THE MOORE THE MERRIER FOR CUMNOCK

TREBLE MARKSMAN JORDAN IS BACK TO HIS BEST

Cumnock manager Brian McGinty had the look of a satisfied man after getting the Scottish Junior Cup Final send-off he had hoped for in Saturday’s last league game of the season against Cambuslang Rangers.

Not for one minute will the emphatic 3-0 victory go down as one of his side’s better performances, even their most biased followers would struggle to award a rating higher than six on a scale of one to ten, however it was definitely a case of “job done “for Gints judging by the broad smile creasing his face after a blast from Referee Regan Wallace‘s whistle brought the sunshine bathed proceedings to a conclusion.

He admitted afterwards, “Today was a typical end of the season affair and a meaningless one into the bargain given there was nothing for either team to play for however I felt our guys worked hard and were in control throughout particularly first half when we played good football whenever it was on to do so and helped ourselves to some well worked goals.

“And obviously the icing on the cake with the Cup Final in mind was getting through the 90 minutes without picking up any injuries of note.”

It was noticeable beforehand that the Ayrshire cast assembled by McGinty for this testing Somervell Park encounter was shorn of several regulars, Mark McLennan, Greg Ferry and Brendan Sharpe to name but some, but he did consider the gamble to field top scorer Jordan Moore in his starting line-up to be one worthwhile taking.

And thankfully he did because Moore once again underlined his value as Cumnock’s go-to-man by putting this game to bed with a well taken hat trick of scores in an explosive 15 minute first half burst.

A fresh faced Cambuslang side containing several teenagers, had been feisty and energetic over the opening exchanges however they could and should have found themselves 1-0 down with just six minutes played on the clock when Nock front man Graham Boyd’s head flick put Findlay Frye clean through on goal only for his parting shot to be blocked by Wee Gers goalkeeper Andy Wilson coming off his line .

The toehold now being exerted by the visitors brought four corner kicks in quick succession before they deservedly got their noses in front on the half hour mark after Nock winger James Dolan showed great close control with a mesmerizing left flank run prior to cutting the ball back for Moore to sidefoot the ball home from near the penalty spot.

Cumnock’s deserved lead was duly doubled just six minutes later and again the score arrived from a left wing sortie, this time from an attacking intrusion by full back Jarred Willet, whose low driven cross was latched onto by Moore who was criminally allowed to swivel inside the penalty box to direct a low shot beyond Wilson for 2-0.

Any faint hopes of Cambuslang recovering from these hammer blows went for a burton on the stroke of half time when they fell 3-0 behind after another Willet venture upfield saw him slip a pass into Moore’s path and he swept a low 15 yard shot past Wilson at his near post

Somewhat surprisingly , Cumnock’s top marksman reappeared along with his team mates for the second half however an early run through on goal which ended with him wastefully blasting the ball high over when a simple pass to striking partner Boyd would almost certainly have brought a fourth Cumnock goal was to prove the final act of his involvement .

Said the 31 goal hitman afterwards, “ I’ve recently missed a number of games through suspension so the gaffer was keen to get minutes in my legs but the plan was always for me to come off early.

“ I was pleased with the goals which were all about getting my shots on target but I’m taking nothing for granted as to whether I did enough to earn a Cup Final jersey .”

AND NOW FOR THE FINAL SAYS GINTS

Cumnock undoubtedly took their foot of the pedal second half but remained on top and denied the home team any clear cut openings other than when Wee Gers centreback Sam Greenwood rose highest at a corner kick and powered a header a matter of inches over Jamie Barclay’s crossbar.

Defeated boss Paul McColl revealed, “”You cannot expect to be even a middle of the road Premier Division side if your team is down to the bare bones as we were today with just three substitutes and all of them 16 year olds .

“ All the big guns have squads packed with experienced players and we need to be aiming to have something similar to stand any chance of coming straight back up again next year.

“It’s not going to be easy because there are going to be as many as eight former Premier clubs in the First Division looking to come up but hopefully we can be in the mix.”

Elsewhere, Beith’s top marksman Josh Fowler bagged a hat trick ( his second in successive weeks) but his goals didn’t prevent the Premier Division champions succumbing to a 4-3 defeat away to Hurlford United for whom Kris Kerr(2), Lewis Morrison and Michael Mullen were on the mark.

