Paul Murphy
Glenafton Athletic and Bo’ness United have agreed terms that will see Paul Murphy join the East Region Super League side on loan until the end of the season. The midfielder has made 16 starts for the Glens this season and scored 1 goal. Paul will team up with Glens former assistant manager Stevie Kerrigan.
Glenafton would like to wish Paul at the best at Bo’ness.
Stagecoach West Region Premier Division
GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 1 (0)
PETERSHILL 0 (0)
Glenafton got off to the perfect start against league leaders Petershill with a goal in four minutes after Paul McKenzie menaced his way into the box and played a neat one-two with Ross Robertson before firing for goal with the ball deflecting off Ryan Jordan beyond the reach of keeper Michael White.
Taz opens the scoring
Four minutes later Ross Robertson looked to have doubled the home side’s lead when from a Gareth Campbell corner kick he beat Jordan to the ball at the back post and guided it home by way of the other post, only for the goal to be disallowed for some infringement.
Ross’s No Goal
The Glens were dominating the middle of the park with Craig Potter and Danny Mitchell breaking down Peasy moves and McKenzie picking up the pieces to initiate home attacks. Another corner kick beat the outstretched arm of White but Jordan was on hand to head over his own bar as Robertson threatened at the back post.
On 18 minutes Petershill conjured up their first serious attempt at goal after winning a free kick at the edge of the box. Sean McKenna’s determination against Potter and Glen Mitchell ended with the latter penalised as he tried to retrieve the ball from the grounded Peasy striker, an action that ended with Stephen O’Keane receiving a yellow card for kicking out at Mitchell. Back to the football and Ryan Craig’s sweetly struck kick beat the wall and all but grazed the junction of the post and bar with Ally Semple beaten. Soon after, the keeper did well to punch clear a corner kick as Peasy pushed for the equaliser.
Ryan Craig goes close
Back came Glenafton and on 26 minutes Craig McEwan’s pass caught the Peasey defence flat-footed allowing John Dempster to break into the box only to be denied by the fleet-footed White who rushed from his line and made an excellent block. A minute later Robertson in the centre circle picked out Craig Menzies on the right flank and he combined well with Dempster who in turn saw off the attention of Danny Smart at the corner flag to fire the ball to the back post where Robertson rushed in ahead of Ross McCabe to bullet the header past White. But again, the goal was disallowed after Dempster’s cross was adjudged to have gone out of play. Three minutes later Robertson beat McCabe in the air again but his header sailed over the bar.
Ross’s No Goal (II)
Glens continued to dominate play and there was little respite for the beleaguered Peasy defence as the home side pushed for a second but White’s goal remained intact to the break. There were a few glimpses of attacking play from the visitors the best of which ended with a timely tackle by Glen Mitchell bringing a fine run by O’Keane to an end deep in the box. H/T Glens 1 Peasy 0
The visitors were first to show and two minutes after the restart earned a free kick on the edge of the box but on this occasion Craig’s effort battered off the wall. A minute later Menzie’s cross to the back post saw Robertson rise bravely to beat McCabe and White to the ball and his header go narrowly wide. Back up the park and the home side for the first time in the match put the Glens’ goal under a sustained period of pressure. Robertson headed clear a free kick deep in his own box. Soon after Semple narrowed the angle and made a stunning save from a Paul Woods strike from the corner of the six yard box. The loose ball fell to Liam Finnigan who looked certain to blast it home from a few yards out only for Ryan McChesney to launch himself into its path and repel the danger.
The game evolved into a much more even contest as play swung from end to end. On 56 minutes Robertson from 25 yards out curled a free kick over the Peasy wall and White was pleased to see it whiz wide of the post as he scurried across his line. Ten minutes later, after the sides had traded a series of corner kicks and half-chances, a Robertson shot from the edge of the box beat White but the ball crashed off the post and was smartly cleared by Graham Girvan. Two minutes later a fine run down the right by McKenna was halted by an equally fine tackle from Potter on the dead ball line as substitute Stephen McGladrigan threatened to pounce on the cut-back. At the other end Dempster engineered his way behind the visitors’ defence but McCabe kept a cool head to mop up that cut-back.
