Sat 22nd December 2018 KO 1:45 pm
McBookie.com West Region Premiership | Match 16
Loch Park, New Cumnock
Glenafton took the lead on 6 minutes through Dan Orsi. Ten minutes before break the home side were awarded a penalty after Leon Murphy was brought down and the Cambuslang player ordered off, before a team-mate was also shown a red card. A further incident, now subject of a police enquiry, followed and the referee abandoned the game.
Sat 15th Dec 2018 KO 1:45 pm
McBookie.com West Region Premiership | Match 15
Meadow Park, Irvine
GLENS KNOCK THREE TIMES
Glens travelled to Townhead to face a Cumnock side under new management after the departure of boss Peter Leonard following a string of poor results including a 7-1 loss at home to Largs Thistle last Saturday. Taking over the hot seat as player/manager is local lad Paul Burns supported by Stephen McKenna as player/coach , Scott McCulloch coach and the legendary former keeper Bill Bentley.
The Glens made an early breakthrough after Cammy Marlow (bottom left) picked up from where he left off last week after netting on 5 minutes. It proved to be the only goal of the half as the visitors continued to dominate.
HT Nock 0 Glens 1
Chances kept coming the New Cumnock side’s way and Joe Andrew (below middle) doubled their lead on the hour mark. Mick McCann (below right) added a third five minutes later as Glens completed the league double over their neighbours to climb to third place in the table with half their league matches now completed.
FT Nock 0 Glens 3
GLENAFTON ATHLETIC: 1. Brian McGarrity 2. Ally Park. 3. Alan Cairns 4. Kyle McAusland 5. Ryan McChesney 6. Cameron Marlow 7. Dan Orsi 8. Findlay Frye 9. Mick McCann (14. Conor Lynass) 10. Joe Andrew 11. Leon Murphy (12. Dale Moore). Subs not used15. Darren McLean 16. Kit Cummins 17.Craig Burns
CUMNOCK JUNIORS: 1. Ally Semple 2. James Lundie 3. Greg Ferry 4. Richard Murray 5. Stephen McKenna 6. Scott Dinwoodie 7. Steven Degnam 8. Kyle Faulds 9. Scott Anson 10. Dan Carmichael 11. Dean Brotherston subs 12. Craig Reid 14. Robert Patterson 15. Andrew Muir 16. Raymond Montgomery 17. Paul Burns
Sat 1st December 2018 KO 1:45pm
Macron Sottish Junior Cup | 4th Round Replay
Loch Park, New Cumnock
Pollok win penalty shoot-out 3-0
There was little between Glenafton and Pollok in last week’s goalless draw in the Macron Scottish Junior Cup 4th round tie at Loch Park and so it proved today again in the replay at Newlandsfield. With top goalscorer Chris Dallas and captain Craig Menzies still out through injury the Glens started with the same eleven. They started brightly enough without creating any clear-cut chances from either open play or the several set pieces earned from fouls committed by the home side on the outskirts of the box. However it was Pollok that opened the scoring on 15 minutes with a well-worked goal. Play was switched from left to right before Shaun Fraser played a one-two with Bryan Young in the box and after driving to the bye-line cut the ball across the face of goal for the incoming Stefan McCluskey to pick his spot from close range.
The home side spurred on by the opener looked the livelier going forward as the pressed for a second albeit without success. Indeed they had keeper Jordan Longmuir to thank for preserving their lead going into the break after he pushed Joe Andrew’s low drilled shot from 20 yards wide for a corner-kick via the outside of the post. HT Pollok 1 Glens 0
Although Lok were quick out the blocks after the restart and create a couple of half chances the Glens levelled the cup-tie on 51 minutes. Darren McLean, wide on the right, picked out Joe Andrew on the corner of the penalty box to roll the ball to Conor Lynass tucked tightly on the touchline where he whipped the ball deep into box for Leon Murphy to glance a header beyond the reach of keeper.
The Glens looked the more threatening of the sides for the remainder of the half with Findlay Frye going close and a shot from Murphy whizzing wide of the post. At the other end Danny Boyle’s header from a corner kick slipped inches wide of the target and the match ended in stalemate. FT Pollok 1 Glens 1
The penalty shoot-out was over in a flash as Jordan Longmuir emerged as the home hero saving the Glens first three penalties from Mick McCann, Dale Moore and Darren McLean while the home side despatched their three kicks to win 3-0.
GLENAFTON ATHLETIC: 1. Brian McGarrity 2. Darren McLean 3. Alan Cairns 4. Kyle McAusland 5. Ryan McChesney 6. Dale Moore 7. Conor Lynass (14. Dan Orsi) 8. Findlay Frye 9. Mick McCann 10. Joe Andrew 11. Leon Murphy.
