Davie MacFarlane (1967-2013)

Posted on October 30, 2013 by flowgently

Davie McFarlaneGlenafton Athletic were saddened to learn that former midfielder Davie MacFarlane passed away today. ‘Mighty Mac’  was a member of the great Glens side of season 1992/93 that won the Scottish Junior Cup, Ayrshire League Championship and Ayrshire Cup .

Ayr-born Davie stepped up from Ayr United Boys Club to sign for Rangers as a 17 year-old at the start of the 1984 season. He made 7 appearances for the Ibrox side, including coming off the bench to replace Ian Durrant in the 1986 Scottish League Cup Final in the 2-1 victory over Celtic.  In the Rangers side that day was former Glens player Ted McMinn, while future Glens player Tony Shepherd was in the Celtic team.

Davie McFarlane2During his spell at Rangers he went went on loan to Kilmarnock (December 1987-1988) and also had a loan spell at Dundee before signing on permanently at Killie for £100,000 in October 1988. He scored 7 goals in 26 appearances for the Ayrshire side.

Davie had a brief spell with Sunshine George Cross in the Victoria League Australia before joining Glenafton Athletic in Season 1990-91 as part of the Alan Rough revolution. Of course he was quick to remind his new boss that his best ever goal was when playing for Rangers against Hibernian at Easter Road “when he chipped Roughie him from 40 yards”.

Davie, Tom Brown , Mick Morran and Alan Rough with the Scottish Junior Cup

Davie, Tom Brown , Mick Morran and Alan Rough and young mascot Alison’ with the Scottish Junior Cup

Davie quickly established himself as a firm favourite with Glenafton supporters and played in three consecutive Scottish Junior Cup Finals for the New Cumnock side.

The thoughts of all at Glenafton Athletic are with Davie’s family and friends at this sad time.

Posted in GAFC Feature | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Davie MacFarlane (1967-2013)

Lugar 0 Glenafton 2

Posted on October 27, 2013 by flowgently

Scottish Junior Cup 2nd round

Sunday 27th  October, Rosebank Park, Lugar

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 0 (0)

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 2 (1)

Despite the atrocious conditions a good crowd turned up at Rosebank to take in the Scottish Junior Cup 2nd round tie between Lugar and Glenafton which had been put back to the Sunday in order to avoid a clash with the cup ties at nearby Auchinleck and Cumnock.

A minute’s silence was observed before kick-off in memory of former Lugar player Brian Gilmour, who also had played for the Glens, the two sides joined by the local boys’ team to pay their respects.

Jamie McKernon returned to the Glens starting line-up have recovered from injury and was soon in the thick of the action as the visitors went on to dominate the first half in terms of both possession and in the few clear cut chances that were created, the first of which came in 10 minutes. Aaron Connolly picked up the ball in the middle of the park before feeding Jamie McGeoghan who in turn picked out John Craig wide on the right to float the ball high into the box where Connolly pounced on an attempted clearance only for keeper Ally McInnes to pull off a fine save.

A minute later a fine passage of passing play initiated by McGeoghan deep in the right and finishing with Alan Cairns wide on the left lofting the ball into the box where it was met by the head of Findlay Frye at the back post before being instinctively punched behind by the keeper. McGeoghan drove forward again and a slick one-two between Connolly and Alain Kinney ended with the former’s low drive whizzing past the post.  As the heavens opened the visitors’ pressure came to a head on the 26 minutes when a Connolly corner kick was met at the near post by the air-borne Alain Kinney and headed powerfully into the home net.

Alain Kinney heads home

Alain Kinney heads home

Two minutes later McGeoghan launched the ball high into the box and although Cameron Marlow did well to chest the ball down his volley finished high and wide of target. Five minutes before the break the midfielder was denied by a timely intervention in the six yard box by Seamus McGeady to cut out a Connolly cut-back after good build up play by McGeoghan and Craig.

