Glenafton 3 Kello 1

Posted on August 10, 2011 by flowgently

Ardagh Ayrshire Sectional League Cup

Section 4 : Match 5

Wednesday 10 August, Loch Park, New Cumnock

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 3 (2)

KELLO ROVERS 1 (1)

Kris Mitchell scored his first Glens' goal

The Glens’ victory ensured that they progress to the knock-out stages of the competition as section winners. However, Kello made them fight all the way to earn that right. Indeed the visitors opened the scoring after only 4 minutes but Jim Wilson equalised two minutes later with a cracking goal. Midway through the half midfielder Kris Mitchell put the home side ahead with his first goal for the club. H/T Glens 2 Kello 1

The second half was a tense affair and the visitors were unfortunate not to draw level on more than one occasion with the woodwork and the home side rattled. A dropped point could still see the Glens eliminated if Cumnock matched the weather and hit Lugar with a deluge of goals.  The silver lining did shine brightly for the Glens, with a touch of good fortune, when Lewis Sloan doubled the Loch Park side’s lead, the ball going in via his shins in the last minute. F/T Glens 3 Kello 1

Glenafton: Semple; Greenlees (Currie), McKinnel (McChesney), McEwan; Sloan, Bell, Mitchell, McKenzie; Wilson, Trialist (Armstrong)

Other scores: Auchinleck 10 Muirkirk 0; Lugar 1 Cumnock 9

Well done Glens in topping a section and finishing above two Premier Division sides.

The Glens will now play host to Girvan in the Quarter-Final with the winners travelling to the winners of the Whitletts v Auchinleck in the Semi-Final.

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Glenafton v Kello

Posted on August 9, 2011 by flowgently

Ardagh Ayrshire Sectional League Cup

Section 4 : Match 5

Wednesday 10th August KO 6:45pm

The Glens face Kello at Loch Park tomorrow in the last round of matches in the Ardagh Cup group stage. After winning their first two games against Lugar and Muirkirk the Rovers went down by the odd goal in five away to Talbot last week and lost 2-0 to Cumnock at Townhead. Matches between the two sides are generally tight but the home side know victory will guarantee they stay top of the section while only a defeat and a large swing in goal difference to Cumnock (who face Lugar) would deny the Glens a runners-up spot. Familiar faces in the Rovers squad are former Glens trio Scott Caldwell, Alan Middleton and Steven Shankland.

DID YOU KNOW?

Glenafton Athletic’s first ever opponents were Kello Rovers. The two sides met at Connel Park on Saturday 2nd August 1930 in a Ayrshire League match. Local plumber John Sim scored the only goal of the game to give the home side their first ever victory and set them on their way to winning the league title. Despite the summer storm a gate of £23 watched the first of many ‘derbies’ (the two sides met each other 8 times that season.)

Glenafton: Wilson; Park and Davidson; Fletcher, R.Kilday, and Torrance (Lugar); Ferguson, Campbell, Sim, Flynn and Dick Keggans  Kello: McDonald; Livingstone and Kerr; McLeod, Rorrison and Eadie; Whiteford, Hendron, Keggans, McLeod and Stevenson

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Scolesy’s Blair Pitch Project

Posted on August 9, 2011 by flowgently

Aaron Scoular

Former Glenafton midfielder Aaron Scoular to Blair Park and joined Hurlford United. ‘Scolesy’ joined the Glens two seasons ago and made 40 appearances (almost half of them from the bench) and scored three goals, including an unforgettable strike in a crucial win at Vale of Clyde.  His enthusiasm, energy and effort made a firm favourite with the support. The club would like to thank  Aaron and wish him all the best for the future.

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Auchinleck 1 Glenafton 4

Posted on August 6, 2011 by flowgently

ARDAGH AYRSHIRE SECTIONAL LEAGUE CUP

Section 4 : Match 4

Saturday 06 August, Beechwood Park, Auchinleck

AUCHINLECK TALBOT 1 (1)

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 4 (3)

EEKA PEEKA PUKA BO

The main street of Auchinleck was bedecked in black and gold bunting today, no not to welcome the Glens, but as part of the town’s excellent annual ‘Alive and Kicking’ Festival. No bands at Beechwood but certainly even the most ‘Simple Minds’ wouldn’t begrudge the visitors their comprehensive victory that takes them to the top of the section.

