Glenafton Athletic is seeking applications for manager. Interested parties should please contact-
Thank you.
Darren Henderson
Despite Glenafton Athletic’s committee best efforts manager Darren Henderson has left the club to take up the vacant managerial job at newly promoted Hurlford United.
Darren joined Glenafton at the start of season 2011/12, after the club had narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier Division following a play-off defeat to Petershill.
He led the Glens to the Super League 1st Division Championship and a return to the top flight where they finished in 4th place. To top of a great season the Glens won the West of Scotland Cup.
Assistant manager John Garroch will also move to the Blair Park club.
Glenafton would like to thank Darren and John for two successful seasons at Loch Park.
Funday
Come along and have a great time and help raise money for a great cause
New Cumnock Ladies
Taking part in the charity football match will be the New Cumnock Ladies football side formed specifically for the day and comprising six of the finest players to grace the hallowed Loch Park pitch.
Saturday 20th July
Joe Meldrum Trophy , Loch Park , New Cumnock
Wednesday 24th July, 7:30pm
Saturday 27th July, 3pm
Monday 29th July, 7:30pm
Wednesday 31st July, 7:30pm
Saturday 3rd August, 3pm
Ross Robertson
Glenafton are delighted to announce the signing striker Ross Robertson from Ayr United.
Rossco originally joined the Glens from the Honest Men in January on loan deal until the end of the season.
He scored 6 goals in 16 appearances and played a key role in the Loch Park side finishing fourth in the league and clinching the West of Scotland Cup.
Welcome back to Loch Park, Ross.
Brian McGarrity
The club have secured the signature of Brian McGarrity from Auchinleck Talbot. Glens supporters will recall Brian coming out on top in the penalty shoot-out in the Evening Times Cup Winners Cup at Beechwood last season.
Prior to joining Talbot in 2011, Brian played for Annbank United and saved and saved a penalty against in the Glens in their trip to New Pebble Park.
Welcome to Loch Park, Brian
Goalkeeper: Ryan Dunsmuir, Brian McGarritty Craig Potter, Craig McEwan, Craig Menzies, Jamie Donnelly, Ryan McChesney, Glen Mitchell, Richie McKillen, Jack Steele, Paul McKenzie, Danny Mitchell, Graeme Eaglesham, Gareth Armstrong and Ross Robertson.
Irvine Meadow’s 4-1 defeat of Shotts Bon Accord at Hannah Park, formally brought the West Region Premier Division campaign to a close.
Glenafton’s season concluded last Saturday with the winning of the West of Scotland Cup to top off a fantastic return to the top flight.
The celebrations begin
| Competition | Placing |
| West Region Premier Division: | 4th position |
| Scottish Junior Cup: | 2nd round |
| West of Scotland Cup: | Winners |
| Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup: | Quarter-final |
| Ardagh Ayrshire Sectional Cup: | Semi-final |
| Player of the Year | |
| Supporters’ Player of the Year: | Paul McKenzie |
| Players’ Player of the Year: | Ally Semple |
| Defender of the Year: | Glen Mitchell |
| Young Player of the Year: | Ryan McChesney |
| Top Goalscorer: | Gareth Armstrong |
Having recently announced his departure from the club after four seasons at Loch Park, keeper Ally Semple has today signed for local rivals Cumnock Juniors.
Ally made 155 appearances for the Glens after having signed for the club in July 2009 under then manager Gordon Dalziel.
During his time at Loch Park , Ally has won a super League 1st Division Championship medal (2011/12) and a West of Scotland Cup winners medal (2012/13).
Sat 1st June, Newlandsfield Park, Glasgow
GLASGOW PERTHSHIRE 2 (0)
GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 2 (2)
Glenafton topped off a fantastic finish to their season with a dramatic penalty shoot-out triumph against a gallant Glasgow Perthshire side that came within a whisker of winning the West of Scotland Cup for the first time.
