Gartcairn’s scoring touch deserted them as their 9 game unbeaten run ground to a shuddering halt on Saturday through a 2-0 defeat at the hands of title rivals St Cadocs.
Having to go all the way back to late July and a first game of the season 0-0 stalemate away to Rutherglen Glencairn to find the last time Michael Dunlop’s side fired blanks only serves to add to the frustration felt by the team boss over what was a totally banal showing.
To say Gartcairn toiled to create half chances let alone clear-cut openings would be putting it mildly and Dunlop was not for glossing over these obvious failings when asked to sum up his thoughts afterwards.
He admitted ,” The better team won on the day however there’s a way to lose games and we have to feel disappointed at going down so tamely, particularly when you think a first half Reegan Aitken shot from a rehearsed corner kick move and a late on effort by Dan Kindlan, denied by a full length diving save, were the only instances over the 90 minutes when we seriously tested the St Cadocs goalkeeper.
“Too many of us just weren’t at it today however it’s difficult to be over critical of the guys considering our performances up to now but that said, I’ll be looking for a reaction from them after we go away and lick our wounds.”
Asked whether the injury enforced absence of ten goal striker Jordan Love was a contributory factor behind his team’s shot-shy display brought Dunlop to retort.
“Any team would miss someone of Jordan’s experience and we’re no different in that respect but he’s been out for our last six games when results and more importantly performances have been decent so I’m not going to be making convenient excuses.
“ Take today’s loss is something we have to take on the chin and come back stronger for it.” MICHAEL DUNLOP IN HIS PLAYING DAYS
Seasoned St Cadocs campaigner Gary Muir ,whose extensive Senior career includes stints in Scotland, Ireland , Malta and (would you believe) Central America, was the most influential player afield from the off and twice came close to breaking the deadlock.
First in 18 minutes with a rasping 25 yards shot, .superbly parried out by diving Gartcairn goalkeeper Chris Cowie who minutes later could only look on helplessly as another long range drive from the self-same source, smashed off the face of his crossbar and rebounded to safety.
Next to nothing was being seen of Gartcairn in an attacking sense, somewhat understandably against a visiting backline whose twin stoppers Alan Murdoch and Ritchie McKillen were at their uncompromising best yet despite this dominance and Muir’s continual probings in midfield, an opening score did not arrive until right on the stroke of half time.
A forward pass found Smart Osadolar whose lay off to Shaun Rogers posed no apparent danger until the striker cleverly jinked inside his marker prior to looking up and directing a curling effort beyond the outstretched arms of Cowie for 1-0.
Gartcairn were certainly more territorially evident in the second period but still lacking in the final third so it was no real surprise for St Cadocs to then double their advantage ,albeit with a contentious Ross Dunlop own goal.
Home team substitute Grant Anderson’s movement towards a cross from wide right when in a clearly offside position spooked Dunlop into making an attempted clearance but unfortunately the ball glanced off his head and into the far corner of the net.
There ended the scoring though a rousing finale was duly denied spectators when St Cadocs No 1 Ryan Truesdale pulled off a blocking save with his legs to deny Kindlan’s netbound attempt.
Visiting gaffer John Doyle was (as to be expected all smiles at the final whistle.
He lauded, “ This is a difficult place to come particularly when going up against a Gartcairn team in such fine form so I’m absolutely delighted to be going away with all three points and the added bonus of a clean sheet.
“ There were spells in the game when we weren’t quite at it but overall we looked both stronger and more determined so it’s probably fair to say we deserved our win.
“It’s pleasing to be top of the table but what we mustn’t do now is commit the cardinal sin of thinking we are as good as over the line because though it’s an old cliché, nothing but nothing is ever won in November so our players have to stay level-headed and kick on from today.
“Keep doing well what they’ve been doing well up to now and we won’t be far away.”
The chance to close the gap on the leading pair was not passed up by their would-be title challengers, least of all third placed Kilbirnie Ladeside for whom James Marks bagged a hat trick along with counters from Jon Scullion, Chtis Dallas, Dean Scott and Danny Bamfod in a 7-2 hammering of Rossvale.
St Rochs also stayed in contention after a Brian Henderson treble and Kieron Martin goal had the points in the bag long before Cumbernauld United duo Mark Hansen and Kevin Watt made the Garngad scoreline a more respectable 4-2 while Thomas Cruden was yet another three goals star turn along with scores by Kieron Brophy and Brian Connor as a 5-0 besting of Rutherglen Glencairn enabled Johnstone Burgh to climb into fifth top spot.
On the same 18 points mark as the Jamie McKim steered Burgh are Neilston for whom Dylan Fletcher and Euan Clark were on target to cap a 2-1 comeback win over Thorniewood United whose first minute lead had come from Ally Small.
The only other First Division contest saw Benburb go nap thanks to strikes by Jack Purdue(2), Lewis Lovering, Aaron Black and Lewis McTaggart in a 5-1 pasting of Whitletts Vics.
Elsewhere, the closeness of the Premier Division stakes was never better embodied through the victories posted by Hurlford United, Beith, Cumnock and Rob Roy enabling the entire quartet to leapfrog over previously second top Pollok in the standings.
Meanwhile, Alex Docherty netted the only goal of the game to help so called minnows Drumchapel United record a monumental Scottish Cup victory over League One outfit Edinburgh F.C. that leaves proud team boss Adam Hopes and his playing charges eagerly awaiting tomorrow’s Fourth Round draw.
Joining the Drum in the hat are Darvel for whom an Ian McShane brace along with on the mark efforts from Cammy Eadie, Ross Caldwell and Andy Stirling culminated in a resounding 5-2 defeat of Montrose however fellow Ayrshire hopefuls Auchinleck Talbot came a cropper in suffering a 3-0 demise up at Raith Rovers.
WEEKEND RESULTS: P.D.M Buildbase Premier Division. Petershill 1 Hurlford Utd 2, Largs Thistle 0 Cambuslang Rangers 1, Beith 4 Irvine Meadow 3, Rob Roy 2 Troon 0, Cumnock 1 Arthurlie 0, Kilwinning Rangers 0 Glenafton 1.PDM Buildbase First Division. Johnstone Burgh 5 Rutherglen Glencairn 0, St Rochs 4 Cumbernauld Utd 2, Benburb 5 Whitletts Vics 1, Gartcairn 0 St Cadocs 2,Neilston 2 Thorniewood Utd 1, Kilbirnie Ladeside 7 Rossvale 2.PDM Buildbase Second Division. Kilsyth Rangers 2 Greenock 2,Muirkirk 3 Renfrew 3, Glasgow Perthshire 0 Forth Wanderers 1,Yoker Athletic 2 Maryhill 4.PDM Buildbase Third Division. Vale of Leven 4 Royal Albert 1, Lanark Utd 2 Saltcoats Vics 1, Carluke Rovers 1 Irvine Vics 4, Newmains Utd 1 Bellshill Athletic 0, Vale of Clyde 5 Lesmahagow 1, Ardrossan Winton Rovers 1 Finnart 0, Port Glasgow 3 Lugar Boswell 2. PDM Buildbase Fourth Division. Glenvale 0 West Park Utd 2, Campbeltown Pupils 2 Threave Rovers 4, Thorn Athletic 1 Eglinton 3, Rossvale Academy 1 Harmony Row 4, Kilsyth Athletic 3 St Peters 1.Scottish Cup.Third Round.Raith Rovers 3 Auchinleck Talbot 0, Drumchapel Utd 1 Edinburgh F.C 0,Montrose 2 Darvel 5.
Regards
Jim O’Donnell
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