Glenafton Athletic were presented with the Super League 1st Division Championship Trophy by Kenny Young of the SJFA, who congratulated the club on their well earned success. In a packed Campbell Hall the players and management team celebrated with the committee and supporters and were enthusiastically entertained by live music and some stunning karaoke performances
The stars of the show however were the young families of the players who showed their proud mums and dads how to party and I’m sure Darren Henderson was taking note that there were a couple of budding Glens’ players of the future on show,
Club secretary John Stewart would like to thank everyone that came along to share in the celebrations, from those that have followed the club for many years to the ‘young team’ that have played their role at the 12th man this season.
Ian Cashmore has moved to Abbey Park to join one of his former clubs Kilwinning Rangers. He joined the Glens from Girvan in September 2012 and scored in his debut later that month in a 4-3 win over then league leaders Ardrossan Winton Rovers. Cashy made 31 appearances for the Glens with just over half of these from the bench and scored six goals, including a double against Newmains United in the Scottish Junior Cup 3rd round tie at Loch Park.
The club would like to thank Ian and wish him all the best for the future.
Stevie Kerrigan
Stevie Kerrigan
Due to work commitments Stevie Kerrigan has stepped down from his position of assistant manager. The Glens would like to thank Stevie for his service to the club over the last 15 months and wish him all the best for the future. Kegs took the opportunity to thank everyone at the club and ‘leaves with a heavy heart but with enormous pride in what we all achieved’.
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Glenafton Athletic clinched the Super League 1st Division championship this evening without kicking a ball. Second placed Shotts Bon Accord needed to beat Rutherglen Glencairn at the Clyde Gateway Stadium to pip the New Cumnock side to the title but the game ended in a goal-less draw and the Afton boys were champions on goal-difference, after both sides finished on 52 points.
Congratulations to all at the club , a perfect end to a great season.
The Flag Race
The chart below shows the points of the ultimate front runners for the flag and their accumulation of points by games played (as opposed to chronological) and the twists and turns.
The Race for the Flag
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Glenafton Athletic held the Player of the Year Awards for Season 2011/12 at the Campbell Hall, Loch Park, New Cumnock.
Before the individual awards were presented the gathering of management, players, committee, supporters and friends and acquaintances reflected on an excellent season that delivered promotion back to the Premier Division – a real Team Award.
The Roll of Honour and photos from the evening can be found here.
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Almost a season separates this meeting of Talbot and Glenafton and the previous one back in August when the visitors humbled their hosts by inflicting a hefty 4-1 hammering. Now as then, the sun again bathed the Beechwood baize giving some credence to the local appellation of ‘God’s Little Acre’, albeit a name coined in that best Boswellian tradition of ‘taking critical liberties’. Summer football however has its drawbacks and the ‘Malahide midgies’ temporarily abandoned their habitat on the Kirkland Green to descend upon the terraces in Goudie-esque numbers. Unlike the pit-bull terrier that ‘invaded’ the pitch on a couple of occasions their bite proved to be worse than their bark.
The Glens were first to show their teeth with a shot by Paul McKenzie stinging the hands of keeper Brian McGarrity in the opening minute. Three minutes later Mick McCann came within a whisker of putting the home side ahead but just failed to get his head on the ball a few yards from the goal-line. Soon after the former Meadow striker cracked a shot off Semple’s near post from close range.
On 26 minutes Bobby Colligan flicked the ball over Gordon Pope’s head and into the box for John Dempster to gather. Leaving Gavin Collins for dead he then evaded the back-tracking Craig Pettigrew before getting his shot away only for McGarrity to drop down low and knee the ball out at the expense of a corner; the keeper then mopping this up punching the ball clear from Gareth Campbell’s head. Two minutes later McCann was released down the right and after showing the Glens’ back line a clean pair of heels he fired for goal from an acute angle but Semple blocked well and clutched the rebound to safety. McCann’s perseverance finally paid off and on 31 he wheeled on the goal line to blast a wicked corner kick into the roof of the net, converting probably the most difficult of his chances with some aplomb.
McCann can
The visitors responded strongly and Gareth Campbell, on for the injured Craig Potter, tested McGarrity with a low shot from the corner of the six yard box but once again the keeper’s knee (one of them) was put to good use. Glenafton upped the tempo and made several raids into the Talbot box. On 38 minutes Craig Menzies dispossessed Colin Spence and burst into the box and wrong footed Pope before squaring the ball to Armstrong who hit it first time from the penalty spot but once again the alert McGarrity had the measure of his opponent and having advanced to the six yard line trapped the ball dead between his feet.