As the half drew to a close Lugar carved out their best chance 9since having won a corner kick in the opening minutes) when Steven Harris broke free down the right but his cut back was well blocked by the safe hands of keeper Brian McGarrity.  In the last action Kinney conjured up a cute overhead kick that slipped just over the bar. H/T Lugar 0 Glens 1

The second half appeared to be going the way of the first as the Glens forced an early corner and Connolly’s header dipped over the bar. However, the home side’s half-time oranges kicked in and Lugar took the game by the scruff of the neck against a strong head wind.  A determined run by Marti Watt had him advance deep into the Glens box with white (well nearly white) shirts in forlorn pursuit but the advancing McGarrity blocked his shot at goal. On 55 minutes the keeper was on top form again holding a Chris Todd drive through a ruck of players.  Three minutes later Stuart Wark released Martin Reilly down the right into acres of space and yet again McGarrity came to the rescue, rushing to block the  shot at goal and forcing Reilly to go wide to retrieve the ball , allowing Ryan McChesney time to get back and head the subsequent shot clear at the expense of a corner.

Clean sheet from Brian McGarrity

Clean sheet from Brian McGarrity

Soon after on 63 minutes and against the run of play, the visitors were presented the chance to double their lead from the penalty spot after Kinney was the filling in a Lugar sandwich in the box. However, Jamie McKernon spot-kick crashed off the outside of the post.  Nevertheless, it heralded another turning point in the game as Glenafton began to get a foothold on the game, despite conditions underfoot.  Marlow’s chip into the box was headed on by McKernon and as Kinney threatened to pounce McInnes and Craig Muir combined at the near post to usher the ball to safety. A Craig cross from the right whizzed across the face of goal but just out the reach of both Kinney and Marlow. At the other end an alert McGarrity prevented Todd from punishing a slack pass back and later stopped the same player’s angled drive with a fine save at the foot of the post.

A big hand for Alain

A big hand for Alain

His counterpart McInnes then lost his footing and fell on his back as he prepared to catch a long ball lofted into the box; amazingly he kept his cool and caught the ball safely with outstretched arms – howzat!  The keeper then blocked a Marlow drive in a more conventional fashion but minutes later as the midfielder drove into the box he was brought down unceremoniously by an exasperated Martin Reynolds. Penalty duties handed to Alain Kinney, who duly thumped the ball home to effectively seal the tie with six minutes to go – with his sixth goal of the competition – and send the Glens into the draw for the third round. F/T Lugar 0 Glens 2

Lugar Boswell Thistle : McInnes, McGeady, Frame, Reynolds, Muir, Harris, Watt, Cuthbertson, Wark, Todd, A.Paterson. Subs – Reilly, Black, Sloan, Stevenson, I.Patterson.

Glenafton Athletic : McGarrity, McGeoghan, McChesney, Menzies (McEwan), Cairns; Craig, Frye (Miller), McKernon, Marlow; Connolly (Brown), Kinney. Subs, Dimilta, , Maltoni.

Photos here

 

Posted in GAFC Match Report | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Lugar 0 Glenafton 2

Glens and Lugar meet again in Scottish – after 40 years!

Posted on October 23, 2013 by flowgently

Scottish Junior CupOn Sunday Glenafton Athletic travel to face Lugar Boswell Thistle in the Scottish Junior Cup 2nd round. Incredibly, it is only the second time the two clubs have met in the competition, the first some 40 years ago, also in the second round and at Rosebank.

There is a wee bit more to the story than meets the eye.

Lanemark vs. Lugar Boswell

Lanemark Football Club was formed in 1877 and were based at Connel Park in the parish of New Cumnock, their pitch owned by Lanemark Collieries. A senior side, their first recorded match was an Ayrshire Cup tie in 1877/78 against Rankinston Mountaineers. The following season Lugar Boswell were formed and in Season 1881/82 they played host to Lanemark in the Scottish Cup 1st round and enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win. The two sides never met again in the senior Scottish Cup.