Sat 17th Nov 2018 KO 1:45 pm
McBookie.com West Region Premiership | Match 13
Meadow Park, Irvine
THE second half of this match was delayed to enable a repair to the net Meadow had been attacking in the opening 45 minutes. How it got damaged is a mystery as it wasn’t due to a non-stop pummelling by the home side.
Glens had started on the front foot with Leon Murphy straying offside after a good move involving Dale Moore and Mick McCann. Alan Cairns then delivered a decent cross which McCann connected with but his shot was blocked as Meadow came under attack.
Their best chance had fallen to Darren Jones who tried to chip keeper Brian McGarrity but the ball continued rising and out of play. Chris Dallas limped off with just 20 minutes played, after he went over on his ankle, ironically while back helping the defence.
Meadow then had to defend in numbers as Glens fired in four shots in rapid-fire fashion, all blocked including the first attempt which Shaun Newman got a foot to.Joe Andrew had been foiled initially, while his team-mates McCann, Moore and Murphy were also denied by some brave defending.
Newman then saved well from a Murphy free-kick before the last chance of the half fell for Jones but, with his back to goal, he was unable to get a clean shot on target.
H/T Meadow 0 Glens 0
Within minutes of the second half, Meadow had engineered almost as many chances as they had in the entire first half. But Glenafton were threatening every time they crossed the halfway line and, in 52 minutes, Murphy set off on a run which took him past several defenders.
Mick McCann
James Latta then brought him down in the box, getting a yellow card as a punishment, with Mick McCann scoring from the resultant penalty.
Carnwath was a lucky man to stay on the park after he elbowed Moore, but he joined Latta in the ref’s book.
A few of his decisions were angering the visitors as tempers boiled over on several occasions.
Back to the football, though, and Murphy took off on another run and sent in a dangerous cross which Jared Willet got to first.
A flurry of substitutions disrupted the flow of the match although one of the subs, Meadow’s Jordan McGuire hit the side netting in 83 minutes.
Glens finished the match with 10 men after Kyle McAusland was sent off for violent conduct although, judging by his reaction, there may have been a degree of simulation involved.
F/T Meadow 0 Glens 1
GLENAFTON ATHLETIC: McGarrity; Park (McLean 30), Cairns, McAusland, McChesney, Moore, Lynass (Orsi 62), Frye, Dallas (Andrew 20), McCann, Murphy.
Subs not used: Menzies, Burns (g/k)
Report courtesy Frank Cassidy, Ayrshire Weekly Press
Sat 10th Nov 2018 KO 2:00pm
Ardagh Group West of Scotland Cup | 1st Round
Loch Park, New Cumnock
Prior to kick-off a minute’s silence was held to mark Remembrance Day and tomorrow’s 100th Anniversary of the signing of the Armistice.
The minute’s silence also served as a mark of respect for the recent passing of Mr Freddie Duda who had run the Maryhill Club for many years and was a big friend of Maryhill FC.
Glens gave a first league start to striker Kit Cummins with top goal-scorer Chris taking his place in the bench while captain Craig Menzies was rested. The visitors’ top goal-scorer Tam McGaughey was also missing from their line-up.
The rain synchronised with kick-off and for only brief spells during the game did it relent. Despite the conditions both sides were committed to a passing game that ensured an entertaining encounter. Like the rain the Glens were relentless in attack carving our 7 goals while Maryhill kept their heads up and were duly rewarded with a brace of their own.
Leon Murphy was giving the visitors a hard time down the left flank before the home side forced a couple of corner kicks. The first decent chance fell to Findlay Frye on 6 minutes when his close-range header, from a Dan Orsi cross from wide on the right, dipped over the bar. However, it was Frye that fashioned the Glens opener on 14 minutes. As the visitors tried to play the ball out from the back Alan Cairns intercepted Ali Crawford’s pass to Jack Easdon before cutting inside to pick out Frye at the edge of the “D” and after a thundered a low shot home from the 18-yard line.
Two minutes later the visitors won a free kick well inside the Glens half. Lively playmaker Dale Clark floated the ball into a crowded box where a late run by the bustling Ciaran O’Donohue saw him win the header only for it to sail well over the bar.
After a fine break up the left by Cummins he squared the ball inside for Orsi who drifted wide to edge of box before his low angled shot was deflected wide by defender Marty McNichol. Cummins connected with Leon Murphy’s corner-kick at the near post only for his effort to be well blocked by O’Donohue with the Glens striker taking a sore one on the back of the heel. The big man appeared to have shaken it off as a minute later following a sublime one-two by Orsi and Joe Andrew on the right-hand side of the box, he got on the end of a cross from the latter only for his header to loop over the bar.
Midway through the half Cairns played a lovely 20 yard pass to Andrew in the box who in trademark fashion with his back to goal held off defender Scott Edgar to allow Cairns to complete his dash into the box before rolling the ball into his path only for defender’s dink to be clutched clearly by keeper Wallace.