Bo-w wow
The keeper however was less keen to handle the pit-bull terrier that wandered into the penalty area and it was left to Bo-w Armstrong to collar the invader. Four minutes before the break it was the turn of Glenafton’s terrier Paul ‘Taz’ McKenzie to cause panic in the Auchinleck rear guard and draw the sides level . It began with Armstrong rising to beat Collins and head the ball on to Dempster who perplexed Pettigrew and Pope before picking out McKenzie deep in the box albeit surrounded by black and gold shirts. A few Taz twists and turns had Steven White chasing the lengthening shadows and tempted Rikki Robb into a last ditch lunge but too late his low drive from 10 yards out was already net bound.
Taz tucks it away
Fan-Taz-Tic
A minute later McGarrity had to rush from his line to punch the ball from Armstrong’s head and as Campbell collected the loose ball he was bundled to the ground by former Afton defender Robb but the appeals for the penalty were waved away. Just before the break Collins timed his tackle perfectly after Colligan skinned Pope and raced for goal. H/T Talbot 1 Glens 1
The second half proved to be an end-to-end affair and although engrossing it fell short of the first forty-five in respect of goalmouth action. Glenafton’s best chance fell midway through the half after McKenzie broke free from Ally Park to take the ball to the bye-line and whip in a vicious cross for Campbell to rise above Collins and Pope but although his header appeared destined for the corner of the net, McGarrity thought otherwise and dived full stretch to push the ball wide of its target.
Brian’s Ba’
Minutes later at the other end substitute David Gillies looked certain to score but instead blasted the ball into the side-netting from a few yards out. The last decent chance of the game fell to Talbot with two minutes to go with a cracking shot from Martin McGoldrick and an equally impressive save from Semple. F/T Talbot 1 Glens 1
Ally Semple got his hands to penalty kick specialist Gordon Pope’s attempt but still the ball found its way into the net to put the Talbot one up. Gareth Campbell almost burst the net to level the scores. Man-of-the-match Brian McGarrity saved consecutive kicks from Bobby Colligan and Ian Cashmore and with David Gillies and Kyle Faulds having converted their kicks Martin McGoldrick stepped up and blasted home the winning kick.
Auchinleck: McGarrity Robb Pope Pettigrew (MCGoldrick) Collins White Spence (Gillies) Milliken (Latta) McCann Faulds
The game brings Glenafton season’s to a conclusion with promotion to the Premier Division in the bag and still an outside chance of the title. Throughout the season the team has had the opportunity to face a number of Premier sides – Auchinleck (2), Beith, Clydebank, Cumnock, Irvine Meadow and Pollok and given a good account of themselves and look forward to returning to God’s Little Acre on league business next season, midgies or not.
Glenafton travelled to Hannah Park secure in the knowledge that not only is automatic promotion to the Premier Division already guaranteed but that victory over Scottish Junior Cup winners Shotts Bon Accord would clinch the Super League 1st Division championship. The hosts too , sitting 4th in the league and trailing the New Cumnock side by 10 points but with 4 games in hand, were very much still in the hunt for the title although as yet automatic promotion had to be secured.
With Paul McKenzie serving the second of his two match suspension Glenafton made one change from the team that had defeated East Kilbride to clinch promotion to the Premier Division, Gareth Campbell replacing Gus Cochrane.
Understandably the opening period was a scrappy and nervy affair with both sides surrendering possession cheaply as they struggled to find fluency in their play. Nevertheless, the game quickly settled into a pattern of chances being created at either end. The first flurry of goalmouth activity arrived on 8 minutes when Mark Sideserf whipped the ball across the face of goal from wide on the left only for Richie McKillen to head it clear from the incoming Allan McKenzie and Colin Williamson then fire the loose ball over the bar. Two minutes later at the other end Gareth Campbell’s attempt to pick out John Paul Boyle in the box appeared to have been blocked by the arm of Brian Wharton, but the visitors’ penalty appeals were waved away. Two minutes after that John Dempster wide on the right side-stepped Wharton and left Paul Burns trailing in his wake as he stormed his way into the box heading for goal before rolling the ball back for Campbell but the alert Williamson nicked in to steal the ball as the Glens man prepared to strike.
On 14 minutes the home side won the first corner of the match but keeper Ally Semple was the match of McKenzie punching the ball clear of the striker’s head. Soon after Gareth Armstrong sprung high above Darren Ferguson and his header from 12 yards out forced Craig Brown to dive low to push the ball round the post – the keeper then safely clutching the resultant corner. A minute later a long ball released McKenzie upfield and he has raced into the box Semple simultaneously rushed from his line, only for the back-tracking Ryan McChesney to rob the striker of the ball with a perfectly timed tackle. Six minutes later Craig Menzies lofted the ball over the heads of the Shotts back line into the box for Armstrong to chase but Brown raced from his line to bravely bundle the ball to safety.