Runners up spot in the standings was clinched by Auchinleck Talbot following a 2-2 draw with third top Darvel while a late in the day penalty kick conversion by Nikky Little earned a fourth place finish for Clydebank, virtue of a 1-0 victory over Rob Roy .

Arthurlie ,despite leading 2-0 through Dale Simeon and Lee Roulston goals at the halfway stage against Glenafton, were eventually beaten 4-2 as Scott McLean, Alex McWaters , Dylan O’Kane and Hugh Kerr weighed in with second half scores for the Glens while Pollok succumbed to an even bigger collapse down at Barrfields where Daz Christie had put them 1-0 ahead with a wonder strike.

Stuart Faulds levelled for the Seasiders before the interval and he and his team mates went on to add second half counters by Scott Adam, David Ramsay(2) and a Kenny Barr own goal in chalking up a 5-1 defeat of their Glasgow visitors.

Petershill were the only one of the relegated teams to bow out on a high after a

4-2 triumph over fellow `dropouts ` Kilwinning Rangers who had initially led 1-0 at Petershill Park through a Thomas Collins strike.

Dean McBride and Jordan Marshall had the Peasy 2-1 to the good by half time and further scores by Del Hepburn and Dom Morgan , either side of Kilwinning striker Dylan Mackin making the scoreline read 3-1. Gave the home fans something to smile about .

Portland Park was the venue for yet another high scoring contest as Irvine Meadow came out on top 4-3 against Troon whose first half response to a brace of Neil Slooves headers for the Irvine club was a penalty kick conversion from Jamie Gallagher.

The seesawing continued apace over the ensuing 45 minutes with Connor Boyd making it 3-1 for the Medda only for Kyle Gilroy to peg them back prior to Louis Kerr bagging a fourth goal for the visitors that was answered by what amounted to nothing more than a 90^th minute Troon consolation from Gallagher.

Meanwhile , a brace of Jordan Love goals secured promotion for First Division title leaders Gartcairn but the race to see who goes up with them remains up for grabs after nearest challengers Benburb suffered a shock 3=1 defeat away to relegation threatened Cumbernauld United ,thrown a lifeline by Lee Whitmore (2) and Cammy McNeil scores.

St Cadocs took full advantage of the Govan outfit’s slip with a 6-0 thrashing of Thorniewood United taking them into second top place while striking ace Dan Finnigan tucking home the only goal of the game for Drumchapel United away to St Rochs has moved them a point adrift of the Bens (with a game in hand) before the Drum take to the road to face St Cadocs on Wednesday night.

WEEKEND RESULTS: P.D.M.Buildbase Premier Division. Troon 3 Irvine Meadow 4, Darvel 2 Auchinleck Talbot 2, Largs Thistle 5 Pollok 1, Petershill 4 Kilwinning Rangers 2, Arthurlie 2 Glenafton 4, Hurlford Utd 4 Beith 3, Clydebank 1 Rob Roy 0, Cambuslang Rangers 0 Cumnock 3. PDM Buildbase First Division. Cumbernauld Utd 3 Benburb 1, Thorniewood Utd 0 St Cadocs 6, Whitletts Vics 0 Blantyre Vics 1, Shotts Bon Accord 0 Rossvale 1,Johnstone Burgh 0 Gartcairn 2, Neilston 2 Kilbirnie Ladeside 2, Bonnyton Thistle 0 Rutherglen Glencairn 2, St Rochs 0 Drumchapel Utd 1.PDM Buildbase Second Division. Ashfield 4Ardeer Thistle 0, Craigmark 2 St Anthonys 0, Kilsyth Rangers 4 Maryhill 1,Wishaw 3 Maybole 3, Muirkirk 2 Forth Wanderers 1. PDM Buildbase Third Division. Newmains Utd 3 Carluke Rovers 1, Lanark Utd 6 Port Glasgow 1, Ardrossan Winton Rovers 1 Vale of Clyde 3,Saltcoats Vics 0 Dalry Thistle 3, Lugar Boswell 1 Vale of Leven 1, Royal Albert 0 Girvan3, Finnart 1 Larkhall Thistle 1, Irvine Vics 1 Kello Rovers 1, Bellshill Athletic 2 East Kilbride Thistle 1.

Regards

Jim O’Donnell