Dean Keenan) 7. Craig Harvey (16. Peter McGill) 8. Colin Spence 9. Adam Forsyth 10. Jordan Muir (17. Dale Shirkie) 11. Dale Moore 12. Gavin Armstrong 15. Ross McCrea

More photos here

McBoookie.com West of Scotland League Super League Premier Division : Match 9

Saturday 12th December 2015, Portland Park, Troon

TROON 0 (0)

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 1 (0)

Glenafton made two changes to the starting 11 that defeated Shettleston a fortnight ago with Craig Menzies coming in for the unavailable Jamie Hay and Ryan McChesney for Jamie McGeoghegan, who left the club midweek to work down south. While included on the bench were Glenafton youth players Jack Hannah and Scott Davidson. With both sides enjoying decent winning streaks in the league, 3 games for Glens and 4 for Troon, (who also and boast a 100% home league record) expectations were high of a close encounter – and so it proved.

Play in the first half flowed from end to end like the trains on the overlooking Glasgow-Ayr railway line that runs parallel to Portland Park with most of the attacks hitting the buffers before any clear cut chances could be engineered.

Troon took the early initiative and a good break down the left by Dale Moore ended with an over hit cross drifting well beyond the danger area. The same player won a free-kick 25 yards out after running into McChesney and with dead-ball expert Dean Keenan lining up alongside Chris McKnight to consider their options, the latter leathered it well wide of target. The first corner of the game also fell to Troon but Keenan the target at the near post was swamped by a posse of red shirts with Craig Menzies winning the ball and Joe Andrew mopping up.

Michael Wardrope

Glens got their game on track and on 14 minutes came close when Craig McGuffie‘s free-kick from the right hand corner of the penalty box had former Glens keeper Ally Semple stretch to tip the ball over the bar. McGuffie’s angled shot from the ensuing short corner kick from the left was blocked and the loose ball quickly recovered by Dan Orsi to build an attack down the right which ended with the ball being whipped across the face of goal and McGuffie’s second bite at the cherry blocked by Colin Spence.

Play continued to ebb and flow from box to box with the visitors now looking the more threatening. On 24 minutes a cute back flick by Michael Wardrope was gathered by Orsi who advanced to the edge of the box before taking out a couple of defenders out of play with an angled pass to the overlapping Ally Park only for Keenan’s perfectly time tackled denying him a shot at goal. The resultant corner kick was cleared to safety.

Chris Meikle and Adam Forsyth

Troon responded with an excellent run through the middle by Dale Shirkie to set up a shot from 20 yard out which was deflected wide by the outstretched leg of an alert Chris Meikle. The corner kick was cleared by Park’s header and the ball taken from box to box through a lung bursting run by Menzies only for Troon to recover the ball and the counter-attack ending with a cross deep into the box where Alan Cairns got the better of McKnight. Soon after Meikle and McChesney double-teamed to prevent Adam Forsyth and Moore from fashioning a shot at goal forcing the latter to go wide and overhit another cross beyond the back post.

John Paul Boyle & Chris McKnight

Glens finished the half strongly and although another corner kick was partially cleared the visitors quickly recovered the ball and Andrew turned Keenan in the box before clipping the ball to the back post where McChesney’s looping header was punched away by Semple before the whistle went for John Paul Boyle’s challenge on the keeper. An airborne Semple was then at full stretch as an Andrew angled shot whizzed past the post. In the last action of the half Orsi came within a whisker of connecting with a free-kick at the back post. HT Troon 0 Glens 0

The visitors started the second half very much in the same threatening manner they had finished the first. Boyle burst down the left to chase down an Andrew flick-on and roll the ball back to Cairns to launch it to the back post only for Morgan Brown to get a touch before the incoming Orsi could connect.

Alan Cairns closes down Garteh Armstrong

Glens quickly recovered the ball through Andrew tight on the right flank who then fed the overlapping Orsi to fire it across the goalmouth only for Armstrong to get the slightest of touches to prevent Boyle from tapping in from close range. The danger not yet over as a Glens’ throw-in set up another chance after Keenan’s headed clearance was trapped on the chest by McGuffie and his volley cannoned off Orsi’s back and the ball sailed over the bar.

