Published: Wednesday, 6th January, 2010 1:15pm

Can 2010 match '09 for the Lie?

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By Robert Burns

ARTHURLIE had a lot to celebrate in the second half of 2009.

Not only did they enjoy a successful start to their league season, but they also made history by retaining the Sectional League Cup against Shotts Bon Accord.

The Lie faithful will hope the success of 2009 will spur the side on to further glory. In the meantime take a look back at the Arthurlie's year from August to December.

August: Arthurlie kicked off their season with a meeting against Benburb in the sectional league cup on August 3. Boosted by new additions Neil Parry, Kieron Cannon, Graham Dale, Tam Murdoch, Callan Adam and the returning John Bradford, they romped to an expected victory. Bradford, Lee Sharp and Craig Malcolm getting on the scoresheet with no reply from the lower-league side. Next up was the visit of Neilston where John McLay's goal earned a share of the points.

A trip to meet a St Anthony's side who have performed well this season was next but Sean Winter, Graham Dale, Stephen Gallagher and a Craig Malcolm treble saw the Lie win by six to one. The last game of the Sectional League Cup saw Arthurlie travel to Pollok needing a solitary point to progress to the knock-out stages and that was secured when Malcolm's goal earned a share of the points.

The monkey was well and truly thrown off Arthurlie's back when they trounced bogey side Petershill 4-2 as Stephen Anderson netted a double while McLay and Joe Andrew both netted. The quarter-final of the Sectional League Cup now beckoned and in a quirk of fate it was the same opposition as last year and the same outcome with Arthurlie victorious with a 4-3 win. Adam, McLay and a Bradford double did just enough to secure the semi-final slot.

The league campaign started early this year and it looked like it was too early for Arthurlie when they were ripped apart by the Scottish Cup holders Auchinleck and lost by four goals to nil. A semi-final was on the horizon however and at their home ground Ashfield gave a fantastic account of themselves taking Arthurlie, a division above, to penalties before a combination of great spot kicks and Neil Parry's heroics took Arthurlie to the final.

The last game in August was a case of the Barrhead side ridding themselves of the demons after last season's corresponding game being their worst performance of the season. They did better than that, winning 7-0 as Malcolm secured a hat-trick, Andrew with two and Winter and McKeown completing the rout.

September: Beith were the first opponents in September and after McKeown had added to John Johnston's goal to level the scores in the 19th minute the Lie looked good for a share of the spoils only for Beith to score in added time and win 3-2.

Adam was the solitary scorer in the victory over Bellshill while Bradford and Malcolm ensured Arthurlie finished one ahead of Lanark United as the impetus of the league campaign rose.

Frank McKeown scored the all-important goal in a night of deja vu as Arthurlie beat Shotts Bon Accord in the Sectional League Cup Final at a freezing Maryhill for the second year in a row and thus became the first side in the competitions history to defend the title.

October: Sean Bonar arrived at the club while George Wallace left for Girvan. Rob Roy left Dunterlie with a point after a stalemate at Barrhead before Adam and Dale secured a 2-1 win over Irvine Meadow at Barrhead, the club's first win over the Irvine XI since the days of Fergie Ferguson!

A short trip followed to Johnstone in the first-round of the West of Scotland Cup and the new third strip of black and pink proved the catalyst as a much changed Arthurlie side that won 4-2 as James Lundie, Malcolm and an Andrew double booked their place in the next round.

Pollok the following week proved more difficult opponents and Andrew was the solitary scorer in a 3-1 defeat.

The last day of October saw the first-round of the Scottish Cup and the long journey east to Newburgh proved worthwhile as McKeown, Andrew, and Bradford secured Arthurlie's progress by a 3-0 win.

November: November brought high-flying Largs to Barrhead and in a game they should have won. Andrews counter was cancelled out late on and another two points were dropped.

Back to the Scottish and Kirkcaldy YM held their own until deep into first-half stoppage time when Gallacher hit the opener.

Second-half strikes by Winter, Andrew, Adam, Bradford and Gallacher again gave Arthurlie an impressive 6-0 victory.

December: The snow and frost meant only one Arthurlie game took place in December - but what a game!

Goals from Andrew and McKeown put the Barrhead side on easy street until the Ayrshire side hit back with two second-half goals to end the game in a draw.

Overall, Mark Cameron's current Arthurlie side is much changed to the one he initially inherited. Not one for knee-jerk reactions, Mark and his backroom staff of Jimmy McQuade and Sammy Johnstone have pinpointed the weaknesses in their side while identifying better players for positions supporters feel they were already strong in.

Slowly but surely Arthurlie are building and the progress is very positive - 2010 could be a very interesting year for all involved.

Arthurlie are due to play Pollok at 1.45pm at home on Saturday but at time of press the game looked unlikely to go ahead due to severe weather.