Maryhill responded with a quick break through O’Donohue releasing Easdon down the right to drive for the bye-line before whipping a wicked ball into the danger area for the incoming Brian Ashe but his timing was off and he scooped his shot from 8 yards well over the bar.
Frye’s tenacity saw him eventually dislodge the ball from the possession of the equally tenacious Clark in the centre circle before threading a long low into the box for Cummins to chase down and fire a low angled shot that beat Wallace at full stretch only to slip inches wide of the back post. Orsi then picked out the striker in the box with a peach of a pass and as Cummins teed up the shot Gavin Naismith made an excellent goal-saving intervention.
Maryhill countered with an excellent passage of play beginning with Crawford deep in his own half who dinked the ball upfield to O’Donohue who turned the defender and fed the overlapping Easdon to take the ball to the corner, where having seemingly painted himself in as Glens defenders closed in, he rolled the ball back to the advancing Crawford to whip the ball to the back post where Darren McLean beat Ashe to the jump at the expense of a corner. The kick from the left was taken short to Clark to thunder a low shot the flew wide of the far post.
At the other end Andrew slotted a cute pass into the box and although Cummins got in between two defenders to engineer a shot at goal it was well blocked by the keeper rushing from his line.
On 36 minutes Cummins then turned provider after his exquisite back heel from a McLean slide-rule pass took out a defender allowing former Maryhill player Joe Andrew to run on to the ball and crack a fierce shot past the keeper from inside the “D”.
Glens continued to press with Frye and Dale Moore winning the midfield battles and feeding both flanks. Frye slotted a ball up the right that was flicked on by Andrew and gathered by Cummins to hit a thundering shot from the corner of the penalty box that Wallace did well to push wide with both hands. The kick was partially cleared and the Glens soon recovered the ball allowing Ryan McChesney to drive to forward and with a slick reverse pass picked out Murphy on the left hand side of the box to immediately lay the ball off for Cummins in space to pick his spot from 14 yards . Glens 3-0 up with 41 minutes gone and the big striker clearly to open his Glens account.
Maryhill continued to plug away and O’Donohue tried a long-range effort that whistled wide of the post. In the last chance of the half Wallace made an excellent job on a difficult surface to get down low and hold McLean’s pile driver of a free-kick from all of 30 yards .
HT Glens 3 Maryhill 0
Kit Cummins earlier knock took its toll and he didn’t reappear after the break with Chris Dallas taking his place.
Maryhill started with vigour and Fraser McLaughlin showed good skill to cut infield from the left and picked out the ever-willing Clark to have a go at goal from 20 yards only for his shot to dip over the bar. Glens responded with a quick break that ended with Moore driving into the box to fire a shot that was well saved by Wallace and the attempt by Dallas to bury the rebound blocked on the line by an alert Crawford.
On 52 minutes McLean from inside his own half played the ball forward to Moore who quickly curled a pass to Andrew at the edge of the box and in turn he rolled the ball into the box to match Leon Murphy’s run for the youngster to slot past the advancing goalie for his first league goal for the club.
Celebrations and handshakes followed and as the Glens players made their way back to their own half for the re-spot the referee had a discussion with his assistant; the goal was disallowed and bizarrely the Glens were awarded a free kick in their own half!
Undeterred back came Glens and Wallace pulled off another good save from Moore. Minutes later Kyle McAusland’s fine floated ball from the half-way line found Andrew in the box with his back to goal and as he tried to turn was clipped by Edgar and a penalty was awarded. Chris Dallas drilled the spot kick past the luckless Wallace to make it 4-0 on 55 minutes.
Maryhill brought on Kyle Robertson for Brian Ashe as the Glasgow side continued to make the most of the adverse conditions and score-line. McLaughlin weaved his way in from the left to the outskirts of the box but his shot lacked the power to test McGarrity.
On 64 minutes Dallas on the left cut the ball infield for Orsi to play a short pass for Andrew on the left-hand side of the box and spotting Dale Moore’s blistering run into far side of the box squared the ball for the midfielder to blast home an unstoppable shot from six yards out.
The Glens brought on Cameron Marlow and Mick McCann for Findlay Frye and Leon Murphy.
With 10 minutes to go Clark played a neat one-two with Robertson before breaking into the box where his run was impeded by Marlow. Clark picked himself up and coolly slammed home the spot kick.
Glens restored the five goal lead two minutes later after Andrew gathered Moore’s pass in the box and swiveled to lash a stunning angled volley that found the net via the underside of the bar.
Tracey came on for O’Donohue who left the field with a final dose of good-natured banter with the home support.
