Glenafton 1 Beith 3

Posted on September 1, 2012 by flowgently

Stagecoach West Region Premier Division

Saturday 1st September , Loch Park, New Cumnock

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 1 (1)

BEITH JUNIORS 3 (1)

A minute’s silence was held before kick off in memory of Glenafton supporter Jim McEwan who had passed away in the early hours of the morning.  Jim was an elder brother of Glenafton legend Ian McEwan, the club’s longest serving player.

Wearing their new home tops for the first time the Glens created the best of the few half chances on offer in the opening twenty minutes of a game that was deeply lacking in inventive play.  On 12 minutes Scott McManus tight on the right touchline twisted and turned to shake off Nickey Docherty before firing in a cross from the corner flag and although Gareth Campbell headed the ball down for John Dempster no fewer than five Beith defenders descended on the Glens’ striker to clear the loose ball.  Six minutes later Paul McKenzie found McManus in the box who did well to hold off Greg McShane only for his shot from an acute angle to hit the side netting.  Soon after as the hosts continued to press Gary Wilson’s attempted clearance at the corner of his six yard box cannoned off Danny Mitchell and the ball fell for Craig Potter  on the 18 yard line but his attempt to guide it home was well held by Adam Strain.  In a flash Beith broke upfield with Kris Irvine finding Calum Hardie in space on the right hand side of the penalty box where the impressive midfielder whipped the ball across the face of goal for the incoming David McGowan only for the unfortunate Glen Mitchell’s attempt to head it clear finish in the back of his own net, with 21 minutes gone.

Beith go in front

Chances at either end were now on the increase and so too the tempo of the match. On 27 minutes a trademark run from Andy Reid saw him glide down the left flank before cutting into the box but hopes of doubling his side’s lead were dashed by a last ditch tackle from Robbie Henderson. Four minutes later McMnaus outwitted Wilson on the 18 yard line to knock down a neat header into the path of Dempster to run on and fire for goal but he too was undone by a perfectly timed tackle, Docherty the purveyor.  Glen Mitchell rose to win the resultant corner but his powerful header whizzed past Strain’s right hand post.

Gareth Campbell scores from the spot

The home side’s efforts were rewarded on 41 minutes when McManus lost Wilson in the box again only for the covering McShane to dive in with a rash tackle and floor the Glens’ forward. Gareth Campbell stepped up and slammed spot kick beyond the reach of Strain for Glenafton’s first goal of the Premier campaign. H/T Glens 1 Beith 1

The second half proved to be a mirror image of the first with the opening 15 minutes or so devoid of any decent chances. A feature of the proceedings was the contrast in the set pieces from both sides with the home side struggling to conjure up anything to cause concern in their opponents’ box while the visitors’ attempts tended to carry greater threat.  Beith also looked the livelier going forward in taking the ball from box to box with some slick interchanges, Hardie at the heart of many of the moves the best of which ended with Semple pulling off a fine save from Docherty.

Beith made the breakthrough on the hour mark beginning in the centre circle with Gary Wild pushing McKenzie off the ball which fell to Hardie and in no time Kenny McLean was motoring down the right before drilling the ball low and hard to the back post where Andy Reid was free to pick his spot and tap the ball home.Glenafton made a couple of changes with Paul Murphy replacing Danny Mitchell and Gareth Armstrong on for Craig Potter but managed only to test Strain through a McKenzie drive before Reid struck again on 73 minutes in almost a carbon copy of his first with another tap in at the back post to put the finishing touches on a McGowan cross from the right hand side of the penalty box.

Andy Reid bags his brace

Beith continued to stroke the ball around with some style and although the Glens enjoyed an equal share of possession converting this into shots at goal proved elusive – a Murphy effort in the closing seconds sneaking wide of target the nearest they came. FT Glens 1 Beith 3

Glenafton:  Semple; Menzies, G.Mitchell, Henderson, McKillen; McKenzie, Potter (Armstrong), D. Mitchell (Murphy), Campbell; McManus, Dempster . Subs – McEwan, McChesney, Dunsmuir

Beith: Strain, Irvine, Wilson, McShane, Docherrty; Hardie, Callaghan, Reid; McGowan, Reid. Subs Howarth, Crozier, Bristow, J. McGowan, Greenwood

