Published: Wednesday, 6th May, 2009 3:49pm
Beith battered by in-form 'Lie
Beith Juniors 2 Arthurlie 6
PILE UP: Arthulie players celebrate one of six goals, stunning league contenders Beith. Picture by Robert Burns
THE enigma that is Arthurlie was in full effect on Monday night as they played title contenders Beith off the park.
In fact, the final score hardly flattered the Barrhead side who could quite easily have scored more, but for some good saves and bad misses.
Arthurlie started on a mission and won a penalty in the first 10 minutes when Lee Sharp was upended in the box. Frank McKeown stepped up and made no mistake from 12-yards.
Soon after, Beith"s Andy Reid looked to pounce on a blocked shot, but Stephen Gallacher timed his challenge to perfection and cleared the danger.
The "Lie"s Joe Andrew showed great awareness in the middle of the park to turn and send an inch perfect ball for Sharp whose left foot shot stung the fingers of Keith Ross in the Beith goal.
It was all Arthurlie now and a minute later Sharp took a quick free-kick to send Andrew racing down the wing. His cutback found John Johnston at the edge of the box, but his effort was just wide.
"Lie keeper Peter Shaw was finally called into action on the half hour mark, turning a Martin McGarvey daisy cutter past for a corner.
Five minutes before the break, Arthurlie deservedly doubled their league when James Lundie went on a rampaging run down the wing before firing across the six yard box where Craig Malcolm scrambled the ball home.
And there was still time for Malcolm to be denied three cracking chances, the first two by a fantastic double save and the third missing the target when sent clear.
With no riot act to read at half-time, Mark Cameron must have asked for more of the same in the second 45 - and they duly delivered after just nine seconds.
George Wallace, again playing in midfield, fed Malcolm who got the break of the ball before coolly slotting home and five minutes later the Barrhead support were in wonderland when Johnston netted number four.
With half an hour to go, Beith finally opened their account through a John Craig lob which caught out Shaw.
But the gap was soon back to four as Winter cut inside from the wing and fired a left foot shot which Ross could only touch onto the post and in.
The goals were flying in and the ever-dangerous Kenny McLean rose unmarked to nod home a Craig Brittain cross to pull one back.
A minute later, McLean saw another effort brilliantly saved by Shaw, but from the resulting corner Beith were awarded a penalty when John Sheridan"s goalbound shot was handled on the line.
Mclean stepped up, but crashed the ball off the underside of the bar.
Normal service was soon resumed as "Lie sub Steven Anderson showed quick feet to find space out at the corner flag and he rolled the ball into the path of Winter who fired home.
Right at the death, Andrew headed over with the goal gaping, but six was sufficient for a vital win.
Arthurlie: Shaw, Lundie, Duncan, McKeown, Gallacher, Winter, Johnston (Higgins), Wallace (Anderson), Sharp, Malcolm (Ardalany), Andrew. Subs: Kelly, McLean.
Next up is Petershill on Saturday at Dunterlie Park in the last home league match of the season, kick-off 2pm.
Season ticket holders are reminded the club AGM takes place tonight (Wednesday) in the Social Club at 7.30pm.
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