Glenafton made the breakthrough on 29 minutes after some excellent play by John Paul Boyle. Forced tight on the right hand touchline by Wharton he twisted and turned and taking advantage of Dempster shielding Burns made his way to the bye-line where he whipped the ball to the far side of the six yard box for Gareth Campbell to bullet a header beyond Brown and over the line despite Paul Finnigan’s best attempt to make a last ditch clearance. The home side’s protests resulted in the referee, who had given the goal, consulting with his assistant who firmly stood by their decision.
Shotts responded well to the set back and forced a couple of corners that were scrambled clear before drawing level on 38 minutes. Sideserf’s route to the bye-line down the left flank was blocked by Menzies so instead he played the ball back to Burns who instantly fired a wicked cross to the back post for Tony Fleming to slam home, the visitors appeal for offside waved away and accepted without fuss. Two minutes later the home side almost got their noses in front when a superb ball from John Boyack picked out McKenzie down the left who lobbed the ball over the head of Semple, the keeper having sprinted to the edge of his box, and both could only look on with contrasting hopes as the ball bounced narrowly wide of the gaping net.
A minute before the break Wharton broke up a Glenafton attack and launched the ball up the park where Alan McKenzie gathered and shielded off the attention of McChesney before coolly lifting the ball high over Semple on his six yard line and into the welcoming net. H/T Shotts 2 Glens 1
Despite the half-time interruption Shotts’ tails were still up and they were first to show after the re-start. Although the free kick won near the corner flag failed to beat Glenafton’s wall the resultant corner caused more of a panic with Dempster winning the first header before Robbie Henderson’s header finally clearing the danger. Five minutes later in the other box Paul Murphy beat Wharton to the ball and his header fell for Armstrong with his back to goal, but the striker’s overhead kick went wide of Brown’s post.
Both sides exchanged half chances before Shotts doubled their lead on 63 minutes when a touch of finesse from Finnigan saw him jink past McKillen to get to the bye-line and send over a stunning cross for Tony Fleming to head home from under the bar at the far post. Six minutes later Semple kept the visitors in the game when he dived full length to push away a Boyack blast from 25 yards and then spring to his feet to prevent substitute Craig Miles from side-footing the rebound home. A minute later an Armstrong looping header from 12 yards out left Brown anxiously looking on as the ball went over his bar.
On the hour mark JP Boyle made way for Bobby Colligan and the change almost paid off immediately. Picking the ball up 25 yards or so from goal his blistering pace left Finnigan and Wharton for dead before he blasted the ball from 8 yards out but Brown, by now on his six yard line, pulled off a stunning save. A minute later Colligan combined with McKillen who floated the ball into a packed penalty box where Gareth Armstrong beat Fleming to the ball and prodded it through a ruck of defenders into the far corner of Brown’s net.
Five minutes later Semple denied substitute Murray Watson and from then on the home front men were content to hold on to the ball while the defence held Glenafton at bay. Deep into time added on Armstrong tried valiantly to convert a head flick into the box by Dempster, but the Glens striker had to overstretch and the ball sailed wide of target. F/T Shotts 3 Glens 2
Shotts: Brown Finnigan Burns Wharton Ferguson Boyack Fleming Williamson McKenzie Scott Sideserf Subs: Miles Watson Jack McStay Sullivan McKenna Murdoch
Glenafton travel to Hannah Park this evening secure in the knowledge that not only is automatic promotion to the Premier Division already guaranteed but that victory over Scottish Junior Cup winners Shotts Bon Accord will clinch the Super League 1st Division championship.
Although this will be the Glens last league game of the season Shotts still have a further four more games to play – Cumbernauld (A), Girvan (H), Thorniewood (A) and Rutherglen (A) – and so no matter the outcome of the match there are still a number of matters to be resolved in both the race for the title, automatic promotion and the play-off positions.
On the 23rd May Glenafton Athletic 1993 won the Scottish Junior Cup for the first time in the club’s history. On the anniversary of that glorious day the class of 2011/12 delivered a result, that arguably in the current climate is just as significant, which ensured the club would return to the top flight of league football in the West Region. With the home side requiring a point for promotion and the visitors East Kilbride eager to add to their points tally in their battle to avoid relegation the first half proved to be tentative affair which exploded into life five minutes before the break with a spectacular goal from Craig Menzies to put Glenafton ahead. The dregs of half-time teas were still being supped when Gareth Armstrong doubled the home side’s lead and although East Kilbride rallied with a string of corners there was to be no stopping Darren Henderson’s men as Craig Potter, Paul Murphy and Gus Cochrane controlled the midfield ensuring that chances aplenty were created and further goals from John Paul Boyle, Murphy and Cochrane completed the famous five and secured automatic promotion.