In the New Coin Automatics West of Scotland final at Newlandsfield it was the New Cumnock side that made the early running and from a first minute corner kick ‘Shire keeper Chris Calder did well to hold a header from Richie McKillen. Despite their early pressure the Glens struggled to seriously test the keeper in the half again. In 15 minutes a Ross Robertson header from a corner kick sailed over the bar and two minutes later a 30 yard thunder-bolt from Craig McEwan screamed past the post.
Ross Robertson heads for goal
The Keppoch park side gradually worked their way into the game and indeed finished the half on top in terms of both possession and chances created. On 37 minutes a viciously struck free from Andy Gibson was pushed over the bar by keeper Ally Semple and a minute later the midfielder was denied again as Semple at full stretch pushed his angled close range shot to safety.
Ally Semple saves from Andy Gibson
H/T Glens 0 ‘Shire 0
John Dempster earned the Glens an early corner kick from which an air-borne Calder pushed a Ryan McChesney header, bound for the top-corner, past the post. At the other end Semple cut out a Gibson cross comfortably clutching the ball under the bar.
As play swung from end to end it was Glenafton that made the breakthrough on the hour mark. McEwan picked out Gus Cochrane wide on the left flank who fended off defender Stewart Brodie before feeding Dempster in the box. The determined striker held the ball brilliantly before finding an angle for his shot which crashed off the base of the post and caught the ‘Shire defence flat-footed allowing the alert Ryan Millar to gather the ball and drill it home from 6 yards out.
It’s Millar time as Ryan puts Glens ahead
Three minutes later Millar turned provider when after good work down the right he squared the ball for Jack Steele in the box who rolled it on for Dempster to drill it low and hard only for Calder to get down low and clear the danger. Soon after the keeper denied the Glens’ striker again blocking his right footed drive on this occasion.
With their tails up Glenafton introduced Gareth Campbell for Craig Menzies but within ten minutes the Glasgow side had turned the tables. On 68 minutes live wire Gibson twisted and turned at the right corner flag before whipping the ball to the near post for striker David Kirkwood, only for Richie McKillen’s intercepting header to end in the unfortunate centre-half’s own net.
Shire draw level
Seven minutes later Gibson was the architect again his cross from the right partially cleared to the edge of the box where substitute Chris Flannery nodded the ball down for right back Stewart Brodie who swivelled and with his left foot hooked an unstoppable shot into the top corner – stunning goal!
Stewart Brodie leads the celebrations
Glenafton responded by replacing defender Craig McEwan with striker Gareth Armstrong and play three up front. The impact was immediate and the ‘Shire were soon on the back foot. On 78 minutes a Cochrane volley from inside the box whizzed past Calder’s far post. Two minutes later Millar gathered Armstrong’s knock down and skipped past Calder only for his angled shot to be cleared off the line by a composed Brodie. Armstrong then came close to getting a toe to the ball in the six yard box after good play by Dempster.
Chris Calder and Ryan Millar
With three minutes of regulation time remaining Glenafton were awarded a free kick at the right hand corner of the penalty box. Campbell’s chip to the back post was headed clear by Shaun Stirling to the edge of the penalty area where Robertson quickly played the ball back into a packed six yard box and as it broke loose Gareth Armstrong lashed it into the roof of the net.
Bo bags the equaliser
A minute later a beautifully controlled header by Armstrong picked out Dempster on the six yard line only for Calder to pull off a brilliant brave block and then Robert McPhee make an equally brave goal-line clearance to prevent Campbell poking the loose ball home.
Gareth Campbell goes close
Both sides had half-chances from set-pieces in added time before the whistle blew to herald a dramatic penalty shoot-out. F/T Glasgow Perthshire 2 Glenafton Athletic 2
Glenafton Athletic: Semple; McChesney, G.Mitchell, McKillen, McEwan (Armstrong); Robertson, Steele, Cochrane, Menzies (Campbell); Dempster & Millar subs: McKenzie, McMillan, Eaglesham, Dunsmuir (gk)
Glasgow Perthshire: Calder; Brodie, Gambae, McPhee, Stirling, Begg, Gibson, Frize, Kirkwood, Cahoon, McGeough. Subs O’Donnell, Flannery, Malcolm, Brown
Penalty shoot-out
The sides were all square after two rounds with a 100% success rate, Paul Frize and David Kirkwood finding the target for ‘Shire and John Dempster and Gareth Campbell for the Glens.
