Lie raise game on flag day

Published 26 Aug 2010 09:30 0 Comments

Share this

click to enlarge
RISE TO CHALLENGE: Keeper Parry takes a cross in comanding fashion

Beith 0 Arthurlie 0

ARTHURLIE showed Beith they want to snatch their Super Premier League crown as they held last season’s champions to a draw in their opener at Bellsdale Park.

Saturday’s match was preceded with the unfurling of the championship flag by Scottish Juniors secretary Tom Johnston before Arthurlie applauded the reigning champions on to the field.

But when the referee started the game Arthurlie went straight down to business and made it clear the Ayrshire side were in for a battle.

And in the first minutes a cross from Stephen McKeown saw John McLay and Stevie O’Neil challenge for the ball with the Beith keeper landing awkwardly and requiring lengthy treatment.

A dislocated pinkie finger was the result and although he managed to play for the remainder of the game his injury will see him on the sidelines for a few weeks by all accounts.

On 11 minutes Beith had their first opportunity when a corner was only half cleared and fell to Joe Bradley who showed his full array of skills to get away from Robert Walker before sending over a fantastic cross that Derek McCulloch headed just over.

Five minutes later John Johnston was caught in possession inside his own half and the ball was quickly fed into John Craig who should have done better than blasting over the top.

Just before the half hour there were further signs that the new Arthurlie front two of Denis McLaughlin and John Paul Boyle were forging a better understanding game by game when McLaughlin laid a ball into the path of Boyle whose shot was blocked.

It’s still early days for the front pair but they look like once they get their match fitness and understanding up they will have a lot of goals in them.

Shortly afterwards good interplay between the Beith midfield saw O’Keane taking the ball wide before firing a great shot across goal which Neil Parry did well to gather at the first attempt.

The sides went in all square at half time and the same theme continued into the second half.

The game came to life again in the final 10 minutes however when Bradley was denied.

Moments later substitute John Bradford couldn’t get enough power on a header at the other end.

Bradford had another effort just before the death but the game ended up all square which on reflection was the right result.

Arthurlie: Parry, Miller, Walker, Merriman, F McKeown, McLay, S McKeown, Keenan, McLaughlin, Boyle, Johnston. Subs: Bradford, Crawford, Adam, Lundie, Bisset, Ardellany, Bonar.

On Saturday Arthurlie entertain Rutherglen Glencairn at Dunterlie Park on league business, kick-off 2pm.

This article appeared in Barrhead News 25 Aug 10

Follow @barrheadnews

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.