MATCH REPORT: ARTHURLIE 6-0 BELLSHILL

By Ross Lafferty

ARTHURLIE 6-0 BELLSHILL

WOSFL Conference A Champions Arthurlie rounded off their home league fixtures in fine style, running out comprehensive winners against a makeshift Bellshill side at Dunterlie Park.

On a sunny spring evening in Barrhead The ‘Lie carried on as they have done all season, setting new milestones and extending their incredible unbeaten league record.

It was only 5 minutes before the Champions were in front, Alan Dunsmore getting forward from his right-back position and cutting the ball back from the byline for Dale Simeon to score.

Dunsmore’s full-back on the opposite side, Dave Mackay, tried to get in on the act as well on 8 minutes but his shot from 25 yards failed to trouble the Bellshill goal.

A couple minutes later, Dunsmore and Simeon again linked up but this time the forward’s headed effort was straight at the goalkeeper.

It was Simeon’s turn to play provider on 12 minutes, setting up Darren Ramsay to score what was Arthurlie’s 100th league goal of the season.

The home side were dominant and Lee Roulston should have added a third after 16 minutes, but his shot from inside the area went high over the bar.

It was 24 minutes before Bellshill had an effort on goal but Garry Black was equal to the 25-yarder and safely held on to the ball.

And 4 minutes later ‘Lie added a third, Michael MacNeil turning home an Aaron Healy corner with a trademark header.

The fourth was added soon after, Simeon with a fantastic touch from a Tam McGaughey pass, putting himself clear on goal and coolly slotting home into the bottom corner.

Healy was unlucky not to grab a fifth a couple of minutes later, ghosting past the Bellshill right-back but seeing his shot well blocked by the goalkeeper.

Healy was taken off 5 minutes after the break, perhaps with one eye on the development squad’s Lowland league cup Quarter-Final tie at Auchinleck on Friday night, and his replacement, Kris Amponsah, made an instant impact, running on to McGaughey’s through ball and stroking the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper.

That goal was ‘Lie’s 150th in all competitions this season, and on 78 minutes they added the 151st.

Substitute Kris Gebbie, having replaced the injured Callum Nolan, played a long diagonal from his own half and Ramsay ran on to the ball before lashing a first-time left-footed effort high into the net.

With the clock running down Bellshill came close to grabbing a consolation but Black pulled off a great save to turn the ball over for a corner.

Paul O’Hare then looked to be on for a seventh in injury time but tried to square the ball and the pass was cut out by the Bellshill defence.

When the resulting corner was swung in the referee blew the final whistle and drew to a close what has been a momentous 21/22 league season at Dunterlie.

Arthurlie team: Black, Dunsmore, Mackay, Nolan (Gebbie 75), MacNeil, Leyden (c), McGaughey (O’Hare 65), Roulston, Simeon, Healy (Amponsah 50), Ramsay

Subs not used: Gebbie, Chalmers, Bradley, MacLeod, Scott (GK)