DIVER SURFACES FOR CHAMPIONS

CIARAN CAME ON AND MADE THE DIFFERENCE

Beith appear to have begun preparing for Josh Fowler’s possible departure to the Senior ranks by fixing up a replacement in Renfrew’s top scorer from last season, Ciaran Diver.

That much was patently obvious on Saturday after the 23 year old son of legendary Pollok striker Danny Diver made a stunning impact as the reigning Premier Division champions ran out 2-1 winners in a pre-season friendly joust with Blantyre Vics.

He has big boots to fill as Fowler who has been in training with Motherwell recently and is now reputedly over in Ireland as a guest of Kilmarnock, netted all of 38 goals last season , however Diver, previously eight years on Celtic’s books as a Youth Team prospect, certainly looked the part coming off the bench for the final half hour at Bellsdale Park .

While the smattering of Mighty supporters taking in this affair are well aware there are bigger days and much bigger tests ahead, they will not have been happy for the Ayrshire cracks to have been trailing 1-0 at that point to a quite spectacular strike by Vics youngster Lee Sharp.

With only five minutes on the clock , he had chased down and retrieved an overhit cross from the right flank and was even more worryingly allowed time and space to turn , look up and flight a sublime curling shot into the far corner of the net despite the best saving efforts of new goalkeeper signing Jamie Walker.

The home team’s response was a powerfully struck Blair Rossiter shot kept out by the knees of Vics No 1 Dylan Orr and the busy midfielder went on to also drag a potential scoring opportunity effort wide of target prior to Beith trialist Aaron Mason (formerly of Auchinleck Talbot) smacking a drive off the crossbar with Orr beaten.

Otherwise, a well-organized Vics backline was comfortably dealing with Beith’s attacking ventures, helped considerably it has to be said by their front man Andy Monk looking out of sorts in his first playing action since returning from holiday as well as first starts for midfield pair Jordan Scott and Mikey McWilliams.

The Ayrshiremen got the second period underway with a wonderfully hit shot by skipper Danny O’ Neil being fisted away by Orr however the near thing of unmarked Vics striker Scott Jarvie heading over the crossbar from six yards range when it looked easier to score sparked Beith assistant manager Kevin McDonald (Chris Strain is on holiday) into calling for his substitutes to get themselves ready .

And his reading of the situation by introducing Diver, fellow striker Ryan Monan and Robbie Scullion was to pay almost instant dividends.

Kevin admitted afterwards,” It was typical pre-season stuff with a mix of new signings and trialists on show as well as some of our more familiar faces being asked to play out of position just to get playing minutes into their legs for the first time.

“Ciaran is a footballer with great stature who did superbly during his limited time on the pitch and we’ve high hopes for him as indeed is the case with Ryan who has seamlessly adjusted to this level after playing with Muirkirk last season .”

A matter of two minutes into their bench upgrade saw Beith equalize as Diver intuitively positioned himself to crack home a Mason driven cross from eight yards out and he impressed again just minutes later when turning on the after-burners on the right flank to leave two visiting defenders in his wake before delivering over a cross that disappointingly found no takers.

Another of his scoring attempts from a Victor Emordi run and cross was deflected just wide before the one-way pressure continued as Rossiter smacked a 22 yard drive off Orr’s upright.

Blantyre were more or less camped in and round their penalty area going into the closing stages however they had no answer to Beith’s winning goal after Monan embarked on a twisting solo run past at least three despairing challenges before delivering a low drive beyond Orr’s outstretched reach for 2-1.

GIBBY WAS HAPPY WITH BLANTYRE’S SHOWING

“To end up with four Under 20 players out there yet only lose out to a late goal against the Premier Division title winners is a more than decent outcome“ said Vics gaffer John Gibson at the final whistle.

“The guys were excellent first half in keeping Beith at bay and if big Scott’s header had gone in then the result might easily have gone our way.

“That said , they are a very good side whose rotation and ability to keep possession put us through the wringer second half and we were hanging onto our dear lives towards the end.

Gibby added , “All told the signs are promising as we have players yet to come back and more so if we can bring in a few new faces.”

Among other pre-season games taking place ,St Rochs chalked up a very creditable 1-0 victory over higher league Glenafton after Ben Daily netted the only goal of a hard fought James McGrory Stadium contest while Vale of Clyde ran out 3-1 winners over Finnart thanks to scores from veteran striker Kevin Turner, Paul Donaghy and John McCue.

Auchinleck Talbot registered the highest winning margin of the day , a 7-0 rout of Whitletts Vics with Connor Boyd(2), Trialist(2),Michael Wardrope , Ruaridh and Craig McCracken on the mark while further big scorelines were chalked up by Arthurlie .a brace of Lee Roulston goals along with counters from Dylan Dykes(pen), Connor Bulger (pen and Gary Carroll bringing a 5-1 win away to Penicuik Athletic and most notably at Keanie Park, where big spending Johnstone Burgh came an unexpected cropper in going down 5-0 against Largs Thistle whose marksmen were Laurie McMaster, Trialist, Sean McLeod, Jamie Martin and Lewis Davidson.

Another surprise outcome arrived at Merksworth Park where higher league Neilston lost out 3-2 to a Dalry Thistle side that were 2-0 to the good through Gary Duggan and Jack Easdon before Darren Jones halved the Farmers Boys deficit, Jamie Gray duly restored a two goal lead for the hosts and a late Nathan Gordon score for Neilston did little other than give the scoreline a more respectable look.

Elsewhere, Grant Anderson (2), Kenny Barr and Connor Morgan did the damage as Pollok defeated Bo’ness United 4-1 and yet another Lowland League outfit put to the sword by WoSFL opponents were Linlithgow Rose , beaten 2-1 by Hurlford United for whom Michael Mullen was a double scorer, either side of a Dylan Paterson goal for the Rose.

East Kilbride Thistle defeated St Anthonys 3-1, Maryhill triumphed 2-1 against Glenvale, Glasgow Perthshire had Stevie Logan , Lyon Rwodzi and Dean Nelson on target in overcoming WoSFL new boys Giffnock 3-1 while Benburb had to settle for a 2-2 draw at home to Renfrew.

WEEKEND FRIENDLY RESULTS: Johnstone Burgh 0 Largs Thistle 5, Finnart 1 Vale of Clyde 3, Dalry Thistle 3 Neilston 2, Beith 2 Threave Rovers 3 Clydebank 3, Blantyre Vics 1, Irvine Meadow 1 East Kilbride F.C 6,Gartcairn 6 Thornton Hibs 0, Ardeer Thistle 2 BSC Glasgow 1,Pollok 4 Bo’ness Utd 1, Auchinleck Talbot 7 Whitletts Vics 0, Camelon 6 Cumbernauld Utd 4, Hurlford Utd 2 Linlithgow Rose 1, Yoker Athletic 3 Port Glasgow 3, Maryhill 2 Glenvale1, Ashfield 3 Irvine Vics 1, Carnoustie Panmure 0 Kilbirnie Ladeside 1, Lanark Utd 1 Thorniewood Utd 2,St Rochs 1 Glenafton 0,Glasgow University 4 St Peters 2, Benburb 2 Renfrew 2, Stirling University 2 Kilwinning Rangers 1, East Kilbride Thistle 3 St Anthonys 1, Giffnock 2 Glasgow Perthshire 3, Darvel 3 Craigmark 2, Penicuik Athletic 1 Arthurlie 5, St Cadocs 1 Sauchie Juniors1.

Regards

Jim O’Donnell