Glenafton Athletic

New Coin Automatics West of Scotland Cup 1st round

Sat 15th October, Holm Park, Yoker

CLYDEBANK 1 (0)

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 2 (0)

Prior to kick off both sides and the match officials lifted aloft ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ cards as part of football’s committment, on and off the park, to combat racism in our society. This was followed by a minute’s silence in memory of Clydebank supporter Andy Logan who sadly passed away recently and was observed by supporters of both sides united in the appreciation of the loss a loyal club supporter.

Having lost twice in league matches to Clydebank last season Glenafton were clearly determined to put up a good show against the newly promoted Premier side and had them on the back foot in the early exchanges. In the opening minute Gareth Armstrong lobbed the ball into the Bankies’ box for Lewis Sloan to chase only for giant defender Barry Jones to intercept but his backward header was spilled by keeper Robert Hamilton, who quickly redeemed himself when he turned Sloan’s effort to lash the loose ball home out for a corner.

Two minutes later the keeper was glad to watch a diving header from Armstrong from 10 yards narrowly miss the target. On 10 minutes Paul McKenzie weaved his way to the goal line leaving a bunch of Bankies in his wake but former Glenafton defender Gordon Moffat and captain Ross Campbell combined to prevent the industrious Gareth Campbell drilling the cut back home.

The home side carved out their first chance in 15 minutes when a cute ball from Andy Paterson down the left released live-wire Darren McKinnon who fired the ball across the face of the goal for Stevie Dymock to set up Vinnie Berry but his powerful shot from close range pulled off a fine save from Ally Semple, the keeper getting both hands to the ball in a flash. The visitors responded with an equally fluent move down their right flank Craig McEwan finding Craig Potter on the edge of the box who rolled the ball back to Paul Murphy to fire it goalward from twenty yards out but on this occasion Hamilton held with a safe pair of hands.

On twenty minutes Potter dinked a delightful ball through the middle for Armstrong to chase and loft into the box over the heads of the back-tracking Ross Campbell and the outcoming Hamilton for Gareth Campbell who was bundled off the ball by Moffat, but claims for a penalty were muted by an offside flag. Three minutes later Campbell’s bravery saw off the challenge of Ross Campbell and Paterson to allow McKenzie to take the ball to the bye-line again but the cut-back was marginally behind Potter well placed on the 6 yard line.

Darren MacKinnon and Robbie Henderson

The home side began to put their own stamp on the match in the closing twenty minutes of the half as Berry, MacKinnon and Dymock began to take the pressure off their unsettled defence moving the ball about at pace and with some style.  On 26 minutes Ian Gold nicked the ball from Murphy on the half way line for  Berry to find the dynamic Dymock down the left who cut inside and squared the ball for Tommy Martin but his shot from 20 yards blocked by Potter sent the ball skywards only for MacKinnon to greet it on its descent with an audacious overhead kick which whizzed past Semple’s far post with the keeper beaten.

Despite their enhanced share of possession ‘blocked shots’ at the edge of Glenafton’s penalty box were more often than not the final outcome of some fast flowing football by the hosts, as the visitors rearguard stood firm. However on 38 minutes the Bankies breached the Glens’ defence and Dymock with Semple to beat was unfortunate to see his angled shot come off the base of the post and Graham Smith lacked the sharpness of thought to despatch the loose ball and McKenzie was on hand to clear and diffuse the danger. Bankies 0 Glens 0

Stevie Dymock celebrates the opener

The Bankies began brightly and on 56 minutes Semple did well to smother a close range Dymock header. Two minutes later Stevie Dymock made not mistake bulleting home a flashing header from a killer of a cross from the right by Smith who inevitably had been picked out by play-maker MacKinnon.

Gareth Armstrong and Gordon Moffat watch as Bo's header nestles in the net

As is their way the Glenafton head stayed aloft and they almost drew level immediately as Hamilton struggled to hold a cross from Campbell but Sloan’s attempt to net the loose ball was cleared off the line by Moffat. However, on 62 minutes the big defender was outjumped in the box by Gareth Armstrong and his looping header outfoxed  Hamilton and the ball dropped unperturbed and nestled into the net at the back post.