A fantastic break upfield by Robertson ended with him picking out Tracey at the edge of the box and claims that his shot struck Marlow’s hand en-route to McGarrity pulling off a fine save to push the ball wide of the post. Although the corner kick was headed well clear of the box the ball was snapped up by Luke Running to drive back into the penalty area where a nudge from McAusland earned Maryhill another spot-kick. Clark did the business from 12 yards to make it 6-2 on 88 minutes.
However, it was the Glens that had the last word. Orsi won a corner kick on the left which was punched away by Wallace only for the hosts to recover the ball. McCann forced his way to the bye-line and although his cut back was palmed away by Wallace the loose ball bounced up for Dallas to knee it into the empty net.
FT Glens 7 Maryhill 2
Glenafton Athletic: 1. Brian McGarrity 2. Darren McLean 3. Alan Cairns 4. Kyle McAusland 5. Ryan McChesney 6. Dale Moore 7. Dan Orsi 8. Findlay Frye (17. Cameron Marlow) 9. Joe Andrew 10. Kit Cummins (12. Kit Cummins) 11. Leon Murphy
Maryhill: 1. Wallace 2. Ali Crawford 3. Luke Running 4. Marty McNichol 5. Scott Edgar 6. Naismith 7. Jack Easdon 8. Ciaran O’Donohue 9. Brian Ashe 10. Dale Clark 11. Fraser McLaughlin 12. Tracey 14. Kyle Robertson 15. Kyle McQueen 16. Lewis Tobin
Sat 27th Oct 2018 KO 2:00pm
MACRON SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP | 3rd round
TheMeadows, Ellon
GLENS HEAD FOURTH
A hat-trick of headers from Chris Dallas, Mick McCann and Dale Moore put Glens in the hat for the fourth round
Glenafton travelled to Ellon, some 16 miles north of Aberdeen, to face Ellon United in the 3rd round of the Macron Scottish Junior Cup in what was the first meeting between the two sides. Both sides created a number of half chances but it Ellon, currently lying in 3rd place in the North Region Superleague, that opened the scoring on 15 minutes. A ball over the top of the Glens defence was chased down by Fraser Thomson wide on the left and ignoring the visitors claims for offside he hit a low bobbling ball into the box for Dean McDonald to thunder a shot from 12 yards which was brilliantly stopped by keeper Brian McGarrity only for James Bain to pounce and slot home the rebound. The game continued to flow from end to end before the Glens drew level on 30 minutes. Dale Moore was robbed off the ball in the box at the expense of a corner kick and Dean Hawksworth’s delivery was met by Chris Dallas, head and shoulders above all others in the six yard box to head home. Four minutes later Glens edged in front. Darren McLean floated a long ball into the box for Mick McCann which was cut out by the head of centre back Ross Gibbon only for Dallas to mop up the loose ball and roll it out to Moore wide on right to clip an inch perfect ball into the six yard box for the unmarked McCann to rise and elegantly head past keeper Cammy Fraser.
Into the second half and the visitors were very much on the front foot and the third and the final goal of the game came on 63 minutes. McLean and Dallas combined well down the right to set up Moore to break into the box only for his shot to be blocked and the ball fall for Dallas to roll it back to McLean. The full back switched play with a ball to far left hand side of the box where Conor Lynass met it first time to delicately lob it into the six yard box for Moore to dive and power a header beyond Fraser at full stretch.
GLENAFTON ATHLETIC: 1. Brian McGarrity, 2. Darren McLean 3. Cameron Marlow 4. Craig Menzies 5. Ryan McChesney 6. Findlay Frye 7. Dale Moore 8. Ally Park 9. Chris
Dallas 10. Mick McCann 11. Conor Lynass, Subs used: Joe Andrew, Dan Orsi, Kit Cummins. Sub not used: Craig Burns (gk)
ELLON UNITED: Fraser, Goodwin, Anderson, Gibbon, Brailsford, Burr, Massie, J. Tait, Bain, (Tremaine), McDonald (Coutts), Thomson (Buxton), Beattie, S. Main.
Left: Glenafton captain Craig Menzies poses with Ellon captain and mascots along with the match referee. Photo courtesy of Grant Milne
Sat 20th Oct 2018 KO 2:00pm
McBookie.com West Region Premiership | Match 11
Abbey Park, Kilwinning
The Glens made two changes to the starting eleven that defeated Auchinleck Talbot at Beechwood with Cameron Marlow and Dale Moore coming in for Ryan McChesney (injury) and Alan Cairns (holiday).
The visitors were first to show on 4 minutes with Leon Murphy breaking into the box before his run was blocked by keeper Chris Strain on the six-yard line sending the ball spinning into the air which was met by the head of David Syme and the ball falling kindly into the welcoming arms of the grounded goalie. At the other end it was Glens keeper Brian McGarrity that had to block a shot on his line before Kyle McAusland followed up by blocking Michael Wardrope’s attempt to bury the loose ball.