Traces of Lugar Boswell competing as a senior side in the Ayrshire Cup disappear after season 1901/1902 and the club resurfaces in the junior ranks a few years later. Lanemark continued to play until the outbreak of the Great War in 1914 and folded soon after its conclusion.

New Cumnock United vs Lugar Boswell

The footballing gap was filled by junior side New Cumnock United, who were also based at Connel Park, the pitch now owned by New Cumnock Collieries.  The “U’s”, as they were known, competed in the South Ayrshire League and won three titles in a row from 1921/22 through to 1923/24, while Lugar Boswell didn’t join the league until 1926/27 and in some style by winning the title. New Cumnock United folded at the end of the next season as the fall in demand for coal impacted the community. During their brief existence my incomplete records suggest that United and Boswell never met each other in the Scottish Junior Cup.

Glenafton Athletic vs. Lugar Boswell

In 1930, Glenafton Athletic rose from the ashes of United, playing at the Connel Park pitch with many of the United players in their ranks and won back to back South Ayrshire League titles, while Lugar finished in bottom place in both these seasons.  The days of the small southern league were numbered and it collapsed. Many of the clubs including Glens and Lugar applied for admission to the Western League, comprising chiefly of north Ayrshire teams, but all were rejected. Although there was no league football in season 1932/33 the two sides met in the Mauchline Cup final (held over from the season before) at New Station Park, Cumnock.  The Glens retained the trophy with first half goals from Adair and Blair before McCall pulled one back for Lugar after the break.

Glenafton: Kinnaird; Ferguson & Penrose; Jackson, McHallum & Ballantyne; Carmichael, Campbell, Adair, Shankland & Blair. Lugar: White; Barbour & Johnstone; Baird, Gilmour & Torrance; Hesset, McCall, Newman, Kerr & Kelly

However, the two sides never did meet in the Scottish Junior Cup and the following season Glenafton Athletic ( along with Kello Rovers and Auchinleck Talbot) were admitted to the Western League, while Lugar Boswell folded.

 Glenafton Athletic vs. Lugar Boswell Thistle

After World War II  Lugar Boswell re-formed as Lugar Boswell Thistle at the start of Season 1945/46 and the ‘Jaggy Bunnets’ were born. A decade later they reached the final of the Scottish Junior Cup but lost out to Petershill in the Hampden final. Almost another ten years would pass before Glenafton reached the final for the first time, they too going down at Hampden, to Irvine Meadow. It would be near on another decade, during Season 1973/74, before Glenafton and Lugar would meet in the Scottish Junior Cup for the first time.

Rosebank was the venue for the Scottish Junior Cup 2nd round tie and two goals in quick succession, from Holland in 58 minutes and Cairns two minutes later, put the visitors ahead. Gilmour pulled one back for the Thistle but it was the Glens that progressed to the 3rd round.

Glenafton: Carruthers; Sturgeon, McAughtrie; Mackie, Stirling, McEwan; Cairms, Leonard, Holland, Shields and Graham. Sub- Peck.  Lugar : Wilson; Burley, Pearson; Wright, Ferguson, Cree; Blackwood, Kane, Bradford, Gilmour & Lee. Subs -Burns and Hunter.

The Glens team below from the early 70’s includes Harry Carruthers, Willie Mackie, Hugh Holland and Drew Peck that faced Lugar – while the home team’s full backs that day were Burley and Pearson -perhaps Tom and Donald that had previously played for the Glens.

Glenafton Athletic ca. 1970-72

Glenafton Athletic ca. 1970-72

Back row: Will Kerr, Jim Marshall, Tom Burley, Donald Pearson, Harry Carruthers, Jim Laidlaw, Hugh Holland, Jimmy Anderson, Hugh Campbell

Front Row: Mick Morran, ?, Drew Peck, Jim Clark, Matt Fulton, Bobby Neil, Willie Mackie, Martin Campbell.

Forty years ….where did they go!

Posted in GAFC Feature | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Glens and Lugar meet again in Scottish – after 40 years!