Lewis Sloan in flight

Although the day was overcast the sleek Beechwood pitch had a lush green shine enhanced with a coating of the smirr that fell from the darkening sky on and off throughout the match. The football from the sweet Afton was soon flowing gently upon the green baize while Talbot toiled to work up a head of steam. In particular the tenacious trickery of  Glenafton’s Lewis Sloan caught the eye and it was fitting the young attacking midfielder opened the scoring. The home side failed to clear their lines and with a mini-wall of three Talbot defenders in front of him Sloan was first to react and fire his snapshot home from on or about the penalty spot with 12 minutes gone. Two minutes later the visitors won a free kick some 30 yards out and thunderbolt specialist Craig McEwan stepped up but although the wall stood firm Southy sought out the loose ball and lashed it home to the sheer delight of team-mates, the away dug-out and of course the travelling support .

Gareth 'Bo' Armstrong

The Glens midfield orchestrated by Andy Bell were well on top with Paul McKenzie  Kris Mitchell and Sloan all adding to Talbot woes taking defenders on at will and feeding the two Gareths, Armstong and Campbell, up front. Glens keeper Ally Semple was seldom tested with Robbie Henderson and Cammy McKinnell (who had an outstanding game) at the centre of the defence proving to be a formidable unmovable force.  However, the home side did pull one back 10 minutes before the break. With Henderson off the pitch receiving attention for a head knock a momentary lapse of concentration allowed David Gillies to capitalise and slot the ball beyond Semple from close range. Three minutes later a header from the home side flashed narrowly over the bar but any fears of a renowned Talbot fight back were quickly quashed on 41 minutes. Attacking full back Craig Potter looked to have been boxed in at the corner flag but with great determination he managed to whip an exquisite cross over the heads of four Bot defenders and more or less onto the head of Gareth Armstrong; Bo made no mistake and from 8 yards bulleted the ball home. H/T Talbot 1 Glens 3

The Glens were first to threaten after the break with ‘the Gareths’ combining well to open up the Talbot defence with a slick one-two but the final shot went wide. Five minutes in and Potter picked out McKenzie deep in his own half and off he went ala his Warner Bros namesake like a whirlwind leaving a trail of Talbotians in his wake, one, two, three, four, five took him to the edge of the box but his shot at goal bounced off the knee caps of former Glens defender Rikki Robbo and was eventually cleared. The home side did manage to create a handful of half chances without achieving anything little more than a goalmouth scramble or two, Henderson and McKinnel continuing to win the vast majority of any Talbot aerial attacks.  Substitutions as well as the occasional display of handbags began to disrupt the flow of the game, these often ended with referee showing both offender and offended a yellow card apiece.

It's 4-1 at Beechwood

Midway through the half Armstrong was crudely bundled off the ball and elected to take the free kick himself. The Auchinleck wall lined up a yard inside the penalty box, coaching from the terraced encouraged Bo to pick a corner and he duly did crafting the ball into the postage stamp on the keeper’s right. Eeka peeka puka Bo ! The Glens’ goal suffered a scare a minute later as a ball from the left flashed across the face of the goal but Milliken’s attempt to pop it home at the back post went wide.  Semple then had to be alert to snuff out a Milliken header and two or three similar other chances went a begging too as did Talbot’s hopes of salvaging anything from the game. Indeed the visitors came to close to extending their lead when the Talbot keeper McGarrity fumbled a Sloan shot from the corner of the penalty box but he redeemed himself as he dived at the feet of Jim Wilson to stop him slotting the rebound home. F/T Talbot 1 Glenafton 4

Glenafton: Semple; Potter, McKinnell (McChesney), Henderson, McEwan; McKenzie, Bell, Mitchell, Sloan; Armstrong (Greenlees), Campbell (Wilson)

more photos here

Other scores: Cumnock 2 Kello 0; Lugar 1 Muirkirk 3

Remaining games: Glens v Kello, Talbot v Muirkirk, Lugar v Cumnock

Glens top the section and barring a heavy defeat to Kello and a big win for Cumnock (the Glens have a +14 superior goal difference) they will qualify for the quarter-finals

