Glenafton Athletic

Scottish Junior Cup Semi-final 2nd leg

Sunday 20th April 2014, Loch Park, New Cumnock

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC  2 (1)

CAMELON JUNIORS 0 (0)

Glenafton win 3-2 on aggregate

Glenafton Athletic, Tommy Bryce and his troops cheered on by the red #Afton Army defeated Camelon Juniors2-0 at Loch Park to secure a 3-2 aggregate win and march on to the Scottish Junior Cup final for the fifth time in the club’s history. This one, arguably the most remarkable achievement following the close-season turmoil that befell the New Cumnock club.

Camelon , a goal to the good from the 1st leg at Carmuirs Park last week, were first to show and top goal scorer Kevin Kelbie was denied a close range header by Brian McGarrity as he rose to cleanly clutch and gather the ball to safety – a sight that would become a feature of the game. A Camelon corner-kick was repelled on 10 minutes as they continued to apply the early pressure.

Glens responded through a determined run into the box by Michael Reilly which earned the home side their first corner-kick and two more would follow in quick succession. Jamie McKernon’s kick arrived in the heart of the six yard box where Aaron Connolly may have got a touch before the ball fell for Cameron Marlow who kept his cool to fire the ball home from a few yards out and level the tie in aggregate with 14 minutes gone.

By George – Cammy, Cammy, Cammy , Camelon

Camelon’s defence dealt better with another Glens’ corner a few minutes later and then keeper Ritchie Barnard rushed from his line to beat Marlow to the chase for a through ball deep into the box.

The Mariners soon regained their sea-legs and with the wind at their back set sail down both flanks with good effect but finishing touches were proving more elusive that buried treasure. Nevertheless they enjoyed a good fifteen minute spell of pressure beginning with an unchallenged McGarrity plucking a corner kick from the left out the air.

In safe hands with Brian McGarrity

Another corner was only partially cleared by the home defence and the ball eventually fell to Jamie Donaldson wide left in the box but his cross for Colin Allison at the near post crashed off the self-same post. Kelbie found some space at the right hand corner of the six yard box and although he did well to engineer a powerful shot the ball ended well wide of target . Donaldson’s low angled shot was on target but was comfortably collected by McGarrity and the keeper then bravely leapt to grasp the ball to fend off the challenge from Marty Wright. A timely tackle by Jamie McGeoghegan then prevented Allison a sniff at goal.

Michael Reilly and Aaron Connolly with Colin Leiper

The home side did break forward on occasion chiefly through Reilly and Connolly however they too were finding clear cut chances to be thin on the ground. Ten minutes from the break a clever through ball by Findlay Frye cut open Camelon’s defence only for Barnard to get the jump on Connolly, run to the edge of the box and launch the ball to safety. Frye then whipped a cross in from the left only for Barnard to grab the ball from under his bar as Reilly challenged. In the last action of the half Blair Batchelor set up Alison in the box but his shot lacked the conviction and power to beat McGarrity H/T Glens 1 Camelon 0

Glenafton U17s parade the League Cup

The visitors were quickly on the front foot and Donaldson’s acrobatic volley was deflected wide to earn their first corner of the new half, which McGarrity mopped up with another outstanding piece of handling. Within five minutes of the restart the Glens suffered a serious setback when captain Craig Menzies hobbled off the park.

The reshuffle saw Jamie McGeoghegan drop back and partner Ryan McChesney at the centre of defence and the oncoming Darren McGill fill the vacancy in midfield. The home side quickly regrouped and won a couple of free kicks on the outskirts of the box but these came to nothing while. A powerful run down the right wing by Frye ended with his cross into the box being cut out by the outstretched leg of Alan Benton , as Connolly waited to pounce.  At the other end McChesney’s presence was enough to force Colin Leiper’s to volley wide of target. Back upfield and on 67 minutes Glenafton appeared to have doubled their lead after Darren McGill bulleted a header into the net from four yards out, only for it to be disallowed for some infringement.

Darren McGill’s head homes – but it’s disallowed

Two minutes later a Batchelor free kick caused panic in the Glens box as McGarrity got down low to hold the ball only for Allison to attempt to force it over the line beyond the keeper and Craig McEwan. Camelon arms raised to celebrate the equaliser before noticing the raised flag of the assistant referee for an infringement.