More photos here

Other Premier scores: Ashfield 4 Clydebank 2; Cumnock 1 Kirkintilloch 2; Irvine Meadow 2 Arthurlie 1, Petershill 0 Auchinleck 1

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Glenafton 2 Auchinleck 3

Posted on August 30, 2012 by flowgently

Ardagh Glass Sectional Cup Semi-Final

Wednesday 29th August , Loch Park, New Cumnock

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 2 (2)

AUCHINLECK TALBOT 3 (2)

Bitter Tablet to swallow for Sweet Afton

Glenafton surrendered a 2-0 half time lead over the Talbot who had to play most of the second half with 10 men and to add to the bitter taste of defeat former Glenafton striker David Gormley bagged the winner deep into added time to put the holders through to the final where they will face Irvine Meadow.

Honours were fairly even until the game sparked into life just before the half hour mark when John Dempster’s perseverance saw him shake off defenders Martin McGoldrick and Craig Pettigrew and although his pop at goal was blocked by Andy Leishman the ball fell to Danny Mitchell who blasted into the net from the verge of the six yard box.

Danny and Demps

Talbot wasted no time on mounting a response and Ally Semple did well to stop a free header from Mick McCann and then two minutes later punch the ball clear from the head of Kyle Faulds before the Glens doubled the lead in a frenetic four minute spell. John Dempster  beat John White to head the ball down for Scott McManus who slipped past McGoldrick before returning it to Dempster who drove powered his way along the right side of the penalty box before firing home beyond Leishman from an acute angle.

JD makes it 2-0

Back came Talbot again and a minute later Gormley cutting in from the left drilled the ball low and hard to the near post only for McMann but in slid Richie McKillen with a goal saving last ditch tackle.  At the other end with less than 10 minutes of the half remaining Craig Potter set Paul McKenzie down the right flank and with the Talbot defence back-tracking he cracked a shot from where Dempster had scored and although Leishman got down in time the ball, not for the first time, evaded the keeper’s grasp and to his relief Pettigrew was on hand to mop up the mess before McManus could pounce.

The end-to-end entertainment continued apace and a minute later Gormley looked certain to score with the deftest of touch to guide the ball beyond the reach of Semple from six yards out but the keeper matched the striker’s sharpness of thought to get a touch to send it wide. The resultant corner kick saw the Glens’s goal live a charmed life as Graham Wilson’s header crashed off the underside of the bar and Gormley’s attempt to bury the rebound cleared off the line by Craig Menzies and the striker’s second bite at the cherry clutched by Semple. Two minutes later Menzies forged his way down the right to the dead-ball line and his high cross left Leishman stranded at his near post but Raymond Montgomerie kept his cool at the  back post to head clear for a corner as McManus again was on hand to pounce. Maintaining the equilibrium Talbot had the last chance of the half but McCann through on goal pulled his shot well wide of target from close range. H/T Glens 2 Talbot 0

Three minutes into the second half Montgomery was red carded for a rash two-footed tackled on McManus leaving Talbot a mountain to climb. On 55 minutes the mountain almost took on Everest proportions when McKenzie released McManus in the box to slot the ball past the advancing Leishman, but the offside flag was flying on the summit before the ball was in the net.

On the hour mark Glenafton introduced Bobby Colligan for Gareth Campbell and three minutes later Dempster’s strength shrugged aside White as he broke into the box and blasted for goal only for Leishman to make a stunning save; a strong right hand pushing the ball inches wide of the post. Four minutes later the big keeper launched the ball down the length of the park where it was quickly whipped in from the left to the back post for towering substitute Dwayne Hyslop to leap and send a perfectly weighted looping header back across the goal and into the far corner of the net. The hosts’ heads stayed aloft and two minutes later Leishman failed to hold a cross from the right and now on all fours tried to recover the ball from the feet of McManus on the six yard line. To his credit the Glens’ striker stayed on his feet and took the ball away from goal, and the reach of the bedecked keeper , before turning and shooting only for the ball to sail over the bar.

This proved to be the home side’s last real chance as Talbot found a new gear, driven by substitute Colin Spence, and pressed forward in waves, every ball into the Glens’ box creating cause for concern but all eventually cleared, until the 89th minute. Gordon Pope from tight on the left lifted the ball deep into the six yard box where it was headed back across goal for substitute Keir Milliken to force over the line.

