BENS BACK TO THEIR BEST

HIS PLAYERS KNOW HOW TO KEEP PAUL SMILING

An inspired response by his Benburb players gave team boss Paul Lovering the win he craved to lift them into fifth top place in the Premier Division standings and chalk up back to back league wins for the first time this season.

There can be no denying the convincing manner of Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Rob Roy can only be regarded as a serious morale boost to a playing squad that on the same Tinto Park pitch only seven days ago served up an abysmal showing in going down to a 3-0 South Cup defeat at the hands of lower league Rutherglen Glencairn.

“Night and day “was the verdict delivered by the broadly smiling Lovers afterwards …and he had been away on holiday last weekend???

He went on, “ I obviously didn’t see what occurred last week but I’ve heard enough horror stories to know it wasn’t great however the way in which the guys have bounced back today has been nothing short of marvelous and they deserve all the credit going.

“We started well to take control of the game and showed a desire to come out on top which has ultimately got a massive three points reward and I’ve told the players that more of the same is needed each and every time they pull a Benburb strip over their heads .

“ Of course it’s a huge ask but if they want to keep me happy then that’s what I expect of them. “

The lead merited by Benburb’s early territorial dominance arrived just 8 minutes in when an Olly Smith corner kick found centreback team mate Euan Clark rising highest in a crowded penalty box to power a header past helpless Rabs keeper Chris Smith.

The home team continued on top and Smith came to his side’s rescue in saving a netbound Declan McDonald effort only for the keeper to be undone by a 13^th minute defensive blunder which led to him pulling down Aaron Black as the Bens front man rounded him inside the box and the resulting penalty kick award was ably slotted home by Black for 2-0.

The no-nonsense defending of Clark and Jordan Bow was ensuring little was being seen of the visitors as an attacking force despite a couple of tempting crosses delivered by Rabs full back Kian Gilday and half time was reached with Benburb’s lead intact.

Rabs keeper Smith thwarting the busy Black with a blocking save was among the early talking points on the resumption however the visitors hauled themselves back into the game in 58 minutes when Ryan Tierney controlled a ball played into the penalty area and cleverly directed a low shot beyond the reach of Bens No 1 Grant Hay.

Thoughts of the Rob Roy goal as a decisive turning point were briefly raised as they pressed bodies forward in search of an equalizer but few if any of their attacking ventures were getting through to trouble Hay and the closing stages saw Benburb regather themselves to get on top once more.

And their superior firepower paid dividends with a little under ten minutes left to play when an Ally Taylor free kick from down the left flank was superbly flicked home by McDonald for 3-1.

Benburb’s triumph kept them two points to the good of an ever improving St Cadocs side that extended their unbeaten league record to four games thanks to former Bens front man Lewis McTaggart netting the only goal of the game away to Gartcairn while Largs Thistle clambered into the top half of the table(just) thanks to scores from David Ramsay, Craig Forbes and Will Sewell earning a 3-1 victory over Hurlford United.

Meanwhile, Irvine Meadow are no longer bottom markers after Jordan Boyd and Innes Lambert scores either side of a Michael McMullin free kick goal for Glenafton secured a 2-1 success down at New Cumnock and a welcome first win in four starts was chalked up by Arthurlie for whom Dylan Fletcher bagged a brace of goals in a 2-1 defeat of Troon whose counter came from veteran Dale Moore.

NEW BOSS MARTIN FERRY HAS IRVINE MEADOW HEADING IN RIGHT DIRECTION

Drumchapel United lead the First Division way following an emphatic 3-0 win away to Renfrew that coincided with previous frontrunners Rutherglen Glencairn suffering a heavy 4-1 loss at home to Ashfield whose marksmen were Sean Slaven(2) , Michael Grady and Craig Burns.

Blantyre Vics looked a good bet for the points at home to ten man Petershill (Dean McBride red carded ) when leading 3-0 going into the final half hour at Castle Park through a Stuart Jarvie double and Pearse Carroll goal .