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Auchinleck v Glenafton

Posted on August 5, 2011 by flowgently

ARDAGH AYRSHIRE SECTIONAL LEAGUE CUP

Match 4: Beechwood Park, Auchinleck

Saturday 06 Aug KO 2:00pm

AUCHINLECK TALBOT v GLENAFTON ATHLETIC

Ally Semple

The Glens travel to face table toppers Talbot tomorrow in the Section 4 match of the day. After cuffing Cumnock 5-0 and leathering Lugar by the same score the Beechwood side had to settle for a share of 5 goals when Kello came calling on Wednesday night with the home side edging it by the odd goal.  Meanwhile at Loch Park the Glens eventually overcame Lugar scoring four second half goals having drawn a blank in the opening forty-five. The Loch Park side are hopeful to have keeper Ally Semple back, having been rested midweek after suffering concussion at Cumnock last Saturday.

Other games: Cumnock v Kello; Lugar v Muirkirk

DID YOU KNOW?

The two sides first met on 4th October 1931 in the 1st Round of the Ayr & District Cup at Beechwood and ended with the Talbot tanking the Glens 6-1 in front of a £10 gate. The Glens exacted revenge in the league encounter at Connel Park in early number running out 5-1 winners but Talbot turned the tables with a 4-1 win at Beechwood later that month, in what proved to be the New Cumnock side’s only defeat on the way to winning the title. It was at Beechwood Park that the Glens won their first silverware beating the famous Glenbuck Cherrypickers 5-1 in the final of the Coylton Cup on 9th May 1931. One soon became three as the Mauchline Cup and the Irvine & District cups were won on the same ground, Cumnock Juniors the vanquished on both occasions.

PHOTO TEASER?

The Glens last won the Ayrshire Sectional League Cup in Season 2005/06 with a 4-2 trouncing of the Talbot at Beechwood, Scott Houston and Stevie Agnew each scoring doubles for the New Cumnock side. But which former Glens’ striker made their debut for Talbot in that game and what current Talbot defender helped keep him off the scoresheet?

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Glenafton 4 Lugar 0

Posted on August 3, 2011 by flowgently

ARDAGH AYRSHIRE SECTIONAL LEAGUE CUP

Section 4 : Match 3

Wednesday 03 August, Loch Park, New Cumnock

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 4 (0)

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 0 (0)

An inspired performance by Lugar keeper Ronnie Davis kept the Glens at bay in the first half. Time and again the home side got behind the Boswell defence to set up chance after chance only for Davis to demonstrate a sumptuous selection of stunning point-blank saves. His counterpart, young Ryan Dunsmuir, in for the recovering Ally Semple who sustained a head injury against Cumnock at the week-end, enjoyed a much less frenetic but assured debut.

Man-of-the-Match Ronnie Davis

On 5 minutes Paul McKenzie skipped down the right wing and cutback from the bye-line for  Gareth Campbell but his point blank shot was blocked by Davis in a flash. McKenzie was then the recipient of a cross from the left by Craig McEwan, who it seemed had run the length of the pitch with the ball, but  his powerful downward header from six yards out was guided over by the tall yellow jerseyed goalie. Seconds later Gareth Armstrong headed wide from close range. Lugar never seriously tested the Glens’ debutant keeper but this young new team, Davis was the only survivor from last season in the starting eleven, showed great compusure in taking the ball from box to box with simple short passes and now and then pulled off  some exquisite defence splitting balls.

At times the Glens were perhaps over elaborate with several cross field passes going astray but nevertheless they continued to create chances at will. With 20 minutes gone Craig Potter was next to get to the dead ball line with McKenzie the target but good defending at the expense of a corner secured the stalemate. On the half hour mark Campbell squared the ball to the unmarked Lewis Sloan but his shot lacked the pace to worry Davis who smothered the ball with ease. Five minutes later Kris Mitchell rose from the glare of the low sun but his blinding header skimmed over the bar. The half drew to a close with Lugar, despite being on the back foot for much of the game, still very much in the game.  H/T Glens 0 Lugar 0