Talbot’s winner (photo courtesy of John Vass)

An air of inevitably enveloped Loch Park as the holders refused to settle for having salvaged a penalty shoot-out and instead put a shell-shocked Glens to the sword. Three minutes after the regulation ninety another high ball from the right, was met by and this time prodded home by David Gormley at the back post, the Glens’ captain Robbie Henderson receiving  a second yellow card for protesting the Talbot man was offside and another red for good measure.  F/T Glens 2 Talbot 3

Glenafton: Semple; Menzies (McEwan), G. Mitchell, Henderson, McKillen; McKenzie, Potter, D. Mitchell, Campbell (Colligan); McManus, Dempster. Subs. McChesney, Dunsmuir (gk)

Auchinleck: Leishman; Lyle, Pettigrew, McGoldrick, Pope; Faulds, Montgomery, White, Wilson; Gormley, McCann. Subs. Spence, Milliken, Hyslop, Young, Reilly

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Pollok 0 Glenafton 0

Posted on August 25, 2012 by flowgently

Stagecoach West Region Premier Division

Saturday 25th August , Loch Park, New Cumnock

POLLOK 0 (0)

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 0 (0)

POLLOK SNUFFED OUT GLENS LOCKED OUT

Glenafton gained their first Premier point after a goal-less draw at Pollok but will feel that after restricting the Glasgow side to one decent chance were denied all three points thanks to a series of super saves from home keeper Steven McNeil.

The Glens made the trip from New Cumnock to Newlandsfield minus the services of top goalscorer Gareth Armstrong (suspended) and in came John Paul Boyle to partner John Dempster up front.  Paul Murphy returned to the midfield after missing many of the Ardagh Cup games due to work commitments while trialist Paul Byrne was introduced at left back.

Robbie Henderson

The visitors started brightly and in the opening minutes a penalty appeal was dismissed after a tackle in the box on Paul McKenzie. Pollok responded well and enjoyed their best spell of the game during which they carved out their best chance on 16 minutes only for Ally Semple to pull off a peach of a point-blank save from Brian McGinty.  There endeth the keeper’s involvement in the game in terms of serious shot-stopping as the Glens defence, well marshalled by Robbie Henderson and Glen Mitchell, snuffed out the’ Lok as they huffed and puffed.

Gareth Campbell, in the unaccustomed position of right back flashed a shot beyond the Pollok posts’ post. Boyle limped off to be replaced by summer signing Scott McManus (making his first appearance of the season) and the striker proved to be a thorn in the side of the home.

Meanwhile Murphy took control of the midfield and traffic to goal took on a distinctly one-way look as the Glens pushed forward. Stevie Reilly, a former loan player from Queens Park at Loch Park,  was having a fine game at the heart of the host’s defence and yet was outshone by his keeper Steven McNeil. The stopper denied Murphy twice and then Dempster with some quite stunning saves leaving the visitors with their hands on their heads.   McManus slipped the ball through to Bobby Colligan wide on the left where his pace then seemingly unpicked the Pollok defence only for Paul Lovering to dash the visitors’ hopes of breaking the deadlock with a deftly timed and expertly executed last ditch tackle.

Pollok: McNeil  Dunlop  McBride  Reilly  Lovering  Brady  Mills  McGinty  (Docherty) Sawyers  (Hepburn) Monti Fraser  subs  Carter McQuillen

Glenafton: Semple; Campbell, G.Mitchell, Henderson, Byrne; McKenzie, Potter, Murphy, Colligan; Boyle (McManus), Dempster. Subs McKillen, McChesney, McEwan, Dunsmuir (gk)

 

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New Cumnock to Newlandsdfield

Posted on August 25, 2012 by flowgently

New Cumnock to Newlandsfield

Paul McMullan

Glenafton return to Newlandsfield today on league business for the first time since the sides met on 25th May 2009 on what was the last league game of the season.  All the goals came in the first half with a Paul McMullan effort for the Glens sandwiched between strikes from Andy Essler and Bryan Dingwall.  While Pollok finished runners-up to Meadow the Glens finished 10th and lost out in the play-off to Lanark United and were relegated to the Super 1st Division after seven consecutive seasons in the top flight.  Glens: Fahey; Connolly, Merrilees, McGregor, Ward; Doyle, Ramsay (trialist), Howie (Beattie as trialist), McMullan; Feroz, Zok