Ross eyes the Peasy goal
With 15 minutes to go bothteams introduced fresh legs with Bobby Colligan and Richie McKillen replacing Gareth Campbell and Craig Menzies for the home side. The legs of Paul McKenzie motored down the left as the Glens cleared a corner kick and try as he might the back tracking Jordan couldn’t catch the tigerish midfielder as he homed in on the Peasy box before pushing the ball right for Roberston whose low drilled powerful shot was held well by White, albeit at the second attempt. After another lung-bursting run and with three minutes to go McKenzie was replaced with Gus Cochrane and left the park to a great reception from the home support.
Paul McKenzie and Ryan Jordan
On 88 minutes White pulled off another fine save after Dempster carved out an opening to curl a shot beyond the Peasy central defenders from the edge of the box. A minute later a frustrated Jordan Murch broke down a Glens break away and was already heading for the clubhouse as the referee prepared to administer a second yellow card.
Ally Semple and ‘Saving Captain Ryan’
Five minutes into added time McChesney made another fearless block as McKenna fired for goal. The resultant corner was met cleanly by the head of Ryan Jordan and yet with two defenders between him and the Peasy captain Ally Semple somehow got an outstretched arm and strong hand to the ball on the line and John Dempster kept a cool head to hook the loose ball to safety. F/T Glens 1 Peasy 0
Glenafton: Semple; Menzies (McKillen), McChesney, G.Mitchell, McEwan; McKenzie (Cochrane), Potter, D.Mitchell, Campbell (Colligan); Robertson, Dempster. Subs Murphy, Armstrong
Petershill: White; Girvan, McCabe, Jordan, Smart; Woods, Murch, O’Keane, Finnigan; McKenna, Craig. Subs McGladrigan, Bailey, Mackay, Hinshelwood, McKenzie (gk)
Siney’s Video Highlights First half Second half
Other league scores: Arthurlie 3 Kirkintilloch Rob Roy 3
Striker John Paul Boyle as joined Super League 1st Division side Kilbirnie Ladeside on a loan deal until the end of the season. JP has made 12 starts and 7 sub appearances this season and scored 4 goals.
The club would like to wish JP all the best at Kilbirnie.
Stagecoach West Region Premier Division
ASHFIELD 2 (1)
GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 0 (0)
Ross Robertson
Glenafton’s loan signing from Ayr United Ross Robertson partnered Gareth Armstrong up front and the striker was soon in the thick of the action. The first chance of the game however fell in the first minute to full back Craig McEwan who fired a free kick from 30 yards that had keeper Stephen Hall scurrying across his goal line only for the ball to whiz narrowly wide of the post. Four minutes later the keeper went airborne to punch the ball from Robertson’s head and soon after he rose and attempted to clutch the ball from the striker’s head only to spill it and then dive to get a strong hand to it before Armstrong could pounce.
On 13 minutes the home side won a free kick twenty yards goal and although Mark Thomson beat the wall keeper Ally Semple gathered the ball comfortably. Back came the visitors and three minutes later almost made the breakthrough. A free kick lofted to the back post was headed back across goal by Robertson where Armstrong lost his marker only for his bullet header to crash off the underside of the bar and the ball hoofed clear by Robert Wright.
Bo’s header hits the bar
Glenafton continued to pile on the pressure forcing the home side to concede free kicks, with McKenzie more often than not on the receiving end, and corner kicks in equal measure. Hall’s goal remained intact surviving headers from Robertson and Glen Mitchell while a low drive from McEwan zoomed narrowly wide.