On 10 minutes Syme lost his footing as the persistent, if not heavy, rain-soaked the Abbey Park surface allowing Dale Moore to steal the ball before feeding Chris Dallas to drive into the box and although his low drilled shot ended in the back of the net it did so via a gap in the side netting – which was promptly pegged down before play resumed.
Dale Moore and Sam McCloskey
Syme was soon in action at the other end only for his looping header from a free-kick floated into the box to drop safely into the hands of McGarrity. Back came the visitors through Dallas with a run deep into the box but his cut-back into the goal mouth to be cleared.
A good spell of pressure from the visitors ultimately produced the opening goal on 21 minutes. It began with a McAusland free-kick into the box which saw the ball eventually fall for Findlay Frye with his back to goal and in a flash the midfielder turned to lash a shot from 16 yards that was deflected wide of the post. The resulting corner-kick was headed clear of the box and the ball snapped up by Leon Murphy to whip a wicked ball from the left into the goalmouth where Chris Dallas got the jump on Syme to bullet a header home from 8 yards out.
Chris Dallas heads home the opener
Glens were now well on top and continued to threaten but McGarrity had to be alert on the half-hour mark after a quick break down the right ended with the ball being played to the near post for the incoming Ben Lewis only for the keeper to dive bravely at his feet and gather the ball.
On 34 minutes Moore nicked the ball from Wardrope in the centre circle and as both sides strived to recover the loose ball McAusland was adjudged to have impeded Lewis before Wardrope appeared to lash out with a boot; outcome free-kick to Buffs and Wardrope fortunate so see the official flash a yellow card instead of red.
It was Wardrope that carved out the next chance with a cute curling shot from outside the box which was well held on the line by McGarrity. Glens responded through Dallas with a determined run down the middle and into the box forcing the keeper to rush from his line and perfectly judge the striker’s attempted chip to pluck the ball out of the air. At the other end Carlo Monti fashioned a shot from outside the box that lacked power to test the keeper.
Mick McCann celebrates at 2-0
On 44 minutes as Glens pressed a ball from the left to the near post was miscued by Craig Pettigrew and the alert Mick McCann kept his cool to guide a looping header over keeper Chris Strain rooted to the spot and into the net.
H/T Buffs 0 Glens 2
The Buffs brought on Bryan Boylan and Ryan Nesbit and started the second half brightly in the descending gloom and looked much livelier up front. On 57 minutes the home side halved the deficit after a break down the left saw former Glens midfielder Wardrope advance to the corner of the six yard box where his cut back across the face of the goal was diverted into his own goal by former Buffs player Frye.
An O.G. halves the deficit for Buffs
Five minutes later following a break through the middle McCann squared the ball to Dallas to take a touch before rifling an unstoppable shot from 25 yards to restore the Glens two goal cushion.
Chris Dallas bags his brace to make it 3-1
The celebrations had all but subdued before the Buffs pulled one back from the restart with another break down the left that ended with substitute Ryan Nisbet scoring from an acute angle.
Glens brought on Conor Lynass for Leon Murphy as the Buffs pressed for the equaliser. Although Monti had another shot at goal that failed to test the keeper his distribution of the ball was causing the visitors all sorts of bother
On 72 minutes Kilwinning squared the match after full back Sam McCloskey broke down the left before drilling a low cross to the near post which seemed to be covered by Brian McGarrity only for the ball to squirm out the keeper’s hands and into the net.
Sam McCloskey makes oit 3-3
With their tails up Buffs continued to press and another penetrating run by Wardrope ended with his shot hitting the side netting. Glens rallied and after a powerful run through the middle by Moore he slipped the ball to Lynass who in turn picked out Dallas to roll the ball back into the path of Moore to break into the box only for Pettigrew to time his slide tackle to perfection. He along with fellow centre-back were now looking more assured and the pair combined to clear a corner kick after Dallas’s header had been pushed wide of target by Strain.
On 80 minutes Glens brought on Joe Andrew for Mick McCann and soon after replaced Dale Moore with Dan Orsi as they tried to find a foothold in the game. However with five minutes to go the Buffs completed their unlikely come-back after Ryan Nisbet broke into the left-hand side of the box to lash a shot from the corner of the six-yard box past the advancing keeper.
Ryan Nisbet bags the winner
The Buffs far from content to defend their lead continued to threaten a rattled Glens and Kyle McAusland was in the right place to clear an effort to find an empty goal after McGarrity had been forced to leave the box to sweep up another attack. With a minute to go Dallas was denied his hat-trick after Strain showed a safe pair of hands to clutch the striker’s close-range header from a corner-kick. At the other end McGarrity pulled off a stunning save from Carlo Monti as the Buffs looked to extend their lead.