Steven Reilly

All the members of that side have since moved on including Steven McGregor and Jamie Doyle both of whom later turned out for Pollok. In the current Pollok squad is the familiar face of Kevin McBride who has had a number of spells with Glenafton, most recently in 2010/11 when he made 15 appearances for the club and scored on his ‘debut’ away at Ashfield. Also making his debut that day was Stephen Docherty, who had joined from Pollok, and he too made 15 appearances and scored one goal – in the league win at Shotts. Steven Reilly, a summer signing from Bo’ness United had a 5 game loan spell from Queens Park at Glenafton in season 2009/10.

Pollok connections in the current Glenafton squad are captain Robbie Henderson who was on Pollok books in 2007 and Craig McEwan, who made the move from Pollok to the Glens with Stephen Docherty in 2010/11.  The two sides last faced each other in January of this year when the Glens enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win at Loch Park in the 2nd round the West of Scotland Cup with goals from Paul McKenzie (2) and Gareth Campbell.

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Maybole 0 Glens 3

Posted on August 22, 2012 by flowgently

Ardagh Glass Sectional Cup Quarter-Final

Wednesday 22nd August , Ladywell Stadium, Maybole

MAYBOLE JUNIORS 0 (0)

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 3 (0)

Perfect conditions set the scene for an exciting end-to-end encounter with chances falling at both ends. After having the better of these the visitors nearly paid the price a minute before the break when Maybole won a free-kick on the outskirts of the box but a stout defence cleared the danger, albeit at the second attempt. H/T Maybole 0 Glens 0.

Glen Mitchell and Craig Potter team up (photo courtesy of John B Vass)

The wake-up call for Glenafton registered and four minutes after the re-start a piece of Paul McKenzie magic on the left wing ended with a cut-back to Gareth Armstrong who from the vicinity of the penalty spot drilled the ball low and hard beyond keeper Scott Johnstone. Back came ‘Bole and Ally Semple pulled off a super save to stop a screamer from Alan Love heralding a period of sustained pressure from the hosts. Again the Glens’ defence stood firm and Craig McEwan was well placed to clear a Scott Irvine effort off the line, after a double save from Semple. On 67 minutes the visitors doubled their lead when John Dempster picked out Gareth Armstrong on the outskirts of a busy ‘Bole box and the striker picked his spot with perfection. The two goal cushion spurred on the visitors and the pace of Bobby Colligan and the fresh legs of John Paul Boyle had the home side on the back foot.With 13 minutes to go Colligan cruised down the left and his pinpoint cross met Paul McKenzie racing in at the back post to bullet home a header.

F/T Maybole 0 Glens 3

Taz heads home (photo courtesy of John B Vass)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maybole: Johnstone; Reid, Dempster, Simpson; Love, Dinwoodie, Parris, Irvine; MacDonald, McGrady. Subs Murphy, Forde, Morrison, Allan, Gallacher

Glenafton: Semple; McEwan, Henderson, G. Mitchell, McKillen; McKenzie, D.Mitchell, Potter, Colligan; Dempster, Armstrong. Subs Boyle, Campbell, Menzies, McChesney, Dunsmuir (gk)

Many thanks to John Vass for the photographs.

Other Quarter-Final Results.

Auchinleck 3 Troon 3 ( Talbot 7-6 pens); Beith 2 Irvine Meadow 4; Kilbirnie 3 Largs 0

Glens will host Talbot in the sem0-final at Loch Park , Wednesday 29th August

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Glenafton 0 Auchinleck 1

Posted on August 18, 2012 by flowgently

Stagecoach West Region Premier Division

Saturday 18th August , Loch Park, New Cumnock

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 0 (0)

AUCHINLECK TALBOT 1 (0)

Talbot turned the tables on their hosts a week after suffering a 1-0 defeat to the Glens in the Ardagh Glass Cup section match at Loch Park. In a game short in chances and packed with stoppages Colin Spence struck what proved to be the match winner two minutes into the second half.

The first half proved to be a tentative affair as both sides seemed reluctant to push up-field and long punts up the park by respective keepers became a feature of the game which ultimately ended with the surrender of possession. On the other hand attempts to build play from box to box often concluded prematurely with what soon became the familiar piercing sound of the referee’s whistle leaving both sides on occasion baffled and waiting to see what way the decision was going to go.