Dynamic Duo

Some respite from Troon after possession was gained deep in the Glens’ half to allow Moore and Chatham to make tracks for the box only for Park to hunt them down and nick the ball for Meikle to clear and the telepathic pairing of Wardrope & McGuffie to gather and build another Glens attack. With no easy direct route into the box Troon tried a couple of crosses both of which were cleanly clutched by keeper Brian McGarrity.

JP and Joe Andrew with Gavin Collins

The visitors turned the screw again giving their hosts no peace (or goodwill) and seemed to be first and second to every ball with the darting runs by Boyle and the pressing of Andrew spearheading the waves of Afton attacks. The hard-working but now spent Spence was replaced by Jordan Muir and his fresh legs help set up a couple of half chances for Chatham that were snuffed out by McChesney & Meikle.

JP bullet homes

Glens made the breakthrough on 63 minutes and in some style with McGuffie the architect. Rolling the ball back with the sole of his boot he left Chatham stranded and following a quick turn he gained a head start on Armstrong for his dash to the box, aided by a touch from Park and Andrew to take the desperate duo of Keenan and Collins out of play. Now in the box McGuffie got his low drilled shot away before Armstrong’s tackle only for the advancing Semple to block the ball while the Glens midfielder kept his cool and quickly wheeled to clip the ball to the back post where the incoming John Paul Boyle stooped to bullet his header past Brown and into the gaping net.

JP and Ally Park enjoy the moment

Two minutes later Troon showed their teeth and Cairns beat Brown in the aerial battle for a free-kick into the box. Meikle then cut out Forsyth’s square ball destined for Chatham in the six yard box and ended Moore’s hope of making something of the loose ball with another timely clearance.
Scare over, Glens were soon back on the front foot! Semple had to race far out his box to beat Andrew to Boyle’s through ball with his defence posted missing. Wardrope’s clever pass then wrong-footed Collins to set Andrew off again and after outfoxing Keenan and McKnight thundered a shot from 22 yards out that flashed wide of the post. Midway through the half the striker sustained an injury while trying to catch out Semple with a looping header. He had to depart soon after and left to a great reception from the travelling support, to be replaced by former Troon forward Mick McCann.

Craig McGuffie

The home side made a couple of changes with Shirkie making way for Sean McKenna and Chatham for Ross McCrea as Troon went in search of an equaliser. Fine play down the left by Muir set up a chance for McKenna but McChesney was more than a match with a perfectly timed tackle and Wardrope was on the spot to snap up the ball and set Boyle off on another attack. After another mazy run McGuffie tried his luck from distance but the shot was high and wide.

Brian in charge

At the other end a minor scare after McGarrity appeared to have lost the ball but panic over and normal service resumed as he bossed his packed six yard box and comfortably gathered another corner-kick. Troon continued to press while Glenafton defence continued to stand firm. The final whistle was greeted with raised arms by the men in red, jubilant that their endeavours across the length and breadth of the pristine Portland Park had been justly rewarded. FT Troon 0 Glens 1

Glenafton Athletic: 1. Brian McGarrity, 2. Craig Menzies, 3. Alan Cairns, 4. Chris Meikle, 5. Ryan McChesney, 6. Ally Park, 7. Daniel Orsi, 8. Michael Wardrope, 9. Joe Andrew, 10. John Paul Boyle, 11. Craig McGuffie Subs: 12. Mick McCann, 14. Craig Potter, 15. Trialist (Jack Hannah), 16. Trialist (Scott Davidson), 17. David Buchanan (gk)

Troon: 1. Ally Semple, 2.Gareth Armstrong, 3. Morgan Brown, 4. Dean Keenan, 5. Gavin Collins, 6. Scott Chatham, 7. Dale Shirkie, 8. Colin Spence, 9. Adam Forsyth, 10. Chris McKnight, 11. Dale Moore. Subs: 12. Ross McRea, 14. Craig Harvey, 15. Jordan Muir, 16. Seam McKenna, 17. Marty Fraser.

More photos here