The nervous pre-match anticipation of the home support intensified with the news that Paul McKenzie, so often the victim of some robust tackling, would miss the Glens last two league games of the season due to suspension while Gareth Campbell, who bagged a brace in the draw at Kilsyth, was unavailable for selection due to work commitments. East Kilbride arrived buoyed by the three points garnered with the home win over in-form Shotts on Monday evening.
The home side were first to show with two minutes gone when a free kick played into the box was won by a Richie McKillen header and the ball gathered by Gareth Armstrong on the six yard line who played it back to John Dempster and his snapshot from 10 yards out when inches wide. A quick retort by the visitors saw some excellent control by Chris Dallas set up a clear shot at goal but the finish lacked the accuracy of the build-up. Glenafton soon got a grip on the game but struggled to fashion a clear shot at goal against a well organised defence. The Jags, content to take their time in the pursuit of the opener, were less prolific as an attacking force but they too hit a brick wall in front of goal.
Craig Menzies’ shot beats the goalie
The breakthrough came on 40 minutes in spectacular fashion and from an unlikely source. After some fine build up play a superb pass by Craig Potter from just inside his own half picked out Craig Menzies battering down the right flank with John Paul Boyle matching his run to break into the box, however with the three Thistle defenders at close quarters the option to feed the forward was high risk. Instead ‘Zee’ killed the ball dead, spotted keeper Ryan Maley off his line and chipped the ball over the head of the airborne goalie into the far corner of the net – an unforgettable first goal for the club.
Zee Zee Tops!
The visitors’ new found sense of urgency failed to rattle the home defence as Robbie Henderson, Ryan McChesney and Ally Semple closed the door on Dallas and co. H/T Glens 1 East Kilbride 0
Hands up for Bo!
Four minutes into the new half a posse of Glens’ players closed in on Paul Bain deep in his own half and Gus Cochrane came away with the ball and rolled it wide to Gareth Armstrong who lashed a low drive from 20 yards out and although Maley got down quick to block the ball rolled under his body and into the net. Thistle responded well end enjoyed their best period of possession and forced a series of corners the majority of which were mopped up by Glenafton but one or two caused some concern including an Ally Morgan header that flashed past Semple’s post.
Bo’s no go 😦
Back came the home side and the midfield trio took control with Craig Potter breaking down Thistle moves while Paul Murphy and Cochrane, almost telepathically picked up the pieces to push the home side forward, ably assisted by big John Dempster who stubbornly refused to give up any lost cause in any area of the pitch grinding down the visitors in the process. On 72 minutes the Glens looked to have increased the lead when another attack had been partially cleared only for Potter to direct a header the ball back into the box which, with his back to goal, Armstrong killed on his chest and then almost in slow motion executed an exquisite overhead kick to put the ball over the head of the advancing Maley into the net – but the euphoria was waved away by the assistant referee’s flag, although many thought it was a case of mistaken identity with the inactive Cochrane in the offside position.
JP’s Fan Club
With quarter an hour to go Menzies and Dempster left to rapturous applause to be replaced by the fresh legs of Craig McEwan and Bobby Colligan …. and what fresh legs for ten seconds later Colligan exploded from a standing start to beat Michael Daley to the ball and burst into the box. Although the defender recovered to block the direct path to goal Colligan kept his cool to square the ball across the face of goal where it was missed by defender Findlay and the incoming Cochrane but fell perfectly for John Paul Boyle who took a touch on the six yard line before rifling the ball into the roof of the net, just reward for another menacing performance.
Murphy’s Ba’
Two minutes later Colligan weaved his way into the box and fired for goal only for Mailey to pull off a great save and push the ball over the bar. The vocal home support cheered off JP as he made way for Ian Cashmore with five minutes to go. Two minutes later Cashy and Armstrong challenged for a Cohcrane corner at the near post and when the ball re-emerged Paul Murphy was first to react and pounced to side-foot the ball home from 8 yards out.
Magnificent 7
Two minutes after that Murphy played the ball to Cashmore tight on the right touchline who lofted the ball into the box for Armstrong to roll it back to Gus Cochrane on the outskirts of the box and with Dailly closing in and Armstrong heavily marked in the box he spotted Mailey off his line, and from 23 yard outs nonchalantly nicked the ball out of the reach of the keeper at full stretch and into the gaping net for the fifth of the famous five. F/T Glens 5 East Kilbride 0
“We are going up, we are going up”
The final whistle was greeted with relief and joy in equal measure and the Glenafton players, management and supporters gathered for the obligatory chorus of ‘We are going up…’.
