MAXI WAS LEFT DISAPPOINTED
Beith did not serve up their most assured performance of the season on Saturday but the narrow 1-0 victory over Pollok may have carried with it a portent of what’s to come as far as their rivals for this season’s Premier Division crown are concerned.
Chris Strain’s charges were far from their fluid best in stretching their current winning run to seven games yet his side had a “we’re not going to be beaten” look about them from the moment that Josh Fowler was allowed to run onto a Kian Burns pass and rifle a left footed shot across Lok goalkeeper Josh Lumsden and into the far corner of his net.
My use of `allowed` is deliberate because only minutes earlier the Mighty striking ace might well have scored with a carbon copy run and shot which only slipped the wrong side of the far upright by a matter of inches.
Lok boss Stewart Maxwell touched upon his side’s failure to learn their lesson in his post-match reflections.
He insisted, “Look, there’s no denying it was a better finish from the lad Fowler however we could and should have closed him down had we heeded the earlier warning shot across our bows..
“The fact we didn’t is disappointing and I have the exact same feelings about the end result going against us because my players had the lion’s share of possession and a lot of forward going opportunities but just never capitalized on them.
“They cannot be faulted for effort and endeavor but the quality…and take it from me there’s plenty of it in this squad… was sadly posted missing in the final third.
“There are very fine lines between defeat and victory in this league so our decision making after getting ourselves into decent areas has to be a whole lot better than we showed out there. “
Pollok, showing four changes from the starting X1 in the midweek defeat by Hurlford United were to the fore in the early Bellsdale Park exchanges and an acrobatic Owen Stott save was required to prevent Adam Forde’s close range header from opening the scoring before the goalkeeper came up with the goods again to keep out a deflected Shaun Fraser shot.
In between these near things, Beith had one of their own when free kick expert Connor McGlinchey’s curling effort struck the top of the crossbar and bounced over however even their most ardent supporters would agree it was only after Fowler’s goal that the game turned their way.
Dropping anchor to try to protect their lead didn’t enter their heads but they did comfortably absorb what pressure Pollok could muster knowing their ranks contained the best attacking threat afield in the lively Fowler whose willingness to put in the yards chasing after balls played upfield was a constant thorn in the flesh of the visiting backline.
His jubilant gaffer Chris Strain emerged afterwards to say, “ I don’t think the game was a good spectacle in terms of good passages of play but we definitely looked a lot more at ease after getting our noses in front and that’s borne out by Pollok not having a single shot on target throughout the second half.
“To show such resilience when our defensive leader Danny O’Neil was missing through suspension speaks volumes about our squad strength and not least the display of young Scott Rough who played like an old fashioned warrior type out there today yet until recently he was in the third tier with Muirkirk.
“As a team , we will play a lot better as a unit but it’s particularly pleasing to see individuals like him and Josh are capable of standing up to be counted against a side of Pollok’s pedigree.”
CHRIS STRAIN DELIGHTED WITH HIS YOUNG GUNS
Beith’s three points haul had the added bonus of taking them atop the Premier Division pile , a solitary point ahead of erstwhile leaders Darvel whose falter away to Arthurlie was not supposed to happen.
The outcome appeared to be going according to the pre-match script when Craig Truesdale and Alan McKenzie goals had Darvel 2-0 to the good after 45 minutes play however Mick Kennedy’s men were anything but at their `Aberdeen` best throughout a second half when they were literally blown away by wave after wave of attacking sorties from a home side for whom Dale Simeon, Ryan McGregor and Michael McNeil were on target.
That upset will also have been gleefully welcomed at Auchinleck Talbot,now up into third spot in the standings , six points adrift of Beith from three games fewer played, following scores by Ally Park and Craig McCracken earning a 2-0 victory over Petershill.
Elsewhere, Alan Kelly proved the difference for Clydebank after notching a goal in each half in the 2-0 defeat of Cambuslang Rangers while Cumnock’s hot and cold form was yet again painfully evident as they lost out at home to Largs Thistle whose striker David Ramsay scored the only goal of the game.
A brace of goals by Scott McLean and a Sam McKee counter saw Glenafton comfortably get the better of Rob Roy while Irvine Meadow had no easy time of it in posting a 2-1 success over Troon at Meadow Park where Callum Graham’s first half penalty kick miss enabled the visitors to lead through a Jamie Gallagher strike at the halfway stage.