Both sides went all out for the equaliser with the Bankies creating the better of chances danger man Dymock going close twice and a MacKinnon header flashing wide .

Paul McKenzie's strike from the edge of the box heads for the top corner

With 8 minutes to go Glenafton clinched it with quite a stunning goal. McEwan on the right picked out Sloan with a throw-in and slotted the return ball to Potter menacingly placed where the ‘D’ meets the 18 yard line, shielding the ball from Gold, he passed the baton to Paul McKenzie to force his way along the 18 yard line and on reaching midway unleashed a ferocious left foot strike that exploded into Hamilton’s top right hand corner. The celebrations that followed came close to matching the quality of the goal.

Winning goal celebrations

Five minutes later the visitors came close to doubling their lead when a Murphy header caused panic in the Bankies’ six yard box. Hamilton and Moffat combined to block Armstrong and then Jones and Paterson joined the fray to deny Gareth Campbell before the ball found its way back to instigator Murphy and his angled net bound shot bounced off the back of Moffat, as he rose from the ground, and over the bar.

In the final minute of regulation play a close range header from substitute Ross McPherson looked sure to take the cup tie to a penalty shoot-out but it skimmed over the Glens’ bar. F/T Bankies 1 Glens 2

Glenafton: Semple; McEwan, Menzies, Henderson, McKillen; McKenzie, Potter, Murphy, Sloan (Bell); Armstrong, Campbell.

Clydebank: Hamilton; Moffat, Campbell, Jones, Paterson; Smith, Martin, Gold, Berry; Dymock, MacKinnon

Full Report to follow

More photos here

Super League 1st Division

Sat 1st October, Loch Park, New Cumnock

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 1 (0)

SHOTTS BON ACCORD 1 (0)

Glenafton missed the opportunity to go top of the league with another home draw, their third in three league games. The home side shaded the first half in terms of possession against a well organised Shotts side.  It proved to be a forty-five minutes with chances at both ends the best of which was created by the lively Paul McKenzie but keeper Craig Brown pulled of a fine diving save. H/T Glens 0 Shotts 0

Paul 'Taz' McKenzie

The half-time oranges inspired a much needed zest to the encounter and the Glens in particular looked the more determined to end the stalemate. Loan signing, Paul Murphy, making his home debut, fired in a shot from the edge of the box which skimmed over the crossbar.  A Gareth Armstrong header from a Lewis Sloan cut back then battered off the Bon Accord post. It seemed something had to give and it did, but unexpectedly at the other end of the park with the Glens architects of their own setback. On 52 minutes possession was surrendered carelessly in the middle of the park and the ball gathered gratefully by Gordon McKenna, who instantly headed for the exposed Ally Semple’s goal. On another day the keeper may have made the striker’s task more difficult but after McKenna’s first shot hit the post, the ball fell kindly to allow him to net the rebound.

Gareth 'Bo' Armstrong

The home side licked their wounds and McKenzie in particular was proving a handful for the visitors his attacking style giving Paul Burns a torrid time as he opened up the Shotts defence. Midway through the half it was a case of severe Burns for Taz, when the defender floored him and two minutes later chopped him down, to collect two yellow cards and his matching orders in quick succession.  The Glens continued to press and were creating chances at will with two efforts from Sloan the picks of the bunch.  The Shotts goal survived a few goalmouth scrambles but one ended with Gareth Armstrong wheeling round to smash home a more than well-deserved equaliser, his 12^th goal of the season. Minutes later the Glens were denied a stonewaller when a Shotts’ handball in the box was waved away. Late in the game the visitors found a second wind which threatened to blow out birthday boy Ally Semple’s candles.  However a few frantic clearances from his fellow defenders, including a noteworthy one from Craig McEwan, ensured the game finished a goal apiece and a point apiece. Glens 1 Shotts 1

Glenafton: Semple;  McEwan,  Henderson,  Menzies  & McKillen;  McKenzie, Murphy  Potter &  Sloan;  Armstrong & Cashmore  Subs  Greenlees  Campbell  Bell  McChesney Dunsmuir

Other Scores: Girvan P Kilsyth P, Lanark 2 Dalry 0 , Renfrew P Cumbernauld P