Brian McGarrity saves from Carlo Monti
F/T Buffs 4 Glens 3
Glenafton Athletic: 1.Brian McGarrity 2. Ally Park 3. Cameron Marlow 4. Craig Menzies 5. Kyle McAusland 6. Findlay Frye 7. Dale Moore (15. Dan Orsi) 8. Dean Hawkshaw 9. Chris Dallas 10. Mick McCann (14. Joe Andrew) 11. Leon Murphy (12. Conor Lynass)
Sat 6th Oct 2018 KO 2:00pm
McBookie West Region Premiership | Match 10
Beechwood Park, Auchinleck
Glenafton extended their unbeaten run to 4 games by ending Auchinleck’s unbeaten run of 11 games with a 1-0 victory at Beechwood Park. Mick McCann came close to opening the scoring on 7 minutes only for his shot to slip inches wide of target. On 12 minutes the visitors took the lead with what proved to be the decisive goal. Chris Dallas dispossessed Craig McCracken before heading for goal only for he defender to bring him down at the edge of the box. Up stepped Kyle McAusland to repeat the feat at Cumbernauld and superbly curl a free-kick home, this time via the underside of the crossbar. Glens then lost Ryan McChesney through injury with Findlay Frye taking his place and the defence reshuffled and soon after Alan Cairns received two yellow cards in quick succession. Down to 10 men for an hour the visitors put in a great shift to secure a well deserved three points.
Kyle McAusland
Glenafton Athletic: 1. Brian McGarrity 2. Kyle McAusland, 3. Alan Cairns 4. Craig Menzies, 5. Ryan McChesney (14. Findlay Frye) 6. Ally Park, 7. Dale Moore, 8. Dean Hawkshaw,9. Chris Dallas (12. Dan Orsi) 10. Mick McCann 11. Leon Murphy (15. Cameron Marlow). Subs not used Conor, Joe Andrew, Craig Burns
Sat 15th Sep 2018 KO 2:00pm
McBookie West Region Premiership | Match 8
Guy’s Meadow, Cumbernauld
In a highly entertaining match it was hosts Rob Roy that were first to threaten through Albert Vezza’s well struck low shot from the edge of the box that flew inches wide in the opening minute. Half chances followed at either end before Mick McCann picked up a headed clearance deep in his own half leaving the chasing Michael Daly in his wake as he progressed deep into the box where keeper John Hutchison got down low to push the ball out for a corner-kick which came to nothing.
Play continued to ebb and flow from end to end. On 12 minutes Vezza slipped the ball to Willie Sawyers to fashion a shot from the edge of the box and although the ball slipped through the hands of Brian McGarrity the keeper kept his composure to gather the ball before it bounced over the line.
Conor Lynass on the move
Back came Glens with McLean releasing Conor Lynass down the right, his pace leaving the defender standing, to whip a super ball to the back post where the incoming McCann met it first time only for the keeper to get a foot to the ball and Daly to boot it clear.
Another Lynass break down the right set up Andrew to curl a shot from the corner of the box that was held well by Hutchison. At the other end his counterpart McGarrity did well to hold Vezza’s shot from a tight angle.
On 31 minutes the Glens broke the stalemate after a fine run down the left by Dale Moore was ended by a barge from defender Cameron Clark at the corner of the penalty box. Conor Lynass floated the free kick into the box where Darren McLean got the jump on Daly to glance a header that wrong footed the keeper at the near post as the ball flew across the face of goal and in off the back post.
Darren McLean (far left) heads home the opener
Moore enjoyed another couple of menacing runs down the left. The first was ended by a well-timed sliding tackle by Scott Walker while the second saw the midfielder cut inside to give the defender the slip before firing a low shot wide of target.
At the other end McGarrity had to be alert to punch the ball from the head of Sawyers and soon after was in the right place to comfortably another header from the hard-working striker. Lee Gallacher’s shot from 15 yards was deflected wide by McAusaland and Sawyers header from the corner that followed drifted wide of the back post.
HT Rob Roy 0 Glens 1
The visitors enjoyed the better of the early exchanges after the restart. Cameron Marlow’s corner kick was scrambled clear from the goal mouth and the ball fell for Lynass to crack an angled shot from 15 yards that was blocked by Hutchinson before the ball fell for Marlow to fire inches wide of the post.
Cameron Marlow wins the ball
On 55 minutes McCann’s header into the box was chased down by Andrew and finding himself sandwiched between two defenders he curled the ball to the back post for the incoming Lynass to shoot for goal only for the outrushing Hutchinson to make a fine save. A minute later the Glens had the Rabs chasing shadows with a fine move. It began with McCann holding off one defender before laying the ball off to Andrew and in flash, with the deftest of touches the ball was played into the box to match Ally Park’s brilliant run through the middle only for his attempt to pick out Lynass at the far side of the box to be intercepted and the chance was gone. Glens continued to press as Lynass threaded a ball through the middle for Moore to drive forward before slipping the ball to McCann to hit a first-time shot that the keeper held cleanly at the base of the post.
