COULD SMITH BE THE ANSWER ?
Gary Smith. Could this be a possible answer to the conundrum facing new Arthurie manager Colin Reilly, the question being who can he turn to for the goals to save his side from relegation?
The 32 year old hitman , scored almost 30 times as the Lie stormed to the Conference A title last season however a knee ligaments injury has sidelined him for a large chunk of this campaign with Saturday finding him looking on again as his team mates battled for their Premier Division lives.
By all accounts, he’s only a couple of weeks away from a long awaited playing return which can only be good news for the new gaffer after the manner of his dugout debut 2-1 victory over Cumnock served to lift the spirits of everyone with a Barrhead post code but underlined his crying need to unearth a scoring touch in the final third .
Like the rest of us watching on , he saw a veritable game of two halves , with Arthurlie at their free-flowing best throughout an opening 45 minutes’ performance laced with pace, aggression, power, and an attacking swagger that all but swept their Ayrshire visitors away.
But just as the interval beckoned, with Reilly scratching his head wondering why a team capable of such a scintillating display had not delivered more points up to now, there came one of the mistakes that have cost them dearly this season.
Energetic full back Max Kerr, arguably the outstanding player afield rashly threw himself into a halfway-line challenge to floor Cumnock forward Jamie Conn which incurred the yellow card wrath of whistler Andrew Craven (not for the first time) who sent the Darvel loanee for an early bath.
Going down to ten men changed the complexion of the game entirely for Arthurlie and they were rarely to threaten in a second half when theirs became a defiant backs-to-the wall showing in the face of the numerically superior Cumnock dominating proceedings.
“I thought the determination and attitude of the boys was nothing short of outstanding out there .” said a broadly smiling Reilly afterwards.
“A lot of good quality was evident first half when we really deserved to be five or six goals to the good but the other side to us was every bit as impressive following on from Max’s dismissal because the hunger, desire and willingness to put our bodies on the line in order to win the game was incredible.
“The boys have clearly taken on board how we want them to play and I couldn’t be more delighted.”
Asked if Dale Simeon’s seemingly straight from the training ground score was something he was responsible for introducing elicited the far too honest response.
“We did do some work on corner kick plays but our second goal was not one of them !”
A `no wins in seven games` form slump saw Arthurlie roar out of the blocks with real attacking intent in this Dunterlie contest and their early efforts paid off with just six minutes on the clock after Kerr took possession some 25 yards out and took a couple of strides forward before unleashing a wickedly bouncing drive that found the corner of Jamie Barclay’s net .
The now buoyant home side had the ball in the net again just five minutes later when Lewis Magee headed home a Simeon cross but the delight felt by players and supporters alike dissipated at the sight of an upraised flag signaling for offside.
A wonderful saving header from Nock centreback Greg Ferry from underneath his own crossbar then denied Jordan Shelvey a certain score in 16 minutes however the resulting corner kick saw Arthurlie’s winning margin doubled as Kerr’s pull back to the edge of the penalty area was met on the run by Simeon whose first time blast into the postage stamp left Barclay helpless.
There was no let-up for the stunned visitors as Gary Carroll , set up by Simeon, could only knock the ball wide of target when it looked easier to score and this near thing was followed by Andy McLaughlin doing similar when getting on the end of a driven Lee Roulston cross.
Shelvey passing up yet another clear cut scoring opportunity was greeted by groans from the home fans and their disappointment was only furthered in 37 minutes when totally against the run of play, Cumnock broke upfield to halve their deficit.
No danger was apparent as a Brendan Sharpe collected a pass out left but his back post cross was cleverly headed down by Jamie Wilson into the path of Grant Dickie whose low drive beat James Scott all ends up.
The setback of Kerr’s dismissal was followed by other unwanted ramifications for Arthurlie early in the second half given the pain etched on the talented Simeon’s face when he had to trudge off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
“ Hopefully I caught it early and came off before any real damage was done “ said the 28 year old whose protracted absence could be a hammer blow to the Barrhead side’s survival hopes particularly if Smith’s recovery is later rather than sooner.
A WINNING START FOR COLIN
Cumnock’s half time introduction of tall front man Connor Boyd led to them adopting a more direct approach in their attempts to overturn the home side’s slender lead and several penalty box scrambles ensued however the superb last ditch defending of Lie stopper pair Magee and Ryan McGregor aided by Connor Bradley putting in an impressive stint as Kerr’s replacement on the left-side kept the home team’s goal intact.
