Lie want to get teeth into Beith

Published 10 Dec 2009 10:25 0 Comments

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By Robert Burns

ARTHURLIE had another blank Saturday due to cup replays but this weekend Super League high flyers Beith are the visitors to Dunterlie Park and going on past meetings it's a game you shouldn't miss.

The last five meetings between the sides has brought 23 goals and that includes a 0-0 draw in last season's corresponding fixture.

In September 2007 Arthurlie gained a point at Bellsdale Park with Craig Malcolm, Lee Sharp and Frank McKeown getting on the scoresheet.

Sharp again and a double from John Bradford secured all three points in a 3-1 victory in the return match at Dunterlie.

Last season's match between the sides ended up all square at Barrhead before Arthurlie produced their best performance of the season when the trounced title chasing Beith by six goals to two, with Sean Winter, McKeown and a Malcolm hat-trick doing the

damage.

On September 5 Arthurlie travelled to Bellsdale and when McKeown scored to level the scores in the 89th minute to add to John Johnston's earlier strike, a share of the spoils looked on the cards - only for Craig to hit the Lie with a sucker punch in added time and keep all three points in Ayrshire.

Beith Juniors are currently undefeated and sit at the top of the West Super League with nine wins and one draw from 10 matches. A formidable side packed full of faces the home support know only too well due to their large Arthurlie connection.

They secured the West of Scotland Cup last season and only faltered in their challenge for the league title due to terrible fixture congestion near the end of last season.

Beith are serious contenders for all the major honours on offer this season and will offer a stern test to the Dunterlie Park side.

Christmas shopping or junior football's game of the day? It's not a hard decision to make - Arthurlie versus Beith, Saturday December 12, kicks off at 1.45pm.

One player who might make his second Arthurlie debut is Alan Waddell, who recently rejoined the Barrhead club from near neighbours Pollok.

Alan first signed for Arthurlie in season 2003-04 from Hamilton Academicals and the former St Peter's under-21s and Neilston forward stayed with the Barrhead club until signing for rivals Pollok in the summer of

2006.

Over the course of two-and-a-half seasons Waddell started 55 times while he started another 18 games on the bench scoring an impressive 28 times.

Waddell ended his two full seasons at the club as top scorer, joint in 2004-05, and he was a regular scorer at Pollok over his three and a half seasons at the Glasgow club.

Arthurlie Social Club's AGM takes place tonight (Wednesday December 9) in the Arthurlie Social Club at 7.30pm, duel members only.

This article appeared in Barrhead News 09 Dec 09

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