Published: Thursday, 3rd April, 2008 12:00
SAFETY FIRST
Print Article
Arthurlie 1 Auchinleck 0
ARTHURLIE secured a fantastic victory against Auchinleck on Saturday at Dunterlie. Craig Malcolm scored the goal that mattered but it was in truth a game of many missed chances.
The Barrhead club had strengthened their squad prior to the game with no fewer than four new signings but as the final whistle approached, Mark Cameron must have wished he had signed Jim Bowie and Davey Crockett as the home 18-yard line began to resemble the Alamo — but it’s all about putting the ball in the net.
Cameron’s side, possibly spurred on by three of the new arrivals on the bench, started off far the better side.
Sean Winters sent a fantastic long through ball which saw Craig Malcolm race into the area only to have the ball wiped away from his feet after only four minutes. From the resulting corner Frank McKeown rose highest but his header skimmed the post on its way past.
Just a minute later the woodwork saved Auchinleck once again after a long clearance from James Evans.
The ball fell to Malcolm who sent Winter free on the right and his first time cross found Eddie Annand ghosting in at the back of the six-yard box, but he headed off the post.
Auchinleck’s first real attack came on the quarter hour mark when a fantastic turn by Bryan Young gave him the space to thread a great ball through to Danny McKelvie but just as he was about to shoot Stephen Gallacher appeared from nowhere to clear the danger.
On 23 minutes McKelvie found space to deliver an inch perfect ball into the ‘Lie box.
Lurking was veteran Talbot striker Stevie Mallan, who is normally lethal, but somehow missed what can only be described as a sitter from all of three yards.
Arthurlie scored what proved to be the only goal of the game in the 39th minute following a great ball from Annand, that left Malcolm on the edge of the Auchinleck box.
He passed one defender before sending an unstoppable ‘daisy-cutter’ screaming into the far bottom corner of the net.
Alan McFadden came close to add to the lead just before the break but he shot with his weaker right foot and his effort was deflected for a corner.
Four minutes into the second half, a much larger crowd than in the first half saw Mallan miss another sitter for Talbot.
Paddy Flannery, one of the new ‘Lie signings, was brought on in place of Annand after 61 minutes as the home side looked to freshen things up.
Stuart Davidson was running things in the middle of the park now as Talbot went in search of the equaliser.
Davidson tried his luck from distance in 70 minutes but his effort was blocked, then Malcolm set up McFadden, but his shot was high.
The Ayrshire side were dominant for long spells in the second half but the ‘Lie defence, McKeown and Brian Wardle in particular, showed great character in clearing any danger.
Although Talbot had a lot of the ball they failed to create any clear cut chances and in fact is was Arthurlie who went closest.
A corner from Sharp found McKeown out-jumping the defence again but his header couldn’t find the target.
That was to be the last chance of the game and a welcome three points were secured by the Barrhead side.
While there were no failures in the Barrhead side there were some fantastic performances.
Usual suspects, Winter and Sharp, were ably abetted by Steve Aitken who had possibly his best game since his arrival last summer.
If one of his headed attempts had gone in then choosing the man of the match would have been simpler — but for his all round performance Frank McKeown gets the nod.
Arthurlie — James Evans, Stephen Gallacher, Lee Sharp, Frank McKeown, Brian Wardle, Alan McFadden, John Johnston, Steve Aitken, Eddie Annand, Sean Winter, Craig Malcolm Subs — Alan Shields, Ross Ballantyne, Craig McPhee, Paddy Flannery, John Bradford.
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Further Details
Lynch angry as ban on Ross is lifted