Glasgow Perthshire gained the advantage when Stewart Brodie scored before Calder saved from Gus Cochrane.
Semple then saved from Frazer Malcolm before Ross Robertson tied the score at 3-3 going into the fifth round.
Penalty shoot-out – Semples !
Andy Gibson’s spot kick crashed off the cross bar and Gareth Armstrong stroked his effort home to seal victory for the Glenafton and take the West of Scotland Cup back to New Cumnock for the third time.
Gareth Armstrong settles it
The celebrations begin …
The celebrations begin
The presentation to the West of Scotland Cup Winners 2012-13
Championeees
New Coin Automatics West of Scotland Cup Semi-final
Sat 25th May, Loch Park, New Cumnock
GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 3 (2)
ARTHURLIE 2 (1)
Glenafton were forced to make four changes to the starting eleven that had overcome Largs Thistle in the quarter final a fortnight ago with Paul McKenzie, Craig Potter, Danny Mitchell and Craig McEwan all unavailable. Visitors Arthurlie, who were victorious in the league match at Loch Park earlier in the season, were looking to take a fourth Premier side scalp in their excellent run in the West of Scotland cup.
The home side started brightly in the glorious May sunshine forcing an early corner which although won by the head of Richie McKillen was eventually cleared by the boot of former Glens’ defender Chris Merrilees. On five minutes Jack Steele pinged the ball from the half way line over the top of the ‘Lie defence for John Dempster to head down into the path of the incoming Ryan Millar but his shot from 10 yards out saw keeper Kevin Macklin pull off a super save and turn the ball round the post. However, the young Glens’ striker was not to be denied. From Gus Cochrane’s corner-kick Ross Robertson, engulfed in a cluster of players, headed the ball forward deep into the six yard box where Ryan Millar was first to react and deftly guide the ball home between the keeper and Craig Holmes defending the near post.
Ryan rocks ‘Lie
Six minutes later Glenafton doubled their advantage when another Cochrane corner was powerfully headed up-field by Iain Chisholm and the ball instantly returned to the danger area by Steele’s looping header. Here it was headed on by Ryan McChesney and as the ball broke Ross Robertson nicked between Holmes and Steven Crawford to calmly stroke it into the corner of the net from 15 yards out.
Celebrations after Ross double Glens’ lead
Shell-shocked ‘Lie who had yet to threaten carved out their first chance on 19 minutes after Ryan McGregor’s header was gathered by James Marks who having spotted keeper Ally Semple off his line executed a delicate lob only for the keeper to back track and get an outstretched arm to push the ball wide of the post. Although nothing came of the resultant corner kick it signaled a period where play became significantly more evenly distributed in terms of possession.
On 27 minutes the home side were forced to make a change with Gareth Armstrong replacing the injured Graeme Eaglesham who had to leave the field after stretching awkwardly for the ball.
Arthurlie began to exert pressure and Marks’ aerial prowess was keeping central defenders Glen Mitchell and McKillen on their toes …and in the air. Three minutes from the break the striker halved the deficit. A corner from the right found the ball partially cleared to the left flank where Paul Stewart rolled it into the path of Holmes who clipped the ball back across the face of goal for James Marks to rise and powerfully head beyond Semple.
Arthurlie get off their Marks
Two minutes later Glenafton looked to recover their two goal cushion when Steele collected a header from Dempster and knocked the ball on through the heart of the visitors back-line and gave chase leaving defenders in his wake in his 50-50 race for the ball with Macklin now rushing from his line. The keeper bravely won that race as Steele slid to try and prod the ball home but instead caught Macklin, an effort deemed worthy of a straight red card by the match official.
In the closing action of the half Armstrong sandwiched between Merrilees and Blakey on the outskirts of the box did well to engineer a lob at goal only for it to finish just wide of target. H/T Glens 2 Lie 1
Ten minutes after the break the visitors drew level with a well worked goal. Stewart at the corner of the box fed Marks to his left who quickly drilled the ball across the face of the goal where it was redirected back to the near post by Stephen Bonar for Stephen McKeown to tap home.
