Lie's last gasp cup winner

Published 18 Mar 2010 10:14 0 Comments

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GOAL HERO: Stephen Anderson

By Robert Burns - Shettleston 0 Arthurlie 1

OVER the course of every season there are always games that stand out and stay in the memory for years.

But Arthurlie's 1-0 victory over Shettleston in the second round of the West of Scotland Cup on Saturday won't stay in the memory banks for long.

They say the sign of a good team is to win when you don't play well and they certainly did that.

In fairness though the Barrhead side haven't had many games of late and given that the pitch was rock hard, meaning the ball was bobbling all over the place, the fact they have made it into the next round is all that matters.

Arthurlie were a few men short for the game with John Johnston serving the first of his two-game suspension, picked up for his red card against Hill O' Beath, while Alan Waddle and Stephen Crawford were both cup tied and Stephen Gallacher was unwell.

The home side started brightly and after seven minutes Paul Martin went on a great run down the left wing but he cut the ball back too far for the in-rushing Chris McCormack and the chance was gone.

Two minutes later Sean Winter fed Callan Adam down the left but his cross come shot went just wide of the far post. On 16 minutes a long kick from Ton keeper Steph Hutchinson found its way to Martin just outside the Arthurlie area, the forward let it bounce once before firing a half volley that just went over the top although Lie keeper Neil Parry had it covered.

After 42 minutes came the best chance of the first half.

The impressive Brian McEwan sent over a great free kick to the back post but the unmarked James McAulay couldn't find the target with his header with only Parry to beat.

In the last minute of the first period Steven Bonar sent over a cross from the right that was flicked on by John Bradford.

Winter seemed to have to wait an age for the ball to come down and his effort eventually went over the top.

The second half started with Arthurlie on the attack and after 56 minutes a Winter cutback found John McLay, but he pulled his effort wide of the target.

Three minutes later a Frank McKeown header from an Adam corner brought a great save from Hutchinson in the home goal.

And within minutes Hutchinson had to be alert again to save another McKeown header, this time from a Craig Malcolm corner.

Stephen Anderson was introduced in place of Joe Andrew as Mark Cameron tried to shake things up and minutes later Anderson got on the end of a McLay header, but his left-foot effort was high and wide.

Just after the half hour Simon West tried his luck from distance for the home side but again his effort was over the top.

McKeown sent in a long free kick with 10 minutes remaining but McLay's teasing header across goal didn't have any takers and drifted out of the park.

With eight minutes left the Barrhead side finally broke the deadlock.

A ball into the area was controlled by Bradford who laid it back into the path of Anderson and his low shot gave Hutchinson no chance in the Shettleston goal.

With time running out McLay found himself at the halfway line and after slipping the ball past the last home defender moved in on goal.

McLay knew that the defenders were closing in on him and elected to try and curl the ball around the home keeper, but Hutchinson was equal to it and made a great block.

It was that man Hutchinson again who denied Anderson right on full time as the Lie secured their passage into round three.

Arthurlie: Parry, Lundie, Adam, Duncan, McKeown, McLay, Bonar, Bradford, Andrew, Malcolm, Winter. Subs: Anderson, Cannon, Higgins, Murdoch, Williams.

It's back to league business on Saturday when local rivals Pollok visit Dunterlie, kick-off 2pm.

Arthurlie will have to raise their game to overcome their biggest rivals who are going through a tough spell at present.

Managerless, out of contention for the league and also out of the West and Scottish Junior Cup competitions, Pollok haven't won a competitive match since November 21.

According to reports they looked to be getting back to their old selves on Saturday when they drew with Auchinleck, so another challenging derby lies ahead.

For more information about the club go to www.arthurlie .com.

This article appeared in Barrhead News 17 Mar 10

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