Midway through the half Ashfield burst into life when Thomson picked out Gary McCann on the half way line and the tricky winner exploded down the right flank leaving a host of red shirts in his wake before whipping the ball across the face of goal beyond the reach of Semple only for Craig Potter to keep a cool head and guide the ball behind and deny Shaun Fraser a tap in at the back post. Following some head tennis from the resultant corner the ball fell for Jim Smith in the six yard box but an alert Semple did enough to block the danger, if only temporarily. For soon after, on 24 minutes, a Glenafton attack broken down in the home box was mopped up by Paul Maxwell who in turn released the mercurial McCann and on this occasion he ventured deeper into the visitors’ box before cutting back a wicked ball which was met by the incoming Chris Hall and blasted home from three yards out. Three minutes later Maxwell set Smith free and although he got behind the Glens’ defence the back-tracking Ryan McChesney and Semple combined to foil the striker.
Chris Hall opens the scoring
The visitors regained their composure and came within a whisker of drawing level on the half hour mark. Armstrong’s header from a corner struck off Robertson deep in the six yard box as did his attempt to slot home the rebound, his strike partner now grounded, the ball then fell for Richie McKillen but his shot was stopped on the line by Jamie Coll before Hall gratefully grabbed it with both hands.
Goal line clearance
The home side hit back with a slick passing move that began down the right with McCann and was switched in a flash to the left to present Wright with a free run into the box but Semple again rushed from his line, narrowed the angle and stuck out his left leg just in time to prevent the ball from being stabbed home. A minute later at the other end Robertson played a ball into the box where Danny Mitchell saw off Darroch and left Hall stranded but the nippy McCann nicked in to steal the ball and save the keeper’s blushes. The visitors continued to push but again were caught on the break when Maxwell launched the ball upfield for Smith to give chase and again he was foiled by Semple who had raced from his to line to the corner of the box. A spell of end to end play ensued without either side testing the keepers and the half concluded with Hall punching a McKenzie corner off the line. H/T Ashfield 1 Glenafton 0
An Ashfield corner kick in the opening minute came to nothing and the visitors were soon on the front foot. On 50 minutes substitute Gareth Campbell, on at the break for McKillen, saw his header from 8 yards out saved well by Hall and a minute later the keeper leaped to punch the ball clear from the head of Robertson. Glens replaced Gareth Armstrong with John Dempster as they pushed for the equaliser and the big striker came close on 58 minutes. A free kick into the box saw Robertson win the aerial battle with Hall on the penalty spot and McKenzie chip the ball into the six yard box with the keeper stranded only for Darroch and Coll to double team and block Dempster’s effort. Two minutes later Dempster slipped the ball to Paul Murphy at the edge of the box but his shot lacked the power to severely test Hall.
Respite for the home defence came in dramatic fashion a minute later when Glenafton surrendered possession in the middle of the park and Wright released with a free run in on goal. Semple, as he had done successfully on a number of occasions, run from his line to face the danger but caught Wright instead of the ball and the home side rightly awarded a penalty. The referee further adjudged the challenge was worthy of a red card for the keeper and his jersey and gloves were surrendered to full back Craig McEwan. On 63 minutes Chris Hall stepped up and sent the stand-in goalkeeper the wrong way as he slotted home the spot kick.
The game quickly took on a new complexion with the home side content to sit in and hope to pick of the ten men on the break. The visitors brought on new signing Graeme Eaglesham for Danny Mitchell but try as they might they could not penetrate a well drilled defence and a packed Ashfield box. Paul McKenzie tried a different tack and in 71 minutes his cracking volley from 30 yards out cracked off the crossbar the loose ball cleared by Thomson with Robertson lurking. The home side’s defence stood firm and the Glenafton corners that ensued were repelled in turn one after the other.