Top marksman Jordan Moore came off the bench and almost netted with a shot that struck Scott’s heel and rebounded to safety when the goalkeeper had dived in the opposite direction and further indication it was not going to be the Ayrshiremen’s day arrived when Boyd’s close range header striking the crossbar was followed by a sensational goal-line clearance from Arthurlie substitute Callum Shields to keep out a Greg Ferry header.
His side’s shortcomings were heard being loudly berated by Brian McGinty in the aftermath and the Nock gaffer must be hoping his `hairdryer` treatment will bring about the sought after improvements before next month’s crunch Scottish Junior Cup semi-final tussle against Glenafton.
Arthurlie’s triumph crucially lifted them clear of the relegation basement , above Petershill and just two points adrift of Rob Roy whose scheduled fixture at home to Largs Thistle was postponed due to an unplayable Guys Meadow pitch.
Glenafton eased their drop fears after Hugh Kerr and Michael Moffat goals clinched a 2-1 defeat of bottom markers Cambuslang Rangers for whom Grant Brennan was on target while Troon’s remarkable climb to safety continued with a stunning and unexpected 4-1 besting of title challenging Darvel at Recreation Park.
Scott Ferguson’s opener for the home side was levelled by a counter from Kyle Gilroy whose bagging another goal along with a Ben Black strike before half time had Davie Kirkwood’s side 3-1 up and they duly consolidated their winning position thanks to a Sam Jamieson header.
The only other top flight affair went the way of Irvine Meadow for whom Callum Graham and Ross Urqhuart were on the mark in a 2-0 victory which also saw Lok front man Stuart McCann red carded for a second half tackle on Medda centreback Martin Findlay.
In the First Division stakes, St Cadocs step up aspirations took a damaging dent from a 3-2 reverse at home to second bottom of the table Whitletts Vics who had a 2-0 lead through goals from Robbie McCracken and Jordan Boyd wiped out by a Euan Baird brace for the hosts however Vics midfielder Andy Kerr snatched a late winner to bring his side three precious points.
Meanwhile a Thomas Collins double secured Kilwinning Rangers a place in the Indigo Comms West of Scotland League Cup semi-finals thanks to a 2-0 success over Drumchapel United .
Joining the Buffs in the last four standing are St Rochs for whom Paul Brennan netted twice in a 4-3 victory over Craigmark , a scoring feat replicated by Nikky Little as Clydebank ran out 3-2 winners away to Neilston , and Auchinleck Talbot by virtue of Aaron Mason ,Ally Park and Ross Smith goals earning a deserved 3-1 success over Gartcairn.
WEEKEND RESULTS: P.D.M Buildbase Premier Division. Glenafton 2 Cambuslang Rangers 1, Irvine Meadow 2 Pollok 0, Arthurlie 2 Cumnock 1, Darvel 1 Troon 4. PDM Buildbase First Division. Shotts Bon Accord 1 Cumbernauld Utd 3, Johnstone Burgh 2 Thorniewood Utd 1, St Cadocs 2 Whitletts Vics 3.PDM Buildbase Second Division. Greenock 2 Maryhill 0, Ardeer Thistle 1 St Anthonys 4, Wishaw 0 Yoker Athletic 0, Glasgow Perthshire 2 Ashfield 2, Kilsyth Rangers 2 Maybole 2. PDM Buildbase Third Division. Finnart 1 Lanark Utd 1, Irvine Vics 4 Ardrossan Winton Rovers 3, Larkhall Thistle 4 Dalry Thistle 0, Kello Rovers 0 Vale of Leven 1, Bellshill Athletic 3 Newmains Utd 1, Lesmahagow 0 Vale of Clyde 2, Girvan 1 Carluke Rovers 1.PDM Buildbase Fourth Division. Threave Rovers 5 BSC Glasgow 1, St Peters 1 West Park Utd 2, Rossvale Academy 2 Glenvale 0, Easterhouse F.A. 0 Eglinton 6.Indigo Comms.West of Scotland League Cup.Quarter Finals.Craigmark 3 St Rochs 4, Auchinleck Talbot 3 Gartcairn 1, Drumchapel Utd 0 Kilwinning Rangers 2, Neilston 2 Clydebank 3.
Regards
Jim O’Donnell
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