Glenafton 2 Largs 3

Posted on October 19, 2013 by flowgently

NCA West of Scotland Cup

1st Round

Saturday 19th October, Loch Park, New Cumnock

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 2 (0)

LARGS THISTLE 3 (2)

Little and Largs have the last laugh

Holders Glenafton exited the West of Scotland Cup at the first round despite a spirited second half fight back against Largs. The visitors went in at the break two goals to the good only for Glens to get back on level terms by the hour. However on 70 minutes Thistle’s Nicky Little smashed home what proved to be the winner.

Glens midfielder Jamie McKernon failed to recover from a calf injury sustained in the league match at Auchinleck last week and Findlay Frye returned to the starting eleven.

As in the recent league encounter between the two sides at Loch Park the visitors raced to an early lead when on 7 minutes centre half Creag Little rose to power a header home from a corner kick.

The game began to flow back and forth like the Millport Ferry with both sides creating decent chances. Good work on the right by Stevie Miller set up Alain Kinney but his header flashed over the bar. At the other end Largs looked to have doubled their lead when a throw in was launched deep into the box and Willie McLure’s knock-down was slammed home by Graham Muir, but the McClure adjudged to have unfairly challenged keeper Brian McGarrity.

The home side enjoyed a good spell of pressure beginning with Aaron Connolly playing a neat one-two with Kinney before testing Ryan McWilliams, the keeper coming out on top with a fine save. Miller making good progress down the right picked out Cameron Marlow at the back-post only for McWilliams to make another good block and the Glens midfielder’s attempt to bury the rebound deflected wide of target. Soon after a Miller corner kick saw Jamie McGeoghan win the ball in the air and Kinney’s follow-up header thunder off the base of the post.

On 28 minutes however the visitors doubled their lead following some excellent individual skill from Andy Monaghan. After gathering the ball from a throw in deep in the Glens half on the left flank  he skipped past Miller and cut into the box where he side stepped past Ryan McChesney before firing the ball across the face of the goal and although McGarrity got a hand to it Graham Muir was on hand to poke the loose ball home.

Glenafton responded well and Frye and Miller combined to set up Connolly, his diving header saved well by McWilliams. The keeper topped that save from the head of Marlow when he tried to guide home the ball after a miscued clearance. A long kick upfield from McGarrity was left by the Largs defence to bounce seemingly harmlessly into the box but instead left Connolly and McWilliams in a chase for the ball, the two meeting wide on the left and Connolly floored.  Appeals for a penalty were waved away and the Glens forward booked. H/T Glens 0 Largs 2

Cameron Marlow

Cameron Marlow

The home side started the new half on the front foot and on 54 minutes halved the deficit. From the half way line Alan Cairns lofted the ball into the box where Kinney rose to head the ball down for  Cameron Marlow who was well positioned to crack a first time volley into the net from 12 yards out.

Glens continued to press and on the hour mark drew level after Alain Kinney’s aerial prowess saw him bullet home a header from a peach of a Miller cross.

With their tails up the home side went in search of a third and forced a couple of corner kicks before Largs struck back in some style. On 70 minutes a free kick from Scott Keogh was launched into the box and the ball headed clear by McChesney only for Nicky Little to meet it sweetly and thump it home from 20 yards out.

The home side tried to counter when Craig Menzies worked his way into the box and rolled the ball into the path of Marlow but his low driven angled shot whizzed past the far post. At the other end McGarrity comfortably held a Creag Little header. Glens second half substitutes David Dimilta and Craig Brown combined well in the box before the latter’s shot was stopped by McWilliams and Largs held onto their lead and progress to the second round.