Although the half was littered with stoppages there were a few goal mouth chances the best of which fell to the visitors. On 15 minutes Keir Milliken managed to ward off the attention of two defenders before thundering a shot from a tight angle only for the ball to cannon off the legs of the diving Ally Semple. Ten minutes later the keeper had to desert his goal-line in an attempt to clear the ball from the head of Kyle Faulds wide in the penalty box but couldn’t prevent it from being played back into the six yard box where Glen Mitchell did enough to stop Graham Wilson finding the empty net.  Just beyond the half hour mark Milliken did well to control the ball in front of goal and although his shot was on target it lacked the power to worry Semple.

Bo heads for goal

Glenafton’s glimpses at goal were few and far between beginning as early as the second minute when Gareth Armstrong beat keeper Andy Leishman to the ball but his header from a corner kick flashed over the bar. Some 25 minutes would pass before the home side’s best move of the half saw Paul McKenzie skip pass Gordon Pope and leave Gavin Collins grounded in the box only for his shot at goal to be blocked by the alert William Lyle. The resultant corner kick ended with Richie McKillen and John Dempster both beating the Talbot defence in the air but the former’s header went wide of target. H/T Glens 0 Talbot 1

The new half began in dramatic fashion when Lyle broke down a Glenafton attack at Talbot’s right hand corner flag and combining well with his teammates defence was transformed into attack in a flash and the ball now with Bryan Young wide on the left. With the wide-man’s path to the bye-line blocked the ball was rolled back to Pope who whipped it over to the back post for Faulds to crouch and bullet a header goalward and although Semple dived to get both hands to the ball it bounced free from his grasp when he crashed to the ground and Colin Spence pounced to poke it home.

Colin Spence puts Talbot ahead

Hopes that the breakthrough would herald a more open game soon dissipated. For once again proceedings were fragmented with flags, whistles and then players seeking clarification from officials over some mystifying decisions. On the hour mark Glenafton manager Darren Henderson was sent to the clubhouse for making his feelings known. Four minutes later the game was held up yet again as another flag led to more confusion with the referee stopping play and marching the width of the park, the match-ball at least firmly in his grasp, to consult with his assistant before overturning the decision and restarting with a bounce-up surrounded by perplexed players from both sides.

Gareth Armsrtong goes close

Back to the football and midway through the half a Dempster header was gathered by Armstrong who , with his back to goal and a yard or so inside the box, swiveled and drilled a low shot that beat Leishman at full stretch but the ball whizzed just wide of the post.  Talbot introduced striker David Gormley to the fray but it was his former side that were on the front foot in search of an equaliser; they too bringing on fresh legs with Gareth Campbell for Craig Potter and John Paul Boyle for John Dempster. On 84 minutes in a packed Talbot box McKenzie beat Pope to the ball to pick out Armstrong who held off the challenge of Collins and return it to McKenzie with Pope in pursuit and as both players tumbled to the ground Armstrong’s appeal for a penalty was waved away. A minute later the Glenafton striker was shown red for dissent. In the last minute of regulation time Bobby Colligan won the ball in the Talbot’s half where a burst of speed took him deep into the box and before Collins slid in for the tackle he fired for goal but Leishman looked on as it went wide of target.

The half almost ended it as it had begun with Colin Spence finding the net. In what was perhaps Talbot’s best move of the match Gormley played Spence into the box with only Semple to beat and perhaps a touch too many allowed the back tracking Campbell to put pressure on the midfielder who failed to test the keeper and pulled his shot wide of target. F/T Glens 0 Talbot 1

Glenafton: Semple; Menzies, G.Mitchell, Henderson, McKillen; McKenzie, Potter (Campbell), D.Mitchell, Colligan; Armstrong, Dempster (Boyle). Subs. McEwan, McChesney, Murphy, Dunsmuir (gk)

Auchinleck: Leishman; Lyle, Pettigrew, Collins, Pope; Faulds (Montgomerie), White, Spence, young, Milliken (McCann), Wilson(Gormley)

more photos here

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Hello Boys We’re Back !

