Thorniewood v Glenafton

Posted on March 9, 2012 by flowgently

Stagecoach West Region Super League 1st Division

Sat 10th March , Robertson Park, Uddingston, KO 2:00pm

THORNIEWOOD UNITED v GLENAFTON ATHLETIC

Bobby's ball - Vics take the lead

Glenafton have completed the signing of midfielder Bobby Colligan from Irvine Victoria. He scored a cracker of a goal in the recent Ayrshire Weekly Press cup tie between the two clubs at Loch Park.  Club secretary John Stewart knows Bobby from his time with the youth set up at Ayr United and the wide right midfielder later moved on to Kilwinning U19’s before joining the Vics. Welcome to Loch Park, Bobby.

Striker John Dempster is 50/50 for the trip to Thorniewood tomorrow while Craig McEwan is ruled out through injury.

The Robertson Park side has been on a tremendous run since the dramatic 2-2 draw with the Glens at Loch Park back in September with 6 league wins, 1 draw and only one defeat (at home to current league leaders Kilsyth Rangers) and now sit 4th in the league, one point behind second placed Glenafton.

Paul McKenzie and Des Bradshaw

Thorniewood took a two nil lead at Loch Park with goals from Stevie Mullen and Robert Allan and indeed were unfortunate not to be sitting down to their half-time oranges with the points wrapped up. The home side halved the deficit when Gareth Armstrong beat keeper Jon Connolly from the penalty spot. However, the friendly ‘Flying Fridge’ got the better off the Glens top goal scorer when he turned another spot kick round the post. Back bounced Bo with a glancing header from 10 yards out to level the match – both sides relieved to get a share of the points, in a game either could have won.

 

 

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Afton All Blacks

Posted on March 5, 2012 by flowgently

Glenafton Athletic unveiled their new all-black strip in the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup tie against Craigmark at Dalmellington on Saturday.

Photo Courtesy of John B. Vass

Thankfully, John Vass renowned for his knowledge of the Junior game and his stunning photography was on hand at Station Park to capture these action shots of captain Robbie Henderson and Gareth Armstrong.

John and his wife Violet are weel-kent faces at Junior grounds throughout Ayrshire. Happily they are regular visitors to Loch Park and have provided great support to the Glenafton match-day programme and web-site.

Thank you John and Violet,  from all at Glenafton Athletic.

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Craigmark 1 Glenafton 5

Posted on March 3, 2012 by flowgently

Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup 2nd Round

Sat 3rd March , Station Park, Dalmellington, KO 2:00pm

CRAIGMARK BURNTONIANS 1 (0)

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 5 (3)

Glenafton welcomed top goal scorer Gareth Armstrong back to the starting line up where he was joined up front with John Paul Boyle who had missed out in last week‘s league win over Dalry.  Young defender Ryan McChesney was also given a start playing alongside captain Robbie Henderson in the centre of defence. However, the Glen’s skipper took a sore one early on and Craig Menzies dropped back from his midfield role to replace him, with Gareth Campbell coming off the bench and slot into the middle of the park.

JP on the boil

Donned in their new all black strip with a red trim Glenafton took control of the game from the kick off and were swarming all over the young Craigmark side and the promise of an early goal was soon realised. Nothing came of the visitors’ first two corner kicks but soon after a long kick down the park was headed by Armstrong into the path of John Paul Boyle who raced in on goal to slip the ball beyond keeper Jon Lopez. The Glens doubled their lead soon after when a teasing cross from the right was sclaffed onto his own cross bar by defender Stuart Collins and Boyle was first to react and net the rebound .

With the visitors dictating the pace of the game chances were proving to be thin on the bumpy ground for the hosts and the Glenafton back four proving all but impenetrable, with the solid McChesney and Menzies ably supported by Richie McKillen and Craig Potter.  The Glens came close to adding a third following a piercing run down the right flank by Potter, his cut back met by Armstrong only for the striker’s nifty back-heel to come off the Craigmark post. However, Gareth Armstrong was not to be denied and ten minutes before the break he turned on a threepenny bit and hooked home to put the New Cumnock side three up at Dalmellington. H/T Craigmark 0 Glens 3

Gareth Armstrong (Photo courtesy of John Vass)