Stephen McKeown levels the tie
The visitors’ tails were up and with a man advantage began to enjoy long spells of possession as they spread the ball the length and breadth of the park albeit without severely testing Semple as the red line of McChesney, Mitchell, McKillen and Craig Menzies put in a shift and half.
In stark contrast it was the 10 men that were creating the best of the chances. Just after the hour mark Millar’s pace again caused panic as he got behind the ‘Lie defence and forced Macklin to rush from his line to confront him at the edge of the box where the Glens’ striker skipped past him and tried to slot the ball home from an acute angle only for Blakey to get back in time and guide it behind for a corner. The keeper then pulled off a fine save from Robertson’s looping header.
Ryan goes close
Millar left the field soon after to thunderous applause from the home support in an appreciation of another exhilarating performance to be replaced by Gareth Campbell who a minute late powered into the box and hit a low drive which Macklin was relieved to see go just wide of the far post. Soon after it was Armstrong’s turn to get behind the defence and brilliantly turn Crawford in the box before opting to cut the ball back for Dempster on the penalty spot, the pass however falling just behind his strike partner.
With 10 minutes to go the roles were reversed with Dempster cutting back for Armstrong only for the ball to be cleared and recaptured by Robertson tight on the right flank. As Bonar and Holmes tried to paint the Glens man into the corner, he twisted one way and the other before whipping the ball into the box where it was met first time by Gus Cochrane and from 16 yards he lashed it into the top corner with Macklin a spectator – a stunning strike worthy of any cup-tie winning cliché.
Gus ……goooooaaaaallllllll !
Try as they might Arthurlie couldn’t conjure up fresh ideas to try and get the better of the 10 men and any saves Semple had to make were of the comfortable and sound variety. Meanwhile, at the other end Dempster continued to harass the ‘Lie defence as time ran out for the Barrhead side.
F/T Glens 3 Arthurlie 2
Glenafton: Semple; McChesney, G.Mitchell, McKillen, Menzies; Robertson, Steele, Eaglesham (Armstrong), Cochrane; Millar (Campbell) and Dempster. Subs. McMillan, Dunsmuir (gk)
Arthurlie: Macklin; Chisholm, Blakey, Merrilees, Crawford; McGregor, Bonar, McKeown, Holmes; Marks & Stewart. Subs Duncan, Blakes, Muir, Dymock, Merriman
Other scores: West of Scotland Cup semi-final Kirkintilloch Rob Roy 1 Glasgow Perthshire 4
Sat 11th May, Barrfields Park, Largs
LARGS THISTLE 1 (1)
GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 1 (1)
Glenafton travelled to face a Largs Thistle side that still foster hopes of a securing a play-off place in their bid for promotion from the Super League 1st Division. The trip also provided the first opportunity to witness the quality of the fantastic new playing surface installed at Barrfields. It was soon matched by the quality of the play as both sides served up an entertaining first half. The home side took the early initiative when on 7 minutes a free kick from the half way line was clipped over the top of the Glens defence and gathered by Sean Laurence with some composure before taking a touch and slipping the ball beyond the reach of keeper Ally Semple.
Sean Lawrence slots home the openr
Back came the visitors through Paul McKenzie who made his way into the box and unleashed a scorching shot that had the ice-cream at Nardini’s melting only for the ball to whiz past the junction of post and bar.
Taz goes close
The end-to-end theme continued with Willie McClure cutting into the box from the left and skipping past a host of red shirts before drilling a low angle shot that was pushed round the post by Semple. Glenafton’s goal lived a charmed life as Euan Lindsay’s header from the resultant corner was headed off the line by Craig McEwan. At the other end a Craig Potter cross into the box was met by Jack Steele by keeper Stevie Connick was well positioned to clutch the header. Still only 11 minutes gone!