Posted on August 17, 2012 by flowgently

Glenafton return to the Top Flight

After three long seasons in the Super League 1st Division Glenafton Athletic return to the Premier Division.  Promoted as ‘champions’ evokes memories of the formation of the West Region some 10 seasons ago when the Glens, booked their berth in the newly constructed league as the’Last Champions of the Ayrshire’. Can you recall the other 5 Ayrshire sides that joined them? Yes, of course Auchinleck , Cumnock, Irvine Meadow, Kilbirnie and Kilwinning.

Joining them in a new found football fellowship were Central’s ‘six-of-the-best’ …. come on rack those brains. You got it, Pollok and Benburb, Johnstone Burgh, Larkhall Thistle, Maryhill and Neilston. The Glens finished in third place and three points behind the inaugural champions Pollok who pipped Neilston on goal difference. Pollok are one of only two teams that have been ever present in the Premier Division and during that time delivered four titles and five other top-five finishes.  A 10th place finish last season and a play-off win over Renfrew secured their top flight status.

Start Spreading the News

The other ever-present side is of course Auchinleck Talbot. The Beechwood boys  finished 10th in their first season and with no play-offs back then their Premier  place was secure. After finishing  8th the following they been regular title challengers and delivered  1 x 4th, 4 x 3rd , 1 x 2nd place finishes as well as the championship in 2005/06 to keep the Scottish Junior Cup company.Of the other 11 teams in the league we have shared Premier Division status with Arthurlie (6 seasons), Auchinleck (7), Beith (3), Cumnock (7), Irvine Meadow (3), Kirkintilloch (1), Petershill (3) , Pollok (7) and Shotts (3). This season will see the Glens face both Ashfield and Clydebank in the top flight for the first time, both sides deservedly gaining promotion from the Super 1st two seasons ago with some fantastic football . Tomorrow we host ‘ever-present’ Auchinleck in the opening game of the new season and the following week we travel to ‘ever-present’ Pollok – it’s good to be back!

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Glenafton 12 Muirkirk 0

Posted on August 15, 2012 by flowgently

Ardagh Glass Ayrshire Sectional League Cup

Section 4: Match 5

Wednesday 15th August , Loch Park, New Cumnock

Craig Potter bags a brace

Glenafton, began at a blistering pace and with 3 minutes gone Paul McKenzie unleashed an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box into to the roof of the net and seven minutes later Craig Potter doubled the home side’s advantage after picking spot with a well taken header. On 16 minutes Gareth Campbell limped off to be replaced with a trialist, local lad Ryan Campbell, and the home side were soon back on the front foot – a great run by Craig McEwan ending with a searing shot cracking the bar. John Paul Boyle picked out Potter with a peach of a pass to blast home his brace and put the Glens three-nil.

Bobby Colligan’s destructive pace allowed him to surge into the Muirkirk box and set up John Dempster to swivel and fire home a fourth goal before McKenzie fired in a fierce drive that was neatly guided beyond the keeper’s reach by Richie McKillen for the fifth before the break. H/T Glens 5 Muirkirk 0

The goal spree continued apace after the re-start with the Glens finding the net three times in a ten or so minute spell to build on their lead with Colligan the architect on each occasion. In cruise control the Kirk defence struggled manfully with the wide-man’s pace and in turn he released McKenzie to drill home his second of the night and then set up a quick fire brace for Boyle.

Gareth Armstrong entered the fray and with some clinical finishing helped himself to a hat-trick .The first a low grounder; the second after pouncing on a poor clearance and the third heading home a Colligan cross at the back stick. In the final minute, Dempster played a neat one-two with McKenzie before slotting home the twelfth of the night.  Knowing that a five goal win would secure passage to the knock-out stages the Glens are to be congratulated on going about their business in a professional manner while of course not forgetting the gallant display from the Muirkirk side, and in particular their keeper who made some splendid saves despite the goal avalanche. F/T Glens 12 Muirkirk 0

Glenafton: Semple; McEwan, McChesney, R. Henderson, McKillen; McKenzie, Potter, G.Campbell (R.Campbell); Dempster, Boyle (Armstrong). Subs Henderson, Menzies, D.Henderson

Other scores

Auchinleck 3 Cumnock 0 ; Lugar 0 Kello 7

Ardagh Glass Cup Section 4 table here

Glenafton required to win by a five goal margin to guarantee a place in the knock out stage of the competition irrespective of the outcome of the Auchinleck v Cumnock game. The Talbot won 3-0 and top the section on goal difference and as runners’ up in the section the Glens will travel next Wednesday to face Section 3 Winners Maybole Junior in Quarter Final. The winners will host the winners of Auchinleck v Troon in the sem-final the following Wednesday.