Camelon’s celebration short-lived

On 73 minutes Alain Kinney replaced Michael Reilly the striker exiting to a well-deserved ovation from the home support. With time running out neither side could get the upper hand and the dreaded penalty shoot-out was the talk of the terracing. However, with four minutes to go Scottish Junior cup-tie drama descended on Loch Park. A slick passing moving down the right flank concluded with Batchelor having the keeper to beat only for McGarrity to dive bravely at the feet of the Junior Scotland midfielder and smother the ball, which was then promptly launched upfield.

Brian McGarrity keeps Glens in front

With their backs to goal Connolly and Eamon Fullerton challenged for the ball on the 18 yard line, the Glens striker chesting the ball back for Alain Kinney to gather who then held off a defender before executing a cute reverse pass to deliver the ball into the path of Findlay Frye who promptly leathered it from 25 yards out and with the aid of a deflection dispatch it into the gaping net with the wrong-footed Barnard rooted to the spot.

Frye screamer

The celebrations by players and supporters that followed underlined that the Glens had taken an aggregate lead with only minutes of regulation time remaining.

Frye’s Loch Park Delight

The home side lifted by their lead and the tireless Connolly was proving a handful, Leiper making a last ditch tackle to prevent Glens’ top goal-scorer a clear run on goal. Cammy Marlow hobbled off to a fantastic reception to be replaced by Stevie Miller shortly before the sweet sound of the final whistle confirmed that sweet Afton were in the final of the Scottish Junior Cup.

#AftonArmy

The after-match celebrations continued for some time as the sun continued to bathe Loch Park. It would be some time after the sun had sunk before the enormity of this victory had sunk in with all those associated with Glenafton Athletic and been part of this extraordinary season. FT Glens 2 Camelon 0 (3-2 aggregate)

Glenafton Athletic: McGarrity; McEwan, McChesney, Menzies (McGill), Cairns; McGeoghan, Frye, McKernon, Marlow (Miller); Connolly & Reilly (Kinney) Subs. Brown
Camelon Juniors: Barnard; Kelly, Benton, Leiper, Fullerton; Donaldson, Ure, Batchelor, Wright; Allison & Kelbie Subs: Bell, Young , Cringean

more photos here

• Glenafton TV 1st half highlights
• Glenafton TV 2nd half highlights

Scottish Junior Cup Semi-final 1st leg

Sunday 13th April 2014, Carmuirs Park,  Camelon

CAMELON JUNIORS 2 (1)

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 1 (1)

Teeming rain welcomed the teams as they gingerly descended the steps from the dressing rooms onto the Carmuirs Park pitch, led out by two young proud-as-punch Mariners’ mascots oblivious to the conditions overhead or underfoot. Pennants exchanged the youngsters departed the scene while the rain decided to hang around to the final whistle and witness the opening leg of the Scottish Junior Cup semi-final between Camelon Juniors and Glenafton Athletic.

Pennants exchanged

The New Cumnock side were quick off the blocks with Michael Reilly and Aaron Connolly combining well as the white shirts pushed forward. From tight on the right wing Connolly picked out Cameron Marlow in the six yard box only for the midfielder to scoop his shot over the bar.

Arms aloft to celebrate Cameron Marlow’s opener

Seconds later Connolly clipped a through ball that caught the Camelon defence flat footed and gave Cameron Marlow a one-on-one with Ritchie Barnard with the keeper forcing the Glens man much wider than he had hoped to travel and the chance appeared to have gone – not in the slightest! From wide on the left and from an outrageous angle he fired the ball back across the goal mouth beyond a flotilla of floundering Mariners gallantly trying to divert its course but to no avail, instead it struck the back post before nestling in the rigging. Glenafton a goal to the good and with less than 3 minutes gone.

Cameron scores at Camelon

Five minutes later Barnard tipped a Ryan McChesney header over the bar and from the resultant corner-kicker the Scotland international keeper made a stunning point blank save from a close range Marlow header and from that corner kick clutched Marlow’s header from under the bar.