Just before the hour mark Gallacher broke through the middle before picking out Sawyers who with his back to goal rolled the ball back for John Sweeney at the edge of the ‘D’ but under pressure from McAusland his shot sailed high and wide of target. A high ball into the was headed clear by Menzies who was then floored by Sawyers unsuccessful attempt at an acrobatic volley.
Rabs brought on Gavin Mackie for Jordan Currie-McLean and soon after Glens replaced Darren McLean, who had just earned a yellow card, was replaced by Ryan McChesney.
The home began to enjoy some decent possession and Sawyers won a free-kick on the outskirts on the box after a challenge from McChesney. Before the kick was taken Sweeney was replaced Graeme Ramage. It was fellow substitute Mackie that struck the kick that had McGarrity rushing along his goal line to push the ball away from junction of post and bar.
Graeme Ramage rockets home the equaliser
The corner was played long from the right and cleared for a thrown-in on the left. This was smartly gathered by Sawyers and the ball played across the face of goal to the back post where Gallacher set up Daly only for McGarrity and McChesney to combine in order to block his shot from a few yards with such a force that the ball rebounded to edge of the box for Graeme Ramage to rocket an unstoppable shot into the net. The game all square on 71 minutes.
Glens brought on Leon Murphy for Dale Moore and later Dan Orsi for Conor Lynass. In between times Murphy gathered a Park pass to break into the box and fire an angled shot that flashed just wide of the far post. At the other end Marlow prevented the Rabs from going ahead after heading Vezza’s close range shot over the bar.
Leon Murphy on the move
Neither side had thoughts of settling for a point as both pushed for the winner. Orsi and Menzies combined wide on the right before the latter floated the ball to the near post where the keeper pushed it away from Murphy only for the ball to fall for Park who had his shot blocked by Gallacher and his attempt to bury the rebound held by Hutchison. At the other end McGarrity rushed from his line to gather the ball before Gallacher before Vezza could gather Sawyers knock on. Back came Glens through Orsi’s determination down the right to pick out Marlow in the box but his shot sailed over the bar. The Rabs countered down the left and balled whipped into the near for Sawyers only for McChesney to come out on top and head the danger clear.
On 89 minutes Gallacher was shown a red card for an off-the-ball incident with Murphy.
Still things didn’t let up. Andrew’s shot from the corner box was well held by Hutchison. At the other end McChesney saw off Sawyers again with another winning header. In added time Orsi from wide on the right picked out Murphy on the far side of the ‘D’ to skip past a number of defenders before cutting the ball across the face of goal for Andrew only for Clark to deflect his shot over the bar. Daly headed the corner-kick clear. In the final action Vezza’s perseverance saw him win a free kick on the right a few yards out from the corner-flag. Mackie floated the ball to the back post where Orsi stood his ground to head the ball clear as Daly challenged.
FT Rob Roy 1 Glens 1
KIRKINTILLOCH ROB ROY: 1.John Hutchison 2. Scott Walker 3. Cameron Clark 4. Michael Morris 5. Michael Daly 6. John Sweeney (12. Graeme Ramage) 7. Jordan Currie-McLean (14. Gavin Mackie)8. Martin McBride 9. William Sawyers 10. Lee Gallacher 11. Alberto Vezza. Subs not used: 12.Kevin Finlayson 13. Andy Finnigan 15.Connor McArdle
GLENAFTON ATHLETIC: 1. Brian McGarrity 2. Darren McLean (16. Ryan McChesney) 3. Alan Cairns 4. Craig Menzies 5. Kyle McAusland 6. Ally Park 7. Dale Moore (14. Leon Murphy) 8. Cameron Marlow 9. Mick McCann 10. Joe Andrew 11. Conor Lynass (15. Dan Orsi). Subs not used 12. Kit Cummins 17. Craig Burns (gk)
Sat 8th Sep 2018 KO 2:00pm
McBookie West Region Premiership | Match 7
Loch Park, New Cumnock
Glenafton were delighted to announce the return of Dan Orsi to Loch Park after completing his signing from Kilsyth Rangers yesterday and the midfielder finds a place on the bench for today’s match against Clydebank.
Dan’s back
The home side were first to threaten as Joe Andrew’s low drive was pushed round the post by Marc Waters and the resulting corner-kick headed clear. Bankies responded through Cammy McClair who cut in from the left to crack a shot from the edge of the ‘D’ that cannoned of Glens captain Craig Menzies and the ball then glance of the bottom of the post before going out for a corner-kick which was headed well wide of target.