Gareth Campbell breaks the deadlock

The game resumed and within 30 seconds Davis pushed a Sloan shot, from the corner of the six yard box, over the bar. A minute later a Mitchell strike from 20 yards whizzed past the keeper’s far post and soon after a Cammy McKinnell header from a corner kick glanced over the bar. The siege continued and with 10 minutes of the half gone a McEwan thunderbolt from 25 yards crashed off the post, a let off for Lugar and the windows of Lochside House Hotel! A minute later however the home side made the breakthrough. Sloan slipped past two defenders on the right hand side of the box and rolled the ball across the goalmouth for Gareth Campbell to beat a third defender to the ball and blast home from the corner of the six yard box. Armstrong missed from close range and Davis bravely blocked a McKenzie effort before Campbell doubled his tally on 62 minutes. Beating the offside he burst into the box and coolly fired an angled shot from 15 yards out beyond the advancing Davis into the far corner of the goal. Eight minutes later Davis denied McKenzie again from a few yards but a tiring Lugar failed to clear lines and the ball arrived at the feet of Lewis Sloan who made no mistake drilling the ball low and hard through the keeper’s legs. The Glens introduced fresh legs with Armstrong, McKenzie and McKinnell  replaced Jim Wilson, Steven Greenlees and Ryan McChesney respectively. In the closing minutes the Glens were awarded a penalty kick for a offence that eluded me. Jim Wilson completed the scoring from the penalty spot despite the best efforts of Davis who got a hand to the ball. F/T Glens 4 Lugar 0

Glenafton: Dunsmuir; Bell, McKinnell (McChesney), Henderson, McEwan; McKenzie (Greenlees), Potter, Mitchell, Sloan; Armstrong (Wilson), Campbell

Other scores: Auchinleck 3 Kello 2, Muirkirk 1 Cumnock 2

More photos here

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Glenafton v Lugar

Posted on August 2, 2011 by flowgently

Ardagh Ayrshire Sectional League Cup

Match 3: Loch Park, New Cumnock

Wednesday 03 August 6:45pm

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC v LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE

Both sides underwent a change in management during the close season. While Darren Henderson stepped in at Loch Park following the departure of Greg Denham, up at Rosebank former Kello Rovers boss Billy McKie settled into the hot-seat surprisingly vacated by Lauchlan Miller. A multitude of new faces on the park for both sides too ensures that the Ardagh Cup continues to serve the dual purpose of preparing for the league campaign and challenging for the first silverware of the season.   After a 4-0 loss at Kello, the Jaggy Bunnetts went down 5-0 at home to section favourites Talbot in the Auchinleck parish derby.

DID YOU KNOW?

Glenafton Athletic clinched their first  league title, in the season they were formed, by defeating Lugar Boswell 4-0 at Rosebank, on Tuesday 19th May, 1931.

‘It took Glenafton an hour’s hard work to wear down the home side who put up a stubborn opposition. Walker scored in the first half from a corner and it was not until Sim had added a second that the game was won and lost. Adair scored twice making the final count 4-0. In the closing minutes Sim and Baird fell out, and Referee Conn sent them to the pavilion.’

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Robbie extends contract

Posted on July 31, 2011 by flowgently

 

Robbie Henderson

The club is delighted to announce that newly appointed club captain Robbie Henderson has signed a 1 year extension to his current 1 year contract. Robbie quickly established himself as a firm favourite with the Loch Park supporters when he joined the club midway through last season as the club made a late push for promotion.  all the best Robbie

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More PFTJ signings

Posted on July 31, 2011 by flowgently

A big thank you to our most recent PFTJ signings – John Stewart, George Capstick, Jimmy Davidson, Gavin Young and Dougie Potter … check our their PFTJ team-mates here …. PFTJ

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Cumnock 0 Glenafton 0

Posted on July 30, 2011 by flowgently

ARDAGH AYRSHIRE SECTIONAL LEAGUE CUP

SECTION 4: Match 2

Saturday 30th July, Townhead Park, Cumnock

CUMNOCK JUNIORS 0 (0)

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 0 (0)