Glenafton: McGarrity; McGeoghan, McChesney, Menzies, Cairns (Dimilta); Miller (Brown), Frye, Craig, Marlow; Connolly, Kinney . Sub.  Maltoni (gk)

Largs: McWilliams; Keogh, Fisher, Walton, C. Little, Muir  (Thomson), Stanton,N. Little , Monaghan, McLure (McLaughlin),Struthers (Marks) . Subs.  McStay, Weir( gk)

Video Highlights : Courtesy of Glenafton TV

First Half

Second Half

Posted in GAFC Match Report | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Glenafton 2 Largs 3

Auchinleck 2 Glenafton 1

Posted on October 12, 2013 by flowgently

West Region Premier Division

Match 7

Saturday 12th October, Beechwood Park, Auchinleck

AUCHINLECK TALBOT 2 (1)

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 1 (1)

Glenafton began with the same starting eleven that defeated Arthurlie last Saturday after Alan Cairns recovered from a knock sustained at Dunterlie.

The visitors were first to threaten on 5 minutes through Cameron Marlow advancing deep into the box only for his square ball for John Craig to be cut out and cleared by Colin Spence. Two minutes later keeper Brian McGarrity was well positioned to gather Keir Milliken’s shot from close range in a crowded Glenafton box.

Craig Menzies with Cammy Marlow in support

Craig Menzies with Cammy Marlow in support

The home side began to get the upper hand in terms of possession and were using both flanks to great effect, the ball at times being switched from one to the other in a flash. Nevertheless the Glens defence marshalled by captain Craig Menzies and with Ryan McChesney in splendid form,  kept the Talbot at bay – no better exemplified than on 25 minutes as the home side penetrated the Glens’ box in numbers. First McChesney blocked James Latta’s attempt to nick the ball home at the near post and after Willie Lyle picked up the loose ball he was forced to retreat by Menzies’ presence and pick out the irrepressible Bryan Young whose twists and turns left three red shirts on the ground only for his shot at goal to be well held by McGarrity as Latta waited to pounce on any spillage.

Aaron Connolly vs. Andy Leishman

Aaron Connolly vs. Andy Leishman

Two minutes later the visitors carved out a great chance. Following a Jamie McKernon free kick which blasted off the Talbot wall the ball was played into the box from the right and Alain Kinney rose above the remains of the wall to head the ball down into the six yard box where the alert Aaron Connolly beat Andy Leishman to the ball and clip it goalward only for the giant keeper to show great agility to turn, dive and scoop the ball off the line; more than atoning for his howler when facing the same player in the previous meeting at Beechwood.

Aaron Connolly vs Andy Leishman

Aaron Connolly vs Andy Leishman

Sixty seconds on and Kinney out-jumped Lyle at the edge of the box and his header was again gathered by Connolly who left the centre backs for dead only for Leishman to deny him with another, albeit painful, block.

Colin Spence opens the scoring

Colin Spence opens the scoring

Play was now flowing from end-to-end and on 37 minutes the home side made the breakthrough. An unforced error saw the Glens surrender the ball to David Gormley on the left who broke into the box and although his cross was over-hit, Milliken gathered and fed Latta in a central position who in turn picked out Colin Spence and the midfielder took a touch or two before lashing the ball into the net.

Although end to end play resumed it was the Talbot that had the best chance before the break with MGarrity saving a Gormley header. H/T Auchinleck 1 Glens 0

Cammy Marlow's shot saved by Andy Leishman

Cammy Marlow’s shot saved by Andy Leishman

The visitors replaced Stevie Miller with Findlay Frye at the break and within a minute of the restart almost drew level. Craig lofted the ball high into the box and Kinney’s aerial prowess helped it on its way to Marlow on the corner of six yard box, who then out-muscled Lyle before firing for goal from an acute angle, only for Leishman’s fingertips to force the ball across the face of the empty goalmouth.

David Gormley makes it 2-0

David Gormley makes it 2-0

The home side doubled their lead on 53 minutes when David Gormley dived to head home a Young cross at the near post, a touch of class from the former Glenafton forward.

Glens almost halved the deficit four minutes later after Martin McGoldrick’s headed clearance was gathered brilliantly by Marlow at the edge of the box and although his shot left Leishman rooted to the spot the ball whizzed inches over the bar. Soon after the big keeper got a better view of McChesney’s header from a corner kick and saved comfortably.