Thistle began to enjoy more possession and their passing at times was a treat to watch with wide men Laurence and McClure catching the eye while keeping the visitors on their toes but although they forced a few corners they couldn’t add to their tally. Glens gradually got a foothold and Ryan Millar’s run to the bye-line concluded with a cut back for Gus Cochrane only for his shot to go wide of target. Another Largs corner came close but Nikky Little’s header scraped past the post.
Gus grabs the equaliser
On 21 minutes the visitors drew level with a well worked goal. Ross Robertson fended off two Thistle defenders before releasing Craig Potter down the right flank to cut the ball back into the box where it was intercepted by Ian Fisher only for Gus Cochrane to pounce on the loose ball and drill it low and hard into the corner of the net.
Seven minutes later Potter was in the right place at the right time at the other end to hook the ball off the line as Largs looked to get their noses in front again. Millar’s perseverance saw him breach the Thistle box and then roll the back to Cochrane who forced his way past a number of defenders before firing for goal, but on this occasion Connick came out on top. Two minutes from the interval after a lightning break down the right Laurence picked out Eaun Lindsay in the six yard box but his touch took the ball across the face of goal and the danger eventually cleared. H/T Largs 1 Glens 1
Glenafton made two changes at the break with John Dempster on for Robertson and Graeme Eaglesham for Gus Cochrane. The visitors were soon on the front foot with the runs of McKenzie and Steele giving the hosts food for thought after their half-time oranges. On 53 minutes the visitors won a corner kick and Connick pulled off a stunning save from Richie McKillen’s header. Millar and McKenzie had each probing runs into the Largs box but the home defence stood firm as the Glens continued to press.
Ryan Millar on the nove with John Dempster in support
Some respite for Largs on the hour mark when pressure earned a corner kick and although the ball fell to Eddie Walton and then Kevin Struthers neither could conjure up a shot on target. Five minutes later McEwan got behind the home defence down the left to send a cross-field ball to the back post where his met by a vicious volley by Millar which crashed off the top of the bar. Fine play by Eaglesham ended with his cross being headed just wide by Glen Mitchell.
Graeme Eaglesham flies down the flank
On 78 minutes Eaglesham came within a whisker of putting the Glens ahead, after controlling a rebound from a Dempster drive, but his cleverly executed volley went inches wide with Connick on his knees. In a rare break for Theesel substitute Graham Muir sent Nikky Little through on goal but his attempt was comfortably held by Semple. At the other end Connick blocked a Millar shot at the near post and then pulled off another top drawer save from a Steele drive after good build up play by Eaglesham and Dempster.
In the closing minutes Ryan Millar went off to a rousing reception from the travelling support with Gareth Armstrong on his place. In time added on the hosts almost sneaked but Semple saw off the danger and then in the last action of the match Gault was on hand to stop an Armstrong header falling at the feet of Dempster deep in the box. FT Largs 1 Glenafton 1
Waiting spot for spot kicks
The penalty shoot was tied at 5-5 after 10 unstoppable kicks of the highest quality, John Dempster, Craig McEwan, Glen Mitchell, Jack Steele and Gareth Armstrong finding the net for the Glens. In sudden death Graeme Eaglesham slammed home another stunner while Ally Semple got a hand to Creag Little’s effort but no avail as the sides remained tied.
Richie rifles home No. 7
Richie McKillen then curled one in to maintain the visitors 100% record before Ally Semple got down low to hold the unfortunate Sean Lawrence’s spot kick.
Ally saves as Ross checks out from the terracing
Largs Thistle: Connick; Fisher, McLaughlin, Walton C.Little; Lawrence, Gault, Struthers (Lappin), McClure (Muir); Lindsay (Monaghan), N.Little Sub McWilliams
Glenafton Athletic: Semple; Potter, McKillen, G.Mitchell, McEwan; McKenzie, D.Mitchell, Steele, Cochrane (Eaglesham); Robertson (Dempster), Millar (Armstrong). Subs Menzies, McChesney
More photos here
Other scores: League Auchinleck 2 Shotts 1 ; West of Scotland Cup QF Arthurlie v Petershill match postponed
Video highlights here
