Glenafton Athletic

• McBookie Premier Division
• Match 19
• Loch Park, New Cumnock
• Saturday 13th May 2017
• GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 2 (1)
  • Chris Dallas, Mick McCann
• ARTHURLIE 0 (0)

Glenafton made four changes to the team that started against Hurlford with Kyle McAusland, Ally Park, Mick McCann and Chris Dallas coming in for Ryan Borris, Joe Andrew, John Carter and Conor Lynass.

Neither side had created a goal threat before Arthurlie were forced to make an early substitution on 7 minutes after central defender Jordon Chisholm suffered a gash in the back of his calf was replaced with James Lynsey.

A minute later and Mick McCann gave Ryan McGregor the slip to pick out Chris Dallas in the box to crack a low angled shot from 12 yards that was blocked by a timely intervention from Ryan McNeil. The corner-kick that followed was comfortably cleared by the ‘Lie defence however the one that followed soon after was met at the near post by Ally Park and his downward header exploded off the ground and seemed destined for the roof of the next before Grant Hay pulled off a magnificent reflex save to punch the ball away. On 15 minutes David Gray curled a free-kick into the box where it was met by Ally Park on the penalty spot only for his attempt to guide it into the net saw the ball drift wide of the post.

Cameron Marlow on the move with Ryan McKie giving chase

Arthurlie quickly broke upfield and McGregor showed three Glens players a clean pair of heels before electing to shoot for goal from 22 yards out only for the ball to soar high over the bar. Ryan McKie then burst down the right flank and picked out McGregor on the outskirts of the box where Gray and Alan Cairns combined to recover the ball and clear the danger.

Glens enjoyed a good spell of pressure and midway through the half Marlow from wide on the left curled a great ball into the box for Park to burst through the acres of space between two defenders only for his attempt to chip the keeper from 8 yards out dip over the bar.

Grant Hay and Ally Park

On 28 minutes Kyle McAusland on the right floated a ball into the box where it was trapped by Dallas with McGregor at his back and in flash the striker turned to unleash a shot from the corner of the six-yard box that was brilliantly saved by Hay. Three minutes later Park robbed McNeill midway in the ‘Lie half and quickly fed Dallas who in turn squared the ball to Dan Orsi to release McAusland on the overlap down the right to fire the ball into the heart of the box where the inrushing Park met it first time only for the ball to slip agonisingly wide of the post with the keeper stranded.

Some respite for the visitors in the form of a free-kick won deep in the Glens half which Ryan Deas floated to the back post where keeper Brian McGarrity leapt unchallenged to grab the ball with both hands.

Back came the hosts and a glorious ball from Gray chipped over the head of defender Kieran Brennan for Orsi to collect wide on the right before whipping an equally glorious cross to the back post where Dallas and Marlow lay in wait, the former missing his header by inches and the latter guiding the ball a lick of paint wide of the base of the post.

Cammy’s shot goes inches wide

Just as ‘one of those days’ feelings descended upon Loch Park the Glens finally broke the deadlock on 37 minutes with a clinical finish. McAusland picked up the ball on the right deep in his own half and sent a long low ball upfield for McCann who instantly rolled it back to Gray on the half-way line. The midfielder then exquisitely lifted the ball over McGregor’s head whose forlorn appeal for offside was cancelled out by his team-mate McNeil playing Chris Dallas on-side and the former Arthurlie striker coolly allowed the ball to bounce generously before taking a couple of touches to progress to the corner of the six-yard box where he lashed an unstoppable shot beyond the advancing Hay and McNeill on the line to bulge the roof of the net.

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The visitors rallied and won a free kick wide on the left from the where the ball was played to near post to be headed clear by Park before the ball was recovered by Arthurlie and floated to the back where post where McGarrity leapt to clutch the ball safely under severe pressure from Mark Blakey.

At the other end Gray’s free-kick from the right was met by Marlow at the back post and headed across the face of goal for Orsi only for Hay to pull off another fine save from a point-blank range; the offside flag taking the edge of Dan’s disappointment.

On the stroke of half time Cairns’ throw in from the right was gathered by McCann to pick out Marlow at the corner of the 18-yard box to thread the ball between Blakey and McGregor for Dallas to collect and as the striker set to shoot for the goal the beleaguered McGregor barged into the back of the striker sending him to the ground and consigning himself to an early bath. Once the dust had settled Mick McCann stepped up to fire the spot kick low and hard to the keeper’s left only for the impressive Hay to get down and push the ball round the post; no time for the corner-kick to be taken.

Grant Hay saves Mick McCann’s spot kick

H/T Glens 1 Arthurlie 0

Glens kicked-off against the 10 men and were soon on the front foot through a powerful run from Orsi beginning on the half-way line to the edge of the box where his low drilled left footed shot slipped just wide of the post.

Dan Orsi on the move

McCann on the outskirts of the box played the ball back to Gray who played a quick one-two with Park before firing a shot from 20 yards through a ruck of player that curled wide of the target.

