LIE MISS CHANCE TO TOP THE TABLE

Published 7 Oct 2009 15:19 0 Comments

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Arthurlie...0 Kirkintilloch Rob Roy...0

Arthurlie missed the chance to go joint top of the league on Saturday when they drew a blank at home against Kirkintilloch Rob Roy.

A nothing each draw always sounds like a game bereft of goalmouth action but Saturday's match was far from that.

In the very first minute Craig Malcolm hit a shot on the turn inside the Rob Roy box that went just wide.

On nine minutes Paul McQuilken burst through the centre of the home defence, but Craig Parry dived low to his right to touch the ball to safety.

McQuilken was involved again two minutes later when his overhead kick found former Lie man Brian Wardle, but he couldn't get his header on target.

Parry had to be alert again to block an effort on 14 minutes but the rebound broke to Michael Hughes, who shot past the Barrhead keeper only for Frank McKeown to pop up on the line and clear the danger.

Callan Adam had an effort well saved by Kevin Bell on 16 minutes as the game swung from end to end.

It was Adam again who pulled the best from Bell as his 24th-minute header looked goal bound until the Rab's keeper touched it round the post.

Malcolm went close at the other end as the Barrhead side looked to continue their impressive start to the season but again he couldn't break the deadlock.

Right on half time the home side looked to have taken the lead.

A long cross found John McLay in the middle and he headed home past the helpless Bell - only to see the assistant referee flag for an infringement.

Whether Adam was adjudged to be offside and interfering with play or McLay was thought to have fouled the Rob Roy defender when he jumped for the ball is debatable, but the sides went in at the interval all square. Arthurlie had a perfect chance to go ahead in the 53rd minute when they were awarded a penalty, but McKeown's low effort to the keeper's right

was brilliantly saved by Bell and the status quo remained.

Sean Winter had an effort after being played in by Joe Andrew after 23 minutes and the home side could and should have been awarded another spot kick on 35 minutes when substitute Stephen Anderson was scythed down inside the box.

The fact that the Rab's defender would have had to be shown a red card for a last-man challenge,

possibly swayed the referee's decision as he waved away claims for the award - to the dismay of the home support and the fury of the Arthurlie players and management.

The game ended all square and the plus point for Arthurlie is another clean sheet - their seventh of the season already.

Next up is the visit of reigning Super League Champions Irvine Meadow on Saturday to Dunterlie Park, kick off 2pm.

After four consecutive league defeats by the Meadow plus last season's loss in the Evening Times Cup, Arthurlie will be going all out to gain their first win over the Ayrshire side since their West of Scotland cup victory in 1995-96.

Arthurlie: Parry, Lundie, Dale, Higgins, McKeown, Adam, Johnston, McLay, Malcolm, Winter, Andrew. SUBS: Duncan, Ardallany, Gallacher, Cannon, Murdoch, Sharp, Anderson.

This article appeared in Barrhead News 07 Oct 09

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