Back came Talbot with Milliken driving forward from the half way line before picking out Gormley on the right and his low angled drive pulling out a fine save from McGarrity. Another home goal would surely have killed off the contest but instead on 66 minutes the Glens clawed their way back into the game.

Alain slams home

Alain slams home

Jamie McGeoghan, on the overlap down the right, whipped in a superb ball into the box for Aaron Connolly and Alain Kinney to compete for, the latter rising above his sandwich of McGoldrick and Lyle to head the ball down and then hold off the defenders to stretch out a leg and guide the ball beyond Leishman – a gutsy goal by any standard,

Martin McGoldrick and Alain Kinney

Martin McGoldrick and Alain Kinney

The home side licked their wounds and were soon on the front foot with some exhilarating attacks. Gormley galloped down the right and his cross from the dead-ball line eventually landed at the feet of MGoldrick, via White and Milliken, but Craig did enough to force the defender to pull his close range shot wide of target.  Another Talbot corner kick was manfully defended only for the ball to fall for Craig Pettigrew but his shot too failed to hit the target.

Glens continued to make a game off it without creating any further clear cut chances while the home side came up against a resilient defence including their former keeper Brian McGarrity in fine form, and on one occasion the woodwork to ensure there would be no further scoring. F/T Auchinleck 2 Glens 1

Glenafton: McGarrity; McGeoghan, McChesney, Menzies, Cairns; Miller (Frye), Craig, McKernon (Brown), Marlow; Connolly & Kinney. Subs. Maltoni (gk), Dimilta, Trialist

Auchinleck:  Leishman; Lyle, MGoldrick, Pettigrew, Park; Latta (Faulds), White, Spence (K.Connolly), Young; Milliken & Gormley (McCann) Subs. Reilly & Armour.

more photos here

Posted in GAFC Match Report | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Auchinleck 2 Glenafton 1

Arthurlie 1 Glenafton 3

Posted on October 5, 2013 by flowgently

West Region Premier Division

Match 6

Saturday 5th October, Dunterlie Park, Barrhead

ARTHURLIE 1 (1)

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 3 (0)

Despite going behind to an early goal at Dunterlie the visitors turned the game around with three second half goals to secure all three points which has Tommy Bryce’s troops climb to fourth place in the league.

Tommy and Aaron share a laugh

Top goal scorer Gary Smith turned provider and set up Stevie Dymock with a tap in to put Arthurlie ahead after only 6 minutes. The home side continued press but clear cut chances were thin on the ground. Glenafton began to force their way into the game as the half progressed and had opportunities to draw level but couldn’t capitalise on a couple of slip ups in the home defence. H/T Lie 1 Glens 0

Jamie McKernon

Jamie McKernon

On 51 minutes the visitors were awarded a spot kick after a cross into the box was stopped by an outstretched arm. Jamie McKernon stepped up to slot the ball home past keeper Kevin Macklin.

Glenafton were now very much on the front foot and took the lead through an own goal after Alain Kinney’s attempt to tap the ball home was blocked by one ‘Lie defender before striking another and crossing the line.

.

Aaron Connolly

Aaron Connolly

With the visitors well on top the home side appeared to have been given a lifeline when a linesman’s flag had suggested an infringement in the Glenafton box, but play continued and no award  given.  Macklin kept his side in the game with a string of good saves the best of which came with five minutes from time after Jamie McGeoghan picked out Kinney in the box, only for the keeper to make a point blanks save and scramble away the rebound. In time added-on  Aaron Connolly eventually got the better of Macklin to slip home the third goal, his tenth of the season. F/T Lie 1 Glens 3

Glenafton: McGarrity; McGeoghan, McChesney, Menzies, Cairns (Brown); Miller, Craig, McKernon, Marlow; Connolly , Kinney. Subs: Dimilta, Maltoni

Arthurlie: Macklin, Miller, Blakey, Jordan, Dillon, Bonar, Rafferty, McSorley, Smith, Dymock, McArdle  Subs Lyden , McGregor,Ramsay, Green, Docherty (GK)

Posted in GAFC Match Report | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Arthurlie 1 Glenafton 3

Moaners and Groaners Club

Posted on September 30, 2013 by flowgently

loch_parkline
By request we have started a club for all retired, semi retired and any Glenafton supporters or members to head to Loch park every Tuesday to get involved in some ground works & maintenance etc.