The game ground to a finish with few other chances worthy of note other than two from Chris Hall. Three minutes from time his tap in from a McCann cross beat McEwan but not the offside flag and in the last kick off the ball McEwan pulled off a point blank to deny him his hat-trick. F/T Ashfield 2 Glenafton Athletic 0
Ashfield: S.Hall, Coll Mangan Thomson Darroch Fraser Wright Hall Smith Maxwell McCann
Glenafton: Semple, McEwan, McChesney, G.Mitchell, Potter; McKenzie, D.Mitchell, Murphy (Eaglesham) , McKillen (Campbell); Armstrong (Dempster), Robertson. Subs Menzies, Cochrane, Colligan.
Scottish Youth Cup U19s 5th Round
GLENAFTON U19s 1 (1)
CLAREMONT AFC 0 (0)
Glenafton U19s
The long awaited tie between Glenafton (1994s) and Claremont AFC from East Kilbride went ahead at Loch Park. Glenafton scored what proved to be the decisive goal as early as the 7th minute, a goal worthy of winning any match. The Glens’ defence retained the ball before playing it up to Tyler Campbell on the wide right who in turn played a 40 yard diagonal ball to Jordan Graham who cutely cut inside two defenders before smashing the ball into the top corner.
The home side dominated much of the play but suffered a scare ten minutes from time when Tyler Campbell earned a second yellow card but the ten men held on to deservedly book their place in the Scottish Cup quarter finals.
Glenafton: R Dunsmuir, D Gall, J Blackwood, R Allan, J Kerr, J Graham, J Quinn, D Naismith, T Campbell, R Campbell, J Kerr, Subs – S Stobbs, C Muncie, R Currie, J McPartland (All Used)
Friendly Match
TROON 1 (1)
GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 4 (3)
With their Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup tie against Dalry postponed due to a frozen Loch Park pitch the Glens travelled to the coast to face Troon in a friendly match.
New signing Ross Robertson put the visitors ahead before Paul McKenzie doubled their advantage. The home side halved the deficit only for midweek signing Graeme Eaglesham to restore the two goal cushion soon after. Gareth Armstrong completed the scoring in the second half to give the Glens a comfortable 4-1 win.
Glenafton have signed striker Graeme Eaglesham on a two year deal. The 23 year old had a spell with Ayr United and Hamilton Accies as a youth before joining Maybole Juniors. In season 2007-08 he signed for Partick Thistle during which time he had loan period at Albion Rovers. Graeme moved to study in the USA where he played for Bellevue University, Nebraska. He returned to Scotland and joined Queen’s Park for a season before heading back to Bellevue to complete his scholarship and play a further two seasons for the University side.
Graeme played for the Glens in the 7-0 friendly win over Kilbirnie on Tuesday evening.
Welcome to Loch Park, Graeme
Friendly Match
GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 7 (4)
KILBIRNIE LADESIDE 0 (0)
Goals from Richie McKillen and John Dempster put Glens in the driving seat. New signing Ross Robertson added a third from the penalty spot before an own goal out the Premier Division side 4-0 up at the break. Second half goals from Bobby Colligan, Gareth Armstrong and John Paul Boyle completed the scoring to make it two 7-0 friendly wins in a week at the Beith astroturf.
Ross Robertson (photo courtesy of Ayr United)
Ross Robertson has joined Glenafton Athletic on loan from Ayr United until the end of the season. The 21 year old stepped up from the Ayr United Academy in October 2009 and made his first team debut for the Somerset side in July of the following year.
Irvine-born Ross has made over 75 appearances for the first team and scored 5 goals. Originally playing in defence or midfield he now plays up front.
Welcome to Loch Park, Ross.
Friendly Match
GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 7 (4)
KILWINNING RANGERS 0 (0)
Gareth Armstrong put the Glens ahead from the penalty spot and Danny Mitchell doubled the lead ten minutes later. Richie McKillen struck soon after , quickly followed by Mitchell bagging his brace before the break. Bobby Colligan grabbed a double before Danny completed his hat-trick.
Glenafton Athletic 