At the other end Brian McGarrity matched that save by getting down low to push away a Blair Batchelor drive after the midfielder had pounced on a headed clearance from Alan Cairns. The chance kick-started Camelon into action and the game was now end-to-end. On the slippery surface tackles won didn’t always result in the ball being retained and possession change hands readily.

On 26 minutes the home side drew level after a ball into the six yard box saw McChesney win the aerial battle only for the ball to break free and the two Colins, Alison and Leiper, react quickest with the latter Colin Leiper prodding the ball home from a yard out.

Colin Leiper forces home the equlalser

Four minutes later Craig McEwan stood firm in another goal mouth scramble forcing Alison to set up Gary Kelly but McGarrity’s pressure forced the defender to skew his effort wide.

On 35 minutes Connolly on the left made excellent progress into the Camelon box and although his square ball eluded the out-rushing Barnard defender Alan Benton got a timely touch to deny the incoming Findlay Frye a tap in. Five minutes later a Jamie McKernon corner kick almost sneaked in at the back post but for a headed clearance by Andy McGown, the ball then hooked back into the mix by McChesney only for Kelly to partially clear and then no fewer than three red shirts close down Reilly before he could shoot for goal.

H/T Camelon 1 Glens 1

Camelon came out firing and Alison’s pace and movement on a surface that was becoming greasier by the minute caught the eye. Headers from Craig Menzies and then Jamie McGeoghan cleared the Afton line as crosses from both flanks were fired into the box.

Back came the Glens to earn a corner kick which was ably cleared by the Mariners defence. On the hour mark Marlow’s cross from wide on the left found Connolly in space on the box but the Glens’ striker touch eluded him and the chance lost. Four minutes later the electric Alison burst through the middle only for the tracking Menzies to nick the ball in the danger zone and McKernon to pick up the pieces and clear the ball.

Michael Reilly holds off the Mariners

The home side continued to press and muddy white shirts were strewn across the ground as they manfully continued to repel balls whipped into the box. On 67 minutes it was the red shirt of Kevin Kelbie that lay prostrate in the penalty box after a coming together with Frye, the referee waving away claims for a spot kick. Soon after Allison’s athletic leap and header in the box was bravely headed clear by McGeoghan as Marty Wright looked certain to nod home from close range and then Cairns’ pressure was enough to ensure Batchelor’s header loop over the bar.

Some respite for the visitors when Frye forced his way up-field and little wonder after an energy sapping run Barnard comfortably held his shot from distance. Glens won a couple of corners in quick succession, the second of which saw Barnard punch the ball from the head of McGeoghan.

Back came Camelon and again balls were being whipped in from both wings before the pressure paid off on 77 minutes when Craig Menzies’ attempt to prevent a cross from the left reaching Kelbie ended with his clearing header unfortunately flying into his own net. In the aftermath Camelon’s Andy McGown was shown a straight red card for his misguided celebratory gesture.

No luck for Craig Menzies

Glenafton brought on the fresh legs of Alain Kinney for Michael Reilly and soon after Darren McGill for Cameron Marlow while the hosts sacrificed Colin Alison for defender Eamon Fullerton. Only a few chances were created in the closing minutes the best of which ended with Barnard saving well from a Connolly header.

F/T Camelon 2 Glenafton 1

Great credit goes to both sides for serving up an entertaining cup-tie in tricky conditions.

Camelon Juniors: 1. Ritchie Barnard 2. Gary Kelly 3. Andy McGown 4. Alan Benton 5. Colin Leiper 6. James Donaldson 7. Blair Batchelor 8. Derek Ure 9. Colin Alison (15. Eamon Fullerton).10. Kevin Kelbie 11. Marty Wright
Glenafton Athletic: 1. Brian McGarrity 2. Craig McEwan 3. Alan Cairns. 4. Ryan McChesney 5. Craig Menzies. 6.Findlay Frye 7. Jamie McGeoghan 8. Jamie McKernon 9. Aaron Connolly. 10. Michael Reilly (12. Alain Kinney) 11. Cameron Marlow (15. Darren McGill) Subs. Stevie Miller, Craig Brown.

More photos here