It will be every Tuesday 10 am so all come along for a wee blether and a cuppa tea, please pass the word around.

Club Secretary John Stewart

Posted in GAFC Feature | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Moaners and Groaners Club

Rae of sunshine !

Posted on September 29, 2013 by flowgently
Tommy and John

Tommy and John

Manager with Tommy Bryce with lifelong Glenafton supporter John Rae after the Glenafton win over Inverness City in the Scottish Junior Cup.

John kindly donated the management team tops.

Thanks John.

Posted in GAFC Feature | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Rae of sunshine !

Glenafton 9 Inverness 1

Posted on September 28, 2013 by flowgently

Scottish Junior Cup 1st Round

Saturday28th September, Loch  Park, New Cumnock

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 9 (2)

INVERNESS CITY 1 (1)

Striker Alan Kinney marked his Glenafton debut with four second half goals that finally put a gallant Inverness City side to the sword and the home team into the second round of the Scottish Junior Cup.

Glenafton started as brightly as the strong September sun that bathed Loch Park and had carved out a number of decent chances before Cameron Marlow instigated the opener after 11 minutes. His determined run down the left flank saw him shrug off Steven MacGregor before progressing into the box and square the ball for Aaron Connolly waiting to pounce in the six yard, only for the unfortunate Christopher Moir’s interception to divert the ball into his own net.

Cameron Marlow's cross diverted into the net

Cameron Marlow’s cross diverted into the net

Two minutes later Findlay Frye released Alan Cairns down the left and his run into the box was brought to an abrupt end when the clear pair of heels he had shown Alan Kerr where whipped from him by the chasing defender.  Jamie McKernon powered home the penalty kick to double the hosts’ advantage.

Jamie McKernon scores from the spot

Jamie McKernon scores from the spot

Credit to City they didn’t crumble, far from it, as the back-line regrouped and pushed forward, while the Glens struggled to beat the offside trap time and again. The visitors also began to show their mettle up front and forged a few chances with some fine passing play. Midway through the half striker Steven Sanderson gathered a quick throw-in and lashed a shot from 18 yards that whizzed just wide of the far post. Ten minutes later Michael Corbett’s run down the right and cut-back was met at the near post by Kerr, but his header was just off target.

Glens responded through Marlow releasing Connolly in the box with the striker’s effort going wide of keeper Iain Young’s post.  With 10 minutes of the half remaining Gary Anderson’s perseverance saw the visitors push upfield and the ball gathered by Gary Miller on the left and in flash it was whipped into the near post for Steve Sanderson to give keeper Brian McGarrity no chance with a close range header.

Stevie Sanderson celebrates

Steve Sanderson celebrates

Two minutes later a fantastic solo run by Findlay Frye ended deep in the box with a well time tackled by the alert Young and a minute later Kerr matched the feat to dispossess Connolly as he prepared to shoot for goal.

HT Glenafton 2 Inverness 1

Glenafton began the second half in a similar vein to the first with two quick goals. On 51 minutes a lung bursting run down the left by captain Craig Menzies took him far into the box and his cut-back was met first time by Aaron Connolly who crashed the ball home from 8 yards out.

Aaron Connolly makes it 3-1

Aaron Connolly makes it 3-1

Three minutes later Alan Kinney burst into the box and with the fast advancing Young to beat, he deftly rolled the ball into the path of the incoming Jamie McKernon who gratefully stroked the ball into inviting net.