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Kello 1 Glenafton 3

Posted on August 13, 2012 by flowgently

Ardagh Glass Ayrshire Sectional League Cup

Section 4: Match 4

Monday 13th August , Nithside Park, Kirkconnel

Keeper Ally Semple returned from injury and captain Robbie Henderson, Craig McEwan and Gareth Campbell were all in the starting line-up having missed the victory over Auchinleck Talbot on Saturday.

The visitors got off to a flying start and in 7 minutes following a move from box to box Paul McKenzie cut inside as only he can and as only he can slammed the ball home in off the post. The hosts countered with passages of some fine passing movements while Glenafton continued to play at high tempo and on 20 minutes doubled their lead when McKenzie was flattened in the box and Gareth Campbell converted the spot kick. Kello’s neat passing play was rewarded on 28 minutes ending with John Anderson halving the deficit. A minute later John Dempster came close to restoring the New Cumnock side’s two goal cushion but his header smacked off the post. H/T Kello 1 Glens 2

Danny Mitchell

The Rovers saw much more of the ball in the second half but found Ally Semple in splendid form. Glens hit the woodwork again after Danny Mitchell burst into the box  and cracked the upright with a fierce shot.  With 20 minutes to go substitute John Paul Boyle set up Mitchell for another attempt and this time Danny ‘s shot  ripped into the roof of the net for his first Glenafton goal. F/T Kello 1 Glens 3

Glenafton: Semple; McEwan, G.Mitchell, Henderson, McKillen; McKenzie, Potter, D.Mitchell, Campbell; Armstrong (Boyle), Dempster Subs. McChesney, Colligan, Dunsmuir (gk)

Other Scores

Cumnock 3 Lugar 1; Muirkirk 0 Auchinleck 8

Ardagh Cup Section 4 Table

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Glens 1 Auchinleck 0

Posted on August 11, 2012 by flowgently

Ardagh Glass Ayrshire Sectional League Cup

Section 4: Match 3

Saturday 11th August , Loch Park, New Cumnock

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 1 (1)

AUCHINLECK TALBOT 0 (0)

AFTON SWEETER THAN TABLET

Gareth Armstrong’s sweet strike on 39 minutes proved to be all that separated Glenafton and Talbot albeit only in terms of score-line as the New Cumnock side out-thought, out-fought and out-played their opponents for much of the game and could easily have been out of sight long before the final whistle blew.  However, many of the home support are long enough in the tooth and short on nails to know that games against the Talbot are never over until, well they’re over.

Robbie Henderson, Paul Murphy, Gareth Campbell and Scott McManus were unavailable for selection and with Ally Semple still side-lined through injury the Glens once again had trialist Paul McMann between the sticks. On two minutes the former Kilbirnie keeper comfortably clutched a speculative shot by Bryan Young from twenty yards out and thus ended his involvement in the first half other than to boom words of encouragement and instructions to his rock-solid defence.

On 5 minutes Gavin Collins presented the hosts with their first chance after he was short with a square pass to Martin McGoldrick which was intercepted by Gareth Armstrong only for keeper Andy Leishman to rush to his six yard line and smother the Glens’ striker low drive unleashed as he entered the box. Four minutes later Armstrong won a header deep in the Talbot half to nod the ball back for Paul McKenzie who with one look up launched an audacious shot from 30 yards out but again Leishman came out on top as he leaped to get an outstretched arm to fingertip the ball over the bar. Soon after a lob by Armstrong from closer range was well held.

The Glens were predominantly on the front foot thanks to a resilient defence, ably supported by a midfield where Craig Potter steadfastly broke down many of the Talbot attacks allowing Danny Mitchell  to set the Glens on their way up field again. Chances continued to fall and just as the half hour mark passed McKenzie left Gordon Pope for dead wide on right flank and then give Leishman the slip, by now at the corner flag, before hooking the ball into box  where John Dempster’s shot cannoned off Collins and fell kindly into the arms of the Talbot goalie having scrambled back to the edge of his area.