To their credit Craigmark continued to try and make a game off it and battled hard for every ball with some tenacious tackling. There was little they could do to prevent the visitors extending their lead after an excellent passage of passing play conjured up by Paul McKenzie, Andy Bell and Gareth Campbell was topped off by Richie McKillen racing into the box to crack the ball past the gallant Lopez. Still the host heads didn’t drop and Glenafton keeper Ryan Dunsmuir, who had replaced Ally Semple at the break, pulled off a brilliant save from the lively Ross McCulloch. Fortune didn’t favour the brave and on 63 minutes Gareth Armstrong, who had led the front line well, bagged his brace after running on to a well-timed through ball from McKenzie and rounding the keeper before tapping home to put Glens five in front.

With the visitors taking their foot of the accelerator the hosts stepped up a gear and John Henderson deserved better when his long range thunderbolt thundered off Dunsmuir’s post. Minutes later the young keeper was forced to race from his line to defend another ‘Mark attack only for the ball to strike off Ross McCulloch and loop over Dunsmuir’s head and sail into the net. The last chance of the match fell to Glenafton when a trademark McKenzie run ended with Lopez tipping the midfielder’s shot at goal over the bar. F/T Craigmark 1 Glens 5

Glenafton: Semple (Dunsmuir); Potter, McChesney, Henderson(Campbell) & McKillen; Bell, Cashmore (McKenzie), Murphy & Menzies; Armstrong & Boyle.


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Craigmark v Glenafton

Posted on March 2, 2012 by flowgently

Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup 2nd Round

Sat 3rd March , Station Park, Dalmellington, KO 2:00pm

CRAIGMARK BURNTONIANS v GLENAFTON ATHLETIC

Glenafton will be without Craig McEwan (calf strain) and loan signing Gus Cochrane  who has been recalled by Stranraer for tomorrow’s match against Berwick Rangers at Stair Park, while striker John Dempster is doubtful (hamstring).  Gareth Armstrong, who came off the bench in the league win over Dalry last week, is fit and John Paul Boyle is available for selection.

Although Craigmark sit bottom of the Ayrshire District League their fortunes on the park have taken a turn for the better since former Glenafton coach Lawrie Coughtrie stepped in as interim manager at Station Park back in November. The following Saturday the ‘Mark came within a whisker of claiming their first league win  but for a late equaliser from visiting Lugar Boswell. That first win came a fortnight ago with a 2-1 away at Ardeer Thistle, hard on the heels on an excellent point at home against promotion contenders Kello Rovers.

The two sides last met in the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup back in season 2004/05 , also in the 2nd round, with goals from Stevie Agnew, Stevie Mallan and an O.G. helping the Glens to a 3-0 win.

The first meeting between Craigmark and Glenafton was a Western League match on September 13, 1947 in the season the Dalmellington side were formed and gained entry into the South Section of that league. The match ended in a 1-1 draw with the Glens having to call on a couple of spectators to make up their numbers while Craigmark ran out 2-0 winners in their visit to Connel Park the following January.

Willie Galloway

It is good to hear that Willie Galloway has recovered from the serious knee injury he sustained while playing for the Glens against Girvan last season. Willie has signed for his former club Rutherglen Glencairn and we wish him all the best.

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West of Scotland draw

Posted on February 29, 2012 by flowgently

New Coin Automatics West of Scotland Cup Draw

Winning goal celebrations at Clydebank

Following victories over Premier Division sides Clydebank and Pollok the Glens have been drawn at home to fellow Super League 1st Division Lanark United.

Revised Draws (10th March) for the Quarter-Final and Semi-Final stages have also been made.