The visitors responded through attacks down both flanks. First McKie down the right whipping the cross into the goalmouth which was gathered easily by McGarrity at his near post. Then Deas’s perseverance down the left took him to the bye-line from where he cut into the box and held off a couple of defenders before drilling a low shot that was blocked in the six- yard box by Ryan McChesney.

Glenafton struck back in emphatic fashion through McAusland pushing down the right wing forcing the Lie defence to back off before he slipped a short forward pass to Orsi who with Brennan closing chipped an inch perfect cross to the far end of the penalty box, taking out three ‘Lie defenders, where Mick McCann never took his eye off the ball as he positioned himself to scissor-kick the ball into the net catching the keeper unexpectedly at the back post. A stunningly executed goal to double the Glens lead on 57 minutes.

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Glens continued to press and a superbly struck diagonal ball from Gray in the centre circle saw Dallas run onto the ball and although his shot from a tight angle was sweetly struck it screamed over the bar.  Orsi then burst into the right hand of the box and cut the ball back from the bye-line intended for McCann on the edge of the six-yard box only for Blakey to get his head to the ball just in time.

On 68 minutes Marlow slipped the ball to McCann inside the box to lash the ball home however on this occasion the ‘Lie defence caught the striker offside.

Both sides made changes with the Glens bringing on Conor Lynass and soon after the striking partnership of Chris Dallas and Mick McCann was replaced by John Carter and Joe Andrew. Meanwhile Arthurlie brought off James Lynsey and Ryan McKie for Josh Graham and Daryl Convery.

With 12 minutes to go the visitors won a corner-kick which saw McGarrity rise unchallenged again to gather the ball safely.

David Gray with another inch perfect pass

Back game Glenafton and again Gray was the architect switching the play with an inch-perfect cross field pass to McAusland to push forward and curl a ball into the danger area where it was cut-out by McNeill only to cannon off Blakey and head for goal where Hay managed to push the ball into the air before bringing it under his control.

F/T Glens 2 Arthurlie 0

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC: 1. Brian McGarrity 2. Kyle McAusland 3. Alan Cairns 4. Craig Menzies 5. Ryan McChesney 6. Ally Park  7. Dan Orsi 8. David Gray 9. Mick McCann (12. Joe Andrew) 10. Chris Dallas (14. John Carter) 11. Cameron Marlow (15. Conor Lynass) Subs not used 16. Chris Meikle 17.Blair Lochhead

ARTHURLIE: 1. Grant Hay, 2. Ryan McNeill  3. Kieran Brennan 4. Jordon Chisholm (16. James Lynsey 12. Josh Graham) 5. Mark Blakey 6. Graham Girvan 7. Ryan McKie (14. Daryl Convery) 8. Layden 9. Ryan McGregor 10. Ryan Deas 11. Eddie McTernan Subs not used: 15. Gary Smith 17. Gary Bishop

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• McBookie Premier Division
• Match 17
• Dunterlie Park, Barrhead
• Saturday 29th April 2017

• ARTHURLIE 1  (0)
  • Jordan Leyden
• GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 1 (1)
  
  • John Carter

Glenafton made three changes to the side that started against Auchinleck Talbot in midweek with Cameron Marlow, Darren McGill and Mick McCann coming in for David Gray, Ryan Borris and Joe Andrew. Meanwhile top goalscorer and former Arthurlie striker Chris Dallas remains side-lined through injury.

Minute’s silence before kick-off

The visitors made the early running without however testing keeper Grant Hay. On 10 minutes the Glens had their opponents chasing shadows with a slick piece of passing play beginning with Ally Park at the right hand corner of the penalty box who picked out Kyle McAusland who in tun took out Josh Graham with a quick touch to the overlapping Conor Lynass and his one-two with McAusland left defender Kieran Brennan for dead as the Glens full back advanced to the bye-line before cutting the ball across the face of goal where Hay got down low to push the ball away as John Carter waited to pounce.

Mick McCann on the move

A minute later Park, wide on the right, chipped a ball into the box where McCann leapt head and shoulders above central defender Ryan McGregor only for his looping header to dip over the crossbar. Soon after McGill’s free kick 25 yards out whizzed wide of the post.

Arthurlie began to grow into the game and on 20 minutes good wing play by the lively Ryan McKie was rewarded with a corner kick after Park blocked his cut back from the bye-line.  It was also Park that beat McGregor to jump to get his head to the corner before Carter then headed the ball clear of the danger area. A minute later the hosts kept the pressure with a free kick from the right hand edge of the penalty box and again Park and Carter combined to not only mop up the set-piece but to initiate a cracking counter-attack. Carter carried the ball from the Glens’ penalty box to the half-way line before releasing Lynass on the right with a free run into the ‘Lie’s box  where  Hay was advancing out of his yard box and the back-tracking McNeil (trialist) was arriving in support the Glens midfielder opted to square the ball across the face of the goal only for the ball to miss the incoming McCann, the intended target.