The visitors pulled a goal back from a Darren Miller penalty kick but their comeback hopes were then dealt a hammer blow by Miller getting his marching orders for a second yellow card however Peasy substitute Alex Cassells made the scoreline read 3-2 and deep into added on time (97 minutes to be precise) Cameron McNeil netted for the nine men to carve out a 3-3 draw.

In other games, Johnstone Burgh had Stuart McCann and Kieran Brophy on target in a 2-0 victory over Neilston while St Rochs striker Ben Dailly netted both his side’s goals in a 2-2 stalemate away to Thorniewood United for whom Cody McLeod and Jordan Duncan were on the mark.

Leading marksman David Gray scored twice to keep Ardrossan Winton Rovers atop the Second Division pile with a 3-2 win over Craigmark while Third Division leading lights Bellshill Athletic’s 4-1 victory over Kello Rovers ,goals from Jamie Newton, Jack Currie, Kieron Markey and Donnie Wilson, has preserved their unbeaten record and opened up a five points lead over nearest challengers Glasgow United.

Continuing to head up the Fourth Division stakes are St Peters after a 2-1 success away to East Kilbride Thistle

WoSFL clubs were by and large celebrating their ventures in the Scottish Gas Cup First Round albeit Auchinleck Talbot suffered a shock exit to St Andrews United, Threave Rovers lost out to Formartine United and last season’s Cup marvels Darvel were unexpectedly beaten by Bo’ness United.

CIARAN ON TARGET FOR BEITH…AGAIN

Of the five remaining sides to make it into the Second Round draw taking place later tonight, Clydebank top scored with a 7-0 win against Dalkeith Thistle , Pollok notched only one goal fewer in a 6-0 trouncing of Penicuik Athletic while Beith had Blair Rossiter, Scott Rough , Carlo Monti and the prolific Ciaran Diver on the scoresheet in a 4-0 thumping of Lossiemouth.

WEEKEND RESULTS: SCOTTISH GAS CUP.First Round.Dunipace 1 Cumnock 3(aet) ,Lossiemouth 0 Beith 4, Dalkeith Thistle 0 Clydebank 7, Formartine Utd 3 Threave Rovers 2, St Andrews Utd 1 Auchinleck Talbot 0, Dundonald Bluebell 2 Kilwinning Rangers 3, Penicuik Athletic 0 Pollok 6, Bo’ness Utd 3 Darvel 0.P.D.M HUWS GRAY Premier Division. Largs Thistle 3 Hurlford Utd 1, Gartcairn 0 St Cadocs 1, Benburb 3 Rob Roy1, Troon v Arthurlie, Glenafton 1 Irvine Meadow 2.P.D.M HUWS GRAYFirst Division. Johnstone Burgh 2 Neilston 0, Renfrew 0 Drumchapel Utd 3, Blantyre Vics 3 Petershill 3, Maybole 4 Whitletts Vics 1, Thorniewood Utd v St Rochs, Cambuslang Rangers 4 Shotts Bon Accord 4, Rutherglen Glencairn 1 Ashfield 4.PDM HUWS GRAY Second Division. Glasgow Perthshire 1 Yoker Athletic 4, Larkhall Thistle 2 Forth Wanderers 0, Cumbernauld Utd 1 St Anthonys 1, Caledonian Locomotives 3 Bonnyton Thistle 2, Ardrossan Winton Rovers 3 Craigmark 2, Muirkirk 3 Glasgow University 0.PDM HUWS GRAYThird Division. Vale of Leven 1 Ardeer Thistle 4, Bellshill Athletic 4 Kello Rovers 1, Finnart 3 Irvine Vics 2, Greenock 2 Port Glasgow 0, Dalry Thistle 4 Kilsyth Athletic 1, Lesmahagow 0 Lanark Utd1 , Girvan 1 Glasgow Utd 2. PDM HUWS GRAYFourth Division. Easterhouse 7 Royal Albert 0, Giffnock 6 Campbeltown Pupils 0, Lugar Boswell 2 Carluke Rovers 2, Glenvale 0 Rossvale3, BSC Glasgow 3 Eglinton 2,East Kilbride Thistle 1 St Peters 2, Saltcoats Vics 2 Thorn Athletic 6, Newmains Utd 0 Knightswood 2.

Regards

Jim O’Donnell