West of Scotland Cup 3rd Round
Kilbirnie V Irvine Meadow
Cumbernauld V Girvan
Shotts or Dalry V Renfrew
St Roch V Forth
Ashfield V Troon
Glenafton V Lanark
Kilwinning V Beith
Ardrossan V Auchinleck
West of Scotland Quarter-Finals
Cumbernauld/Girvan V Ardrossan or Auchinleck
Yoker or Meadow V Shotts/Dalry or Renfrew
St Rochs or Forth V Ashfield/Troon
Glenafton/Lanark V Kilwinning/Beith

West of Scotland Cup Semi-Finals

Cumbernauld / Girvan OR Ardrossan / Auchinleck V
St.Rochs / Forth OR Ashfield / Troon

Glenafton / Lanark OR Kilwinning / Beith V
Yoker or Meadow OR Shotts/ Dalry or Renfrew

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Glenafton 4 Dalry 1

Posted on February 25, 2012 by flowgently

West Region Super League 1st Division

Sat 25th February , Loch Park, New Cumnock, KO 2:00pm

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 4 (1)

DALRY THISTLE 1 (1)

It seemed an ice-age ago since Dalry and Glenafton last met on a lush sun-bathed Merksworth Park back in August when the visitors overpowered their hosts to return with all three points following a 4-1 score-line in their favour. Although today’s contest ended with the same outcome the Glens had to dig deep to see off a dogged Dalry, reduced to 10 men early in the first half.

Glenafton’s  starting eleven contained no fewer than three former Dalry players – Craig Potter, Cammy Menzies and Andy Bell while in the visitors ranks were former Glenafton players striker Graeme Barbour and midfield Darren McMahon, a recent signing from Whitletts Victoria.

Ian Cashmore

With John Dempster injured and JP Boyle unavailable for selection Ian Cashmore partnered Gareth Campbell up front and the pair combined to put Glenafton ahead after 7 minutes. Menzies headed clear a Dalry free-kick and the loose ball was gathered by Gus Cochrane who released Campbell down the right and after beating Callum Davidson to the ball he tore down the wing to cross for Cashmore who picked his spot with a well-placed header, giving keeper Ross Stewart no chance. The home side struggled to capitalise on their early lead as the game, played at a frantic pace with no quarter given, failed to yield chances of any real quality. With 20 minutes gone tempers got the better of a number of players from either side and as the stoor settled Graeme Barbour was shown red and Ian Cashmore yellow, to the bemusement of their respective set of supporters.

The visitors’ 10 men were on the back foot for a spell as Paul McKenzie began to open up play and carve out chances for the hosts, the best ended with him cutting the ball back to Paul Murphy who rattled the Dalry crossbar with a thunderous drive. However, with 7 minutes of the half remaining Dalry drew level after a quickly taken free kick was launched from the half-way line and the ball killed brilliantly by Ian Reid before he turned and drilled it into the corner of the net from the edge of the box. H/T Glens 1 Dalry 1

Glenafton began the second half in determined fashion and Campbell had a goal chalked off in the opening minutes and later went close with a header. On the hour mark Murphy split open the Dalry defence with a slide rule pass to his former Stranraer team-mate Gus Cochrane  who delayed his run to beat the offside trap before drawing the keeper and slotting the ball home to restore the home side’s lead.  There was to be no slacking off from Glenafton and five minutes later Richie McKillen thundered a free-kick from the edge of the box off the face of the cross bar. Stewart then denied Campbell blocking shot but could do little to prevent Paul Murphy heading home a peach of a cross from Bell on 67 minutes, to double the Glens’ advantage.

Gareth Campbell

Dalry continued to dig in but Gareth Campbell finally got the goal his performance deserved. Substitute Gareth Armstrong gathered a throw in on the half way line and lobbed the ball over the Dalry defence for Murphy to give chase and although his shot from the edge of the box cannoned off the keeper’s chase Campbell had matched his run and was on hand to head the ball into the empty net for Glenafton’s fourth. F/T Glens 4 Dalry 1

Glenafton Athletic: Semple  Potter  Henderson  Menzies  McKillen  McKenzie Murphy   Cochrane  Bell Campbell  Cashmore  subs  Armstrong  McChesney  Dempster  Dunsmuir (gk)

Dalry Thistle:  Stewart  Pearce  Davidson  Mulgrew  Russell  Holden  Patterson  McMahon  Barbour Gilhooley  Reid  subs  McKenna  McDonald  Lynn  McCormack  McIntosh  Lockhart McGee (gk)

Siney’s Video Highlights

Glens Goal 1  Dalry Goal 1  Glens Goal 2 Glens Goal 3 Glens goal 4

1st half highlights  2nd half highlights

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Glenafton 2 Irvine Vics 1

Posted on February 18, 2012 by flowgently

Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup 1st Round

Sat 18th February , Loch Park, New Cumnock, KO 2:00pm

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 2 IRVINE VICTORIA 1

Victory snatched from the jaws of Victoria

Gus Cochrane

Glenafton gave a debut to Gus Cochrane a midweek loan signing from Stranraer. The 17 year-old midfielder’s clever touches and intelligent use of the ball was one of the few highlights for the home side in a fairly uneventful first half. Despite enjoying much of the possession and playing with the strong, but icy, wind at their backs the Glens failed to seriously test keeper Jim Catterson from either open play or from the considerable collection of corner-kicks earned.