Bo blasts home

Six minutes before the break the home side made the break through. Bobby Colligan gathered the ball wide left in the Talbot box and rather than head for the bye-line he doubled back to leave Kyle Faulds flat-footed and fired a glorious cross over to the back post beyond McGoldrick and Collins, both busy picking up Danny Mitchell, for Dempster to steal in and rise aboon them a’  to  thunder a header goalward only for Leishman to pull of an equally stunning point blank save. Mitchell robbed Collins of the loose ball and rolled it back to Gareth Armstrong who promptly dispatched it beyond the ruck of home and away players and into the haven of the corner of the net. EEKA PEEKA PUKA BO.

Five minutes later Glen Mitchell, outstanding in defence throughout the match, got on the end of a Colligan corner to bullet a header from the penalty spot and although Leishman was rooted to his line Colin Spence executed his duty at the back post and cleared the ball off the line. H/T Glens 1 Talbot 0

The home side started the new half in splendid fashion. Spence attempted to block McKenzie’s direct path into the box forcing the midfielder to cut back and turn the exasperated Talbot man outside-in before laying the ball off to the overlapping Craig Menzies to whip the ball across the face of the goal where Dempster nicked in between Collins and Leishman  to try and force the ball over the line but an alert Willie Lyle kept his cool and blasted the ball from the line and into touch. Five minutes later Armstrong set Colligan free on the left to bomb into the box and then skip past McGoldrick before drilling a low drive from 15 yards which Leishman, on his six yard line, did well to get down and parry the ball away and then bravely dive at the feet of the incoming Dempster .

John Dempster and Gareth Armstrong

Talbot began to enjoy a greater share of possession and in 55 minutes carved out a half chance when McCann was forced to abandon his six yard box to face Kier Milliken on the bye-line who rather than take the keeper on the forward lofted a dangerous ball into the goalmouth for strike partner Michael Reilly but in stepped Richie McKillen to blast the ball clear. Four minutes later McCann mopped up a Talbot corner punching the ball from the head of substitute Craig Pettigrew. At the other end a Glen Mitchell header from a Colligan corner was spilled by Leishman, due to the close attention of Armstrong, but Collins was on hand to clear as Dempster threatened to pounce.

Midway through the half McCann pulled off a great save to push a Young drive from an acute angle over the bar. The resultant corner was cleared comfortably with Ryan McChesney and Glen Mitchell magnificent at the heart of the home defence the pair proving to be an immovable force.

On 73 minutes Gareth Armstrong left to a rousing cheer of appreciation from the home support with John Paul Boyle joining the fray. Two minutes later the magical McKenzie menaced his way down the right and into the Talbot box to whizz the ball across the face of goal leaving Lyle no option but to hoof the ball high and wide past at the expense of a corner. McKenzie‘s kick was met by Glen Mitchell (leaping head, shoulders and knees above the Talbot defence) and although his fantastic header beat Leishman the ball crashed off the underside of the bar and as Boyle tried to poke it over the line post-man Spence once again performed his clear up duties again, with claims a hand may have been used waved away.

Glen Mitchell heads for goal

The game entered a spell of end to end play without either keeper being seriously tested as the heat on the day before the Glorious Twelfth took its toll on the tempo of the game. Talbot ensured that those aforementioned long-in-the-tooth Glenafton supporters were biting what nails they had left into the quick as they looked to snatch a draw at the death.  However, Pettigrew’s header went well wide of target as did Graham Wilson’s free-kick from the edge of the box. Paul McKenzie made way for Craig McEwan in the dying seconds of time added on and left the pitch to a rapturous reception from the home support. In the last action of the game the tireless Dempster painted the Talbot defence into their own corner but there was no time to take the corner and the final whistle heralded sporting handshakes. F/T Glens 1 Talbot 0

Glenafton: McCann; Menzies, McChesney, G. Mitchell, McKillen; McKenzie (McEwan), Potter, D. Mitchell, Colligan; Armstrong (Boyle), Dempster. Subs – Galloway (trialist, Dunsmuir (gk)

Auchinleck: Leishman, Lyle; McGoldrick, Collins, Pope;  Montgomerie, Faulds, Spence, Young; Reilly, Milliken. Subs.  McCann, Pettigrew, Wilson, Robb

more photos here

Other Section 4 Scores

Kello 2 Cumnock 3; Muirkirk 2 Lugar 2

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