Dream start turns sour

Published 8 Apr 2010 10:02 0 Comments

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BRIGHT START: John McLay opened the scoring early on

Largs Thistle 2 Arthurlie 2

Arthurlie shared the spoils with Largs at Barrfields Park on Saturday, despite getting off to the perfect start.

John McLay had put the Barrhead side in front early on, but after losing two second half goals it took a strike from substitute John Bradford to rescue a point.

Largs went into the match on a high after last week's win over Irvine Meadow saw them reach the semi-final of the Scottish Junior Cup, where they will take on first division Clydebank.

Arthurlie, on the other, went into the encounter on an unbeaten league run that stretched five games going back to October.

The Lie started the better side and after only six minutes they took the lead.

Stephen Gallagher launched a long throw into the hosts' penalty box and up popped McLay to head past the helpless McWilliams from six yards.

Arthurlie were dominant for most of the first half and must have felt they could, and should, have added to their tally before the break.

Largs manager Sandy MacLean's team talk seemed to make a difference as a different side appeared for the second half and they levelled the game after 51 minutes.

Gordon Lappin floated a free-kick towards the back post and an unmarked Eddie Walton had the simplest of tasks to head the ball home from close-range past Neil Parry.

Largs were in the ascendancy now and went ahead four minutes later when Walton headed home after John-Paul Dow had nodded a cross back across the Arthurlie goalmouth.

But on 71 minutes, the game was level after Sean Winter launched a shot towards goal from the edge of the box.

John Bradford's out-stretched leg was enough to deflect the ball past the home goalkeeper, to the delight of the travelling support.

Bradford, who had replaced Callan Adam, became the fourth substitute in as many weeks to score an important goal.

He replicated the exploits of Stephen Anderson's winner against Shettleston, Anderson again with the second against Pollok and Alan Waddle's last gasp winner at Kilbirnie last weekend.

This result meant the sides shared the points for the second time this season following a 1-1 draw at Dunterlie in early November.

Arthurlie retain their position in second place in the league while Largs, in their first season in the top division, are safe from relegation and have a Scottish Cup semi-final to look forward to.

Team: Parry, Gallacher, Crawford, Lundie, McKeown, McLay, Winter, Johnston, Anderson, Malcolm, Adam. Subs: Andrew, Waddell, Bonar, Ardallany, Murdoch, Cannon, Bradford.

Another away trip beckons for the Barrhead side on Saturday when they travel to play Kirkintilloch Rob Roy (kick-off 2pm).

And on Wednesday April 14 Vale of Clyde visit Dunterlie Park (kick-off 6.30pm).

Thanks go to Stephen Connolly for providing the match details this week.

This article appeared in Barrhead News 07 Apr 10

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