The visiting Vics created the cream of the chances the best of which fell at both the beginning and end of the half to striker Kevin Adam, who had scored in each of his last six games. In the first minute a slack pass in the middle of the park saw the Glens surrender possession and the ball fed down the left to Steven McAvoy who played it across the face of goal for  Adam running in at the near post but he knocked it just wide of target from five yards out.  Almost right on the interval another quick break split open the home defence leaving Adam one-on-one with keeper Ally Semple but again the hit man was left with his head in his hands as he shot tamely into the arms of the Glens guardian. Five minutes beforehand another slick passing movement from box to box saw Vics fly up the field and good work by McAvoy, on the right this time, ended with full back Darren Russell through on goal but Semple was his equal pushing his shot to safety. H/T Glens 0 Vics 0

Four minutes into the fresh half John Dempster and John Paul Boyle combined well in the box to set up Paul McKenzie only for Catterson to comfortably collect his low drilled shot. Three minutes later Cochrane fed Boyle on the edge of the box and his knock on picked out McKenzie who took a touch before firing for the top corner but again he was foiled by Catterson who pulled off a fantastic one-handed save. On 54 minutes another Vics’ lightning break began with Jordan Kerr setting David Anderson flying free down the left and he rolled the ball to Ben Carson on the edge of the box who deftly flicked it back to Bobby Colligan but his wind-assisted right footed shot from 20 yards outs sailed over the bar. A minute later Colligan from almost the identical spot, and with Robbie Henderson and Richie McKillen closing in, fired a left-footed shot that flew into Semple’s top right hand corner.

Bobby's ball - Vics take the lead

The Vics joy vaporised two minutes later when a Gareth Campbell corner-kick was headed clear by Colligan only for McKenzie to feed it back into the crowded penalty area where Richie McKillen was first to react and drill the ball home from 10 yards out.

Richie's Rocket - Glens draw level

Glenafton took a grip of the game and McKenzie and Boyle in particular were proving a handful for the Vics.  On the hour mark the pair combined to take in turn to weave through the Westenders ending with Boyle’s drive slipping wide of Catterson’s post. Five minutes on and Boyle laid the ball off to McKenzie at the corner of the penalty box who in turn picked out Dempster on the penalty spot and he wheeled to volley home but the agile Catterson leaped in a flash to push the ball over the bar, a save of quality that clearly delighted the likable keeper and rightly so.  The Glens made little of the resultant corner kick and from the one after that Colligan and McAvoy took the ball from box to box before releasing Carson in acres of space on the left but Semple rushed 15 yards or so from his line to dive bravely at the forward’s feet and steal the ball to safety. With 15 minutes to go his counterpart Catterson enjoyed a stroke of good fortune when Campbell’s persistence forced a hurried pass back that the keeper failed to control and his sclaffed clearance deflected off the Glens’ midfielder away from the gaping net. At the other end Semple was in action again saving well from a snap shot from substitute Blair Gilmour.

John jabs home - Glens take the lead

With five minutes to go Boyle burst into the box and fired for goal and although his shot was partially blocked by the advancing Catterson some 8 yards off his line John Dempster pounced and evaded the challenge of substitute Alan Frew before placing the ball beyond the back tracking Lee Hunter into the net. The visitors responded well and came close to drawing level within a minute but Carson’s close range header was comfortably clasped to the chest of Semple. In the dying embers of the game the impressive Colligan crossed from the left but McAvoy failed to connect and the Vics’ last chance of forcing a penalty shoot-out was gone and it will be Glenafton that travel to face Craigmark in the next round. F/T Glens 2 Vics 1

Glenafton Athletic: Semple;  Menzies, Murphy, Henderson & McKillen; Bell (McEwan), Campbell (Cashmore), Cochrane & McKenzie; Boyle & Dempster. Subs Potter, Armstrong, McChesney & Dunsmuir

Irvine Victoria: Catterson, Johnstone, Russell, Smith, Hunter, Kerr, Colligan, Carson, Adam, McAvoy & Anderson. Subs – Gilmour, Frew, Valentine & McIroy.