Another corner kick came and went for the Glens before on six minutes Chris Dallas took a sore one in the ribs during an aerial battle with centre back Jamie Darroch and had to the leave the field for treatment.
Dale Moore
The bounce of Waters’ long punt up the park deceived the Glens defence allowing Jordan Shelvey to lob the ball over the head of the outrushing McGarrity only for Menzies to keep his cool and head the ball wide of the gaping net. In keeping with the previous corner-kicks the keeper wasn’t tested.
Meanwhile top goalscorer Dallas failed to recover from his knock and on 12 minute he was replaced by Mick McCann.
Restored to 11 men the Glens began to get the better of the match in terms of pressing with their only reward another corner-kick which inevitably was cleared and although the ball was soon returned to the box it was cleanly picked out the air by the keeper.
Midway through the half the home side were reduced to 10 men on a permanent basis after Findlay Frye was shown a straight red card. The Glens midfielder, wide on the left near the half-way line, was fouled by Chris Dooley and before the whistle blew Frye had shrugged off the challenge determined to win the loose ball before Ross Alexander and in doing so caught the Bankies player high in the leg with his studs.
Joe Andrew and Jamie Darroch
The 10 men settled and were more than holding their own when they won another corner kick on 29 minutes. Although the Glens won the ball in the air it was Alexander that snapped up the loose ball and played a quick one-two before releasing Cammy McClair down the left with a perfectly weighted pass. In a mirror image of his first attack of the game he cut inside and curled a shot for the far post only for Menzies to block again but this time the ball rebounded to fall kindly for McClair. There was nothing lucky about his second bite at the cherry as the midfielder curled another shot as sweet as a nut that beat the airborne McGarrity at full stretch before bulging the net. Clydebank 1-0 up with 30 minutes gone.
Cammy McClair’s shot finds the net
The tails of the Bankies were up as they pressed for a second and they came close on 40 minutes from the break through a long-range effort from full back Andy Paterson only for McGarrity to get down low and turn the ball round the post. As for the corner kick … needless to say!
Darren McLean’s free kick goes inches wide
Glens were still very much in the game without however creating any serious chances open play. A minute before break Andrew won a free-kick on the outskirts and although Darren McLean’s effort beat the wall and the keeper the ball whizzed inches wide of the post.
H/T Glens 0 Bankies 1
The visitors got off to the perfect start and doubled their lead within two minutes of the restart. Darroch from deep picked out Dooley on the right who curled a ball into the middle for the unmarked Nicky Little with space to kill the ball before turning drilling a low angle shot beyond the advancing McGarrity.
Nicky Little makes it 2-0
A Glens free-kick from close to the corner flag was headed out for a corner-kick by Little which in turn was headed clear by Michael McIndoe to set up a counter attack which ended with Little trying his luck from the edge of the box which MGarrity blocked before catching the loose ball.
Another Glens corner kick was cleared with the same outcome as the 11 man Bankies, enjoying a two goal lead, quickly broke upfield with some slick passing on an another counter attack.
Both teams made double substitutions with Bankies bringing on Sean Higgans and Del Hepburn for Jordan Shelvey and Chris Black. Five minutes later Conor Lynass and Dale Moore made way for Dan Orsi and Leon Murphy.
Leon Murphy on the ball
Midway through the half Bankies, building from the back, set up another attack that ended with Liam Rowan weaving past defenders before firing a shot that was well blocked by the keeper.
Murphy responded with a similar run that saw him edge his way into the Bankies’ box where a nudge in the back from Rowan literally put him off his stride.
With 15 minutes to go the visitors completed their substitutions with Jack McClair coming on for Little.
Murphy made another good run and his low angled shot had Waters diving low to his left to tip the ball past the post. The keeper then punched clear that corner that followed.
The last decent chance of the game fell to the visitors only for Menzies to mop up the danger with the keeper beaten.
FT Glens 0 Bankies 2
Glenafton Athletic: 1. Brian McGarrity 2. Darren McLean 3. Alan Cairns 4. Craig Menzies 5. Kyle McAusland 6. Findlay Frye 7. Conor Lynass (15. Dan Orsi) 8. Ally Park 9. Chris Dallas (12. Mick McCann) 10. Joe Andrew 11. Dale Moore (16. Leon Murphy). Subs not used: 14. Ryan McChesney 17.Craig Burns (gk)
Clydebank: 1. Marc Waters 14. Chris Dooley 3. Andy Paterson 5. Jamie Darroch 18. Michael McIndoe 7. Cameron McClair 17. Ross Alexander 15. Liam Rowan 16. Chris Black (11. Del Hepburn) 6. Nicky Little (7. Jack McLair) 19. Jordan Shelvey (8. Sean Higgans) Subs 20. Scott Morrison (gk) 21. Matthew McLean
Glenafton Athletic 