After the resumption, one time Ashfield and Pollok hitman Graham came up trumps when put on the spot again prior to Louis Kerr sealing a comeback win with his side’s second goal.
Troon ‘s reverse might be regarded as them getting off the hook after relegation rivals Kilwinning Rangers, newly managerless after this week’s departure of David Gormley, had to settle for a share of the spoils from a 2-2 Buffs Park draw against Hurlford United despite twice leading through Thomas Collins and Dylan Mackin efforts which were cancelled out by Paul McKenzie and Mark”Squib” McKenzie scores.
In the First Division stakes, Gartcairn were left ruing a missed opportunity to take over the league leaders mantle when suffering an unexpected 3-2 defeat at home to Kilbirnie Ladeside.
Evergreen hitman James Marks firing the Blasties in front saw Gartcairn step up a gear for Daz Smith to score either side of half time however Joel Taylor levelled matters before a trademark Jon Scullion free kick goal clinched victory for the visitors.
Continuing to maintain a strong title challenge are Drumchapel United who showed no signs of a hangover from their midweek Scottish Cup exit at Elgin City in posting a 4-0 victory over Bonnyton Thistle with Daniel Finnigan, Alex McWaters(2) and David Templeton on the mark while a scoring double by Ryan McManus helped Rutherglen Glencairn overcome Cumbernauld United 2-0 and climb to fifth top spot.
Meanwhile,the first silverware prize of the season was won by Second Division leading lights Renfrew on Friday Night thanks to Jimmy Quigley’s side prevailing 5-3 in a penalty kicks shoot-out win over higher league Whitletts Vics .
A 1-1 stalemate had ensued in regulation time after Kris Brown netted for the Vics to cancel out Renfrew’s opener by Dom Innes.
WEEKEND RESULTS: Strathclyde Demolition Cup Final.Renfrew 1 Whitletts Vics 1 (Renfrew win 5-3 on pens).P.D.M Buildbase Premier Division. Auchinleck Talbot 2 Petershill 0, Cumnock 0 Largs Thistle 1, Beith 1 Pollok 0, Clydebank 2 Cambuslang Rangers 0, Glenafton 2 Rob Roy 0, Kilwinning Rangers 2 Hurlford Utd 2, Arthurlie 3 Darvel 2, Irvine Meadow v Troon.PDM Buildbase First Division. Gartcairn 2 Kilbirnie Ladeside 3, Cumbernauld Utd 0 Rutherglen Glencairn 2, Drumchapel Utd 4 Bonnyton Thistle 0,Rossvale 1 Johnstone Burgh 2, Blantyre Vics 2 Benburb 2,St Rochs 3 Neilston 1, Shotts Bon Accord 1Thorniewood Utd 2. PDM Buildbase Second Division. Greenock 0 Craigmark0,Muirkirk 2 Glasgow Perthshire 2, Wishaw 0 Maryhill l, Kilsyth Rangers 2 Ashfield 1,St Anthonys 1 Forth Wanderers 1 Maybole 0 Yoker Athletic 2.PDM Buildbase Third Division. Lugar Boswell 2 Girvan 0, Irvine Vics 2 Royal Albert 0, Lanark Utd 3 Vale of Leven 1, Newmains Utd 1 Kello Rovers 1, Ardrossan Winton Rovers 6 East Kilbride Thistle 3, Port Glasgow 3 Dalry Thistle 0, Saltcoats Vics 1 Larkhall Thistle 2, Vale of Clyde 9 Carluke Rovers 1, Bellshill Athletic 1 Lesmahagow 6. PDM Buildbase Fourth Division. Glenvale 0 Harmony Row 0, Campbeltown Pupils 1 Rossvale Academy 4,West Park Utd 7 Eglinton 1, Thorn Athletic 1 Kilsyth Athletic 1, Easterhouse F.A 1 St Peters 6, BSC Glasgow 1 Threave Rovers 5.
Regards
Jim O’Donnell
Special congratulations to Renfrew FC goalkeeper and captain Danny McLeay, who came
up with the goods in the penalty shoot out. He will lead by example given where he was
coached at/ the people involved some years ago – I am sure he remembers those
specialist training nights alongside much older outfield Rob Roy players at the
former Adamslie Park.
Great character -building ☺️.