SCORELINE NO LIE AS BENBURN BATTERED

Published 5 Aug 2009 17:26

Arthurlie 3 Benburb 0

ARTHURLIE got their season off to the perfect start by battering Benburb in the opening tie in the defence of the Sectional League Cup.

Goals from John Bradford, Lee Sharp and Craig Malcolm were the difference between the sides although on play the Barrhead men could and should have added a few more to their tally.

Lie stared off well, showing intricate movement and passing and it was only a matter of time before they would break Benburb down.

And they almost done so on six minutes with their first effort on goal.

A long punt from defence was only half cleared by the Benburb backline and Bradford latched on to the ball but his half-volley didn't cause Joe Ghattas in the Bens goal any problems.

Arthurlie finally broke the deadlock on 34 minutes. Sharp went on a run down the left flank before hitting the by-line.

Bens full-back Brian Imrie went to close down Sharp, who left the defender for dead, before floating an inch-perfect cross to Bradford to fire the ball home.

A minute later it was 2-0, Sharp raced down the left wing before cutting inside Imrie and from an acute angle he fired in an unstoppable shot that flew past Ghattas at his near post.

In the last minute of the first half Ghattas pulled off a fantastic save to deny Bradford whose half-volley looked a certain goal.

Arthurlie started the second half as they finished the first.

Bradford sent over a great cross in 54 minutes and Craig Malcolm rose highest to head home but the referee chalked off his effort.

Malcolm wasn't to be denied though and a minute later he chased a pass-back into the Bens area and when Ghattas took a fresh-air kick at the ball he was left to just tap the ball home to make it 3-0.

With the game won, Mark Cameron rang the changes with Callan Adam, Joe Andrew, and Sean Winter replacing James Lundie, a trialist and Bradford during ten second-half minutes.

Arthurlie had the last chance of the game when with three minutes remaining when Stephen Anderson broke clear on the right but chose to shoot when a square ball to the unmarked Andrew seemed the better option.

ARTHURLIE: Parry, Lundie, Higgins, Duncan, Gallacher, Anderson, Trialist, McLay, Sharp, Malcolm, Bradford.

Subs: McKeown, Adam, Johnston, Andrew, Winter, Trialist.

Next up for Arthurlie in the Sectional League Cup is a local derby with Neilston at Dunterlie Park tonight (Wednesday) 7pm kick off.

This Saturday it's a short trip to Glasgow to face St Anthony's. The kick off is at 2pm.

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This article appeared in Barrhead News 05 Aug 09

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