Dominant Haws end Lie cup dream

Published 18 Feb 2010 09:36 0 Comments

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CELEBRATION: The Arthurlie players mob John McLay after the opener

By Robert Burns - Hill O'Beath 4 - Arthurlie 1

ARTHURLIE'S cup dream ended on Saturday after a second-half onslaught by Hill O'Beath.

The Fife side produced some fine football to turn the tie on its head and ease into the last eight of the Emirates Airlines Junior Cup.

Arthurlie started off the better side as they attacked down the slope at Keirs Park and after only two minutes Stuart Hall in the home goal had to be at his best to turn a Craig Malcolm snap shot away for a corner.

Callan Adam swung in the ball from the resulting award and it was flicked on at the near post by John McLay before going in off a home defender to open the scoring.

On 20 minutes Malcolm went on a mazy run that saw him skip past three tackles before going into the Hill O'Beath penalty box, but at the vital moment he lost control of the ball allowing the home defence to clear.

It was Malcolm again on 29 minutes who sent a great ball through to Sean Winter but the midfielder couldn't get his effort on target.

Arthurlie were well on top but couldn't turn their superiority into chances as the final ball was letting them down time and time again.

Just before the break they almost snatched a second however, when Joe Andrew's cross-cum-shot was agonisingly missed at the back post but the despairing lunge of Winter.

But the second half was a totally different game as the home side came out with all guns blazing and drew level eight minutes after the break.

James Lundie was adjudged to have felled Steve Bathgate inside the box and although it looked a soft award the lack of appeals from the Barrhead defenders says the referee made the right decision.

Bathgate made no mistake from the spot and with the game now level the Haws were dominant.

On the hour mark Barry Smith gathered the ball on the halfway line and ran down the wing before cutting inside, he looked up but with no obvious options open to him he chose to shoot and sent a fantastic volley into the corner of the Arthurlie net.

Two minutes later a Lundie stumble allowed Bathgate to gather the ball and it was a last ditch clearance from Stephen Gallacher that kept the game at 2-1.

In the 70th minute a mix up between Neil Parry and Steven Crawford saw the ball deflected into the path of Andrew Roberts but his sidefooted effort went wide of the unguarded goal.

Steven Anderson was introduced for Andrew and his first action in the game was farcical to say the least.

Michael Stuart was about to clear the ball from the half-way line and Anderson slid in about two yards ahead of the Haws player in an attempt to block the ball.

But as he made contact Stuart slipped and fell.

The referee raced over brandishing a red card, despite the protests of both Stuart and ex-Dunfermline midfielder Lee Dair who both pointed out no contact had been intended, or made, but the whistler brushed aside their pleas.

Two minutes later the game was over, a deep cross was headed back across goal by Kevan Boyle and Ally Gray was at the back post to nod the third home for the Haws.

Stuart burst from the middle of the park from what looked to be an offside position, he bore down on goal before trying to round Parry who pulled him to the ground and a second penalty was awarded which Bathgate duly converted.

Steven Bonar was introduced for Gallacher and Parry made a fantastic save from Gray as the game drew to a close.

The final act of the match however was to see John Johnston given a straight red card for kicking out at a home player, to add to the misery for the travelling support.

It's back to league business for Arthurlie when they travel to Kilbirnie on Saturday, kick-off 2pm.

Arthurlie: Parry, Gallacher, Crawford, Lundie, McKeown, Adam, Johnston, McLay, Malcolm, Winter, Andrew. Subs - Cannon, Anderson, Bonar, Dale, Bradford, Murdoch, Williams.

This article appeared in Barrhead News 17 Feb 10

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