Jamie jabs home the fourth

Jamie jabs home the fourth

In no mood to take their foot of the gas the Glens continued to press and on the hour mark Young was happy to see a cute lob from Kinney curl wide of the post. Two minutes later Connolly set up McKernon but his hat-trick celebrations were quickly curtailed with the flash of a flag for offside.  Connolly then collected a knock-down by Kinney and left the City defence for dead but Young did enough to force the striker to drill his shot wide.

Respite for the visitors in the form of McGarrity clutching the ball from Sanderson’s head, came and went in a flash, as the keeper’s throw out picked out John Craig on the right.  The ball then despatched to McKernon who single-mindedly drove for the box and drew Young far from his line before chipping the ball to the back post for Alain Kinney to head home from a yard out and give the Glens a 5-1 lead with 67 minutes gone.

Alain celebrates his first Glens goal

Alain celebrates his first Glens goal

Kinney bagged his brace with 15 minutes remaining after Connolly left three defenders in his wake before squaring the ball for his striking partner to pick his spot.

Alain bags his brace

Alain bags his brace

A minute later, the seventh goal was fashioned in the image of the sixth, only Kinney in the role of the provider and Connolly the goal scorer.

Aaron makes it 7-1

Aaron makes it 7-1

The beleaguered City did venture forth on the odd occasion but McGarrity’s safe handling ensured there were to be no crumbs of comfort and instead Glens’ goal feast continued.  On 84 minutes, in a crowded penalty area the home side had two or three bites at the cherry before Kinney, ten yards out, thumped a low angled shot beyond Young to complete his hat-trick.

Alain hits his hat-trick

Alain hits his hat-trick

With two minutes to go Frye foraged his way into the City box and although his run was ended by Kelvin MacKenzie the midfielder regained the ball and fed it back to Craig who in turn set up Kinney to fire home his fourth from 12 yards and complete the scoring.

Alain makes it 9-1

Alain makes it 9-1

During final whistle handshakes Glenafton’s Craig McEwan was shown a straight red card, apparently for violent conduct.

FT Glenafton 9 Inverness 1

Glenafton Athletic:  Brian McGarrity; Jamie McGeoghan, Ryan McChesney, Craig Menzies, Alan Cairns (Craig McEwan); Stevie Miller (John Craig), Findlay Frye, Jamie McKernon, Cameron Marlow. Subs Bruno Maltoni

Inverness City:  Iain Young, Steven MacGregor, Gary Anderson, Alan Kerr, Paul MacDonald, Andrew Devlin, Christopher Moir, Michael Corbett, Steven Sanderson, Kelvin MacKenie, Gary Miller. Subs David Harrison, Calum Neil, Gary Reid, Finlay Macleod

more photos here

Posted in GAFC Match Report | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Glenafton 9 Inverness 1

Alain and Tommy re-united

Posted on September 21, 2013 by flowgently
Alain Kinney Courtesy of Pollok FC

Alain Kinney Courtesy of Pollok FC

Glenafton are delighted to announce that they have agreed terms with striker Alain Kinney and Renfrew, and that the striker will sign today.

Alain began his junior career with Saltcoats Victoria in 2005/06 before moving on that season to Pollok and from there to Neilston. In 2007/08, Tommy Bryce signed Alain for Kibirnie Ladeside and after four seasons at Valefield he joined Irvine Meadow briefly before returning to Pollok for a second time. At the start of 2012/13 he moved on to Western Park. Welcome to Loch Park, Alain.

Glenafton are also delighted to announce that following discussions with manager Tommy Bryce, that defender Craig McEwan has decided to stay with the club and returns to training today. Welcome back Southy.

Striker Scott Adam suffered a bad knee injury in the victory over Largs Thistle last Saturday. The swelling remains much the same a Scott will have a scan to determine the extent of the injury. Everyone at the club wished Scott a speedy recovery.

Posted in GAFC Squad | Comments Off on Alain and Tommy re-united