Both sides began with their own G-forces leading the attack. Up front for the hosts were former Glenafton players Gavin Friels (who had a loan spell at Loch Park back in 2006) and trialist Gavin Brown while for the visitors were former Cumnock players Gareth Armstrong and Gareth Campbell . It was Campbell who eked out the first real chance when in 17 minutes he turned and drilled a low shot from inside the corner of the penalty box only for the keeper to turn it round the post. The Glens enjoyed of the possession with Paul McKenzie in menacing form on the trim Townhead turf leaving former Glens man Chic Connolly chasing shadows. Play was broken up with a few yellow cards dished out, Nock’s No. 11 for a rash challenge on Craig Menzies, Friels for kicking the ball away and Chic and Andy Bell sharing handbags. On 28 minutes the visitors pressure looked to have paid off but Craig McEwan’s thunderbolt from the far right off the penalty box crashed off the underside off the bar and off the line and into play where Armstrong’s attempt head it home was graciously grabbed by the goalie. Five minutes later a half-hearted claim for hand ball by Chic at the near post from another Glens’ corner were turned away. As the interval approached the hard-working Gavin Brown flashed a header across the Glens goal forcing Ally Semple to scurry across his line to ensure it was going just wide of target. Before the whistle Friels was fortunate not to walk as once again he kicked the ball away at a Glens’ free-kick. H/T Cumnock 0 Glens 0

Paul McKenzie and Andy Bell on the break

McKenzie continued to drive the visitors forward in search of the opener and on 57 minutes played a cute ball into the box for Armstrong to chase. The bounce of the ball clearly deceived defender Stuart MacDonald who used an arm to compensate, control and clear the ball heralding loud appeals for hand ball. The officials thought otherwise and the sheepish looks on MacDonald’s face suggest he got away with a ‘stane-dyker’. To rub salt in the wound Cumnock broke upfield and Brown burst into the box but in accidental collision both he and keeper Semple required attention for injuries sustained. Play was held up for 12 minutes as plasters and bandages were applied. Both soon showing they had fully recovered with Brown flooring McEwan with a wild challenge and Semple saving at the feet of Aaron Connolly. On 27 minutes the Glens produced the move of the match. Armstrong beat MacDonald to head the ball on for Campbell who quickly fed the ball back to Bo on the right touchline. Bo launched a long diagonal ball over the head of ‘Nock defence for Lewis Sloan, lurking with intent on the left flank, who met it on the drop and lashed it goalward beyond the reach of the keeper at full stretch, but it whizzed over the bar. Five minutes later Armstrong almost capitalised on a poor pass back from Chic but his lob from 15 yards out over the advancing keeper also went just over. Relieved, Cumnock broke up field with young Connolly showing great pace to get into the Glens’ box with Cammy McKinnell on his tail. The Glens defender’s last ditch tackle triggered a choreographed show of arms, the ‘Nock arms straight up in appeals for a penalty, the Afton arms horizontal indicating the direction of the ball, fairly won in their view, as it headed to the corner flag. The only arm that counted was the referee’s as it pointed to the penalty spot, held aloft a red card for McKinnel and showed Glens’ assistant manager Stevie Kerrigan the steps to the Cumnock clubhouse. The head bandaged Semple faced Chic Connolly but the former red was left with his head in his hands as his spot kick sailed over the bar bound for Barshare; it was not Chic’s day, however the other Connolly was soon proving a handful for the 10 men. On 37 minutes another burst of pace took him to the left side of the box where he clipped the ball past outcoming Semple but it trundled agonisingly wide of the far post. Soon after Freil’s found himself in space but shot tamely at goal. Then on what would have been the last minute of regulation time Cumnock’s trialist centre half rose above everyone at a corner kick but his downward header went just wide of target. The Glens gathered themselves for the 12 minutes of ‘injury time’ and in what was perhaps the best chance of that period, substitute Jim Wilson was unlucky with a cheeky lob past the goalie but both watched with different expressions on their faces as the ball squirmed wide of target.

Ally Semple

Glenafton: Semple; McEwan, McKinnell, Henderson, Menzies (McKillen); McKenzie, Bell, Potter, Sloan (Mitchell); Armstrong (Wilson J.), Campbell

Other scores: Kello 3 Muirkirk 0. Lugar 0 Auchinleck 5

More photos

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