Conor Lynass closes in on goal

Arthurlie responded through winning another corner-kick which was whipped into the heart of the goalmouth and although keeper Brian McGarrity got a hand to the ball it fell kindly for McKie only for his free header from close range bullet wide of the target, a let-off for Glens. Mark Blakely picked the ball up in the centre circle and with McKie crying out for the ball wide on the right the central defender tried to catch McGarrity of his line with a speculative launch upfield only for the keeper to get his bearings and catch the ball cleanly.

Ryan McKie heads wide

On 29 minutes Lynass surged through the middle skipping past two ‘Lie players before being brought by a third some 30 yards from goal. Cameron Marlow clipped the free-kick into the box and although McGregor was tightly marking John Carter the Glens striker managed to get a sweet strike on the ball with his raised right foot to send an unstoppable shot home from 10 yards out.

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Five minutes later Carter broke through the middle and played a one-two with McCann before slipping the ball to McGill wide on the left who quickly switched play to the right with a cross deep into penalty box where it was met by Lynass only for pressure from Brennan forcing the midfielder to hook his shot wide of target. The Glens continued to press without fashioning any further clear-cut chances

In the closing action of the half the hosts had a corner-kick initially cleared at the near post before the ball was hooked back across the face of goal where Marlow got the slightest of touches to prevent the ball falling for the unmarked James Lindsay with an open goal in front of him. McKie retrieved the loose ball and set up another attack which ended with a ball deep into the box being headed clear by Ryan McChesney.

H/T Arthurlie 0 Glenafton

Play was scrappy at the beginning of the half with few chances on show. The home side failed to capitalise when McGarrity was forced to abandon his goal-line and try to recover the ball as the edge of the box only for Gary Smith to win that race but unable to pick out a team-mate in the box with the keeper stranded. At the other end Marlow burst into the left hand side of the box and although his shot from a tight angle beat the keeper at his near post the ball sneaked inches wide of the back post.

On 61 minutes Arthurlie caught the Glens defence on the back foot as Ryan Deas and James Lindsay combined in the box with the ball falling to the latter to slam his low angled drive home from close range. Three minutes later the striker shook off Alan Cairns to turn and fire a shot from the edge of box that ruffled the side-netting.

James Lindsay set to equalise

The visitors responded through a Marlow free-kick floated into the box which Hay did well to punch clear from the head of McCann although the keeper injured himself in the process, quickly treated by the magic sponge of the Glens physio.

Midway through the half the Glens made a double substitution with David Gray and Dan Orsi replacing Cameron Marlow and Darren McGill.

Chances remained thin on the ground with set pieces remaining the main source. On 72 minutes the home side won a free kick 20 yards from goal and although Smith curled his shot round the right hand side of the defensive wall the ball sailed past the junction of the post and crossbar. At the other end Gray from wide on the right floated a free kick to the back post where Hay did well to get down low to grasp the ball as Carter closed in.

With 78 minutes gone Glens made their final substitution replacing Mick McCann with Joe Andrew. Two minutes later Gray’s short corner kick to the edge of the six-yard box for Park ended with the midfielders angled header crashing off the crossbar. Two minutes later another Gray corner kick was play deep into the far side of the box where McAusland stooped to send a looping header high into the air which was clutched under his bar by Hay with Andrew challenging. In between the corners Arthurlie’s player manager Chris Mackie had come on for Gary Smith.

Ally Park (No.8) header crashes off the cross-bar

Good attacking play by Cairns earned Glens another corner-kick with two minutes of regulation time remaining. Gray’s kick to the back post was met by McAusland and his header crashed of the self-same post and the attempt to bury the rebound glanced off the outside of the post and behind.

Kyle McAusland’s header rebounds off the post

Arthurlie, who still carried a threat, were content to run the clock down to secure the point that would secure their Premier Division status and made a double substitution in time added on before the final whistle blew. F/T Arthurlie 1 Glenafton 1

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC: 1. Brian McGarrity 2. Kyle McAusland 3. Alan Cairns 4. Craig Menzies 5. Ryan McChesney 6. Ally Park 7. Conor Lynass 8. Cameron Marlow (16. David Gray) 9. Mick McCann (17. Joe Andrew) 10. John Carter 11. Darren McGill (14. Dan Orsi) Subs Not Used. 12. Ryan Borris 14.Chris Meikle Gk.Blair Lochhead

ARTHURLIE: 1.Grant Hay, 2. McNeill (Trialist) 3. Kieran Brennan 4. Mark Blakey 5. Ryan McGregor 6. Graham Girvan 7. Ryan McKie 8. Ryan Deas 9. James Lindsay(12. Gary Carroll), 10. Gary Smith (15. Chris Mackie) 11. Josh Graham (14. Daryl Convery)

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