More photos here

Siney’s Video Highlights 

1st half highlights  2nd half highlights

 


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Glenafton v Irvine Vics

Posted on February 17, 2012 by flowgently

Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup 1st Round

Sat 18th February , Loch Park, New Cumnock, KO 2:00pm

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC v IRVINE VICTORIA

The two sides last met in the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup in Season 2007/08 and like this week-end’s match it was a first round tie. In stark contrast the first time the Glens and Vics met in the competition was in the Cup final of 1935/36 at Rugby Park.

LAST MEETING: Friday 18th April 2008

Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup 1st Round
Victoria Park, Irvine
IRVINE VICTORIA 1 GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 2

The two sides last met in Ayrshire Cup in Season 2007/08 when the Ayrshire District side went in at the interval a goal to the good courtesy of an own goal by Chris Merrilees.  The Premier side struck back twice in the second half with goals from Frankie Haggarty and David Gormley to seal the tie.

Glenafton: Matthews; Connolly,Gow, Merrilees, Quinn; Haggarty, Howie (Grant), Doyle (Deeney), Agnew; Feroz (Anderson), Gormley

FIRST MEETING: Saturday 10th April 1936

Ayrshire Junior Challenge Cup Final
Rugby Park, Kilmarnock
GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 3 IRVINE VICTORIA 0

Glenafton as reigning Western League champions and Irvine Vics were in a three horse race for the league title when they faced each other in the Ayrshire Junior Cup Final – a race that was eventually won by Cumnock Juniors, with Vics runners-up and Glens in third place.

Irvine Vics road the final began with a bye in the 1st round followed by victories over Kilbirnie (3-1, h), Dalry (4-0,h) and Saltcoats (5-1 at Recreation Park). While the Glens claimed the scalps of the Meadow (3-1,a), Kilwinning Rangers (6-0, h) and Cumnock (6-1, at Rugby Park).

Although Vics ‘carpet-weaving’ style of play caught the eye it failed to penetrate the Glens defence with Bill Gray in outstanding form. In contrast the Irvine side could not handle Glens’ outside left John Reid who bagged a first half brace and completed his hat-trick with a stunning strike from the corner of the box that flew past Jardine and into the corner of the net. The Glens had won the Ayrshire Cup for the first time in the club’s short history.

Glenafton: McEwan; Brown & Ferguson; Craig, Gray, & Ballantyne, Irvine, Hawthorn, Serrie, Campbell & Reid

Irvine Vics: Jardine; Gibson & Caldwell; J.Dempster, Kyle & McCormack; Donnelly, M.Dempster, McGill, Steele & Campbell.

The famous Glens side of 1935/1936. Galston lad Tommy Langan missed the final through injury and local lad J. Serrie took his place at centre forward.

Back row: Brown, Ferguson, McEwan, Craig, Gray and Ballantyne. Front row: Irvine, Hawthorn, Langan, Campbell and Reid.

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Angus stakes a claim at Loch Park

Posted on February 14, 2012 by flowgently

Glenafton have signed 18 year old Gus Cochrane on a loan deal from Stranraer. The young midfielder formerly with Celtic youths made his debut for the Stair Park side in November 2010 .

Welcome to Loch Park, Gus.

Gus at Stranraer

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Ally’s extension….building for the future

Posted on February 10, 2012 by flowgently

 

Glenafton goalkeeper Ally Semple has extended his current contract to 18 months keeping him at Loch Park next season. Captain Robbie Henderson, John Paul Boyle and Paul Murphy are already signed up for next season and contract extensions with several other players are on-going.

Fingers crossed tomorrow’s home league match against East Kilbride Thistle will go ahead. The two sides have met four times on league business on four occasions with each having won one game and the other two drawn. Another tough test for league leaders Glens with East Kilbride only 5 points behind with 3 games in hand.

 

 

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