MATCH REPORT: SAUCHIE 1-5 ARTHURLIE

SAUCHIE 1-5 ARTHURLIE

Scorer: Carroll (5, 18, 45), Own Goal (6), McGaughey (77)

ARTHURLIE made it back-to-back pre-season wins on Saturday, following Wednesday’s victory over Irvine Vics with a win away at Sauchie Juniors.

The home side had finished seventh in last season’s East of Scotland Premier Division but would prove no match for their visitors from the West.

It took ‘Lie just five minutes to open the scoring, Gary Carroll getting an excellent afternoon off to a dream start when he found the net with a low shot from inside the box.

Shortly afterwards that lead was doubled when eager pressing from Tam McGaughey forced a Sauchie defender to chip the ball over his own goalie and into the net.

Aaron Healy came close to adding a third when a trademark mazy run ended with him hitting the post, before Sauchie almost pulled one back with an effort that came back off the bar.

Carroll then grabbed his second of the match, deftly chipping the ball over the keeper on 18 minutes.

The skipper was to add a fourth on the stroke of half-time, converting coolly from the penalty spot after McGaughey had been upended in the box.

Sauchie came out for the second half looking to at least get on the scoresheet, but found James Scott equal to their best early efforts, the highlight being a good save low to his right.

On 75 minutes, Andy McLaughlin became the second ‘Lie player to hit the post, his 25-yard effort cracking off an upright following good work from Healy.

Two minutes later, however, McGaughey used the two posts to good effect, his strike from 25 yards rebounding off both of them before eventually going into the net.

A few minutes later the home side managed to pull one back after a nice set piece routine, but it wasn’t enough to put a dampener on what had been a brilliant afternoon’s work for the visitors.

Arthurlie team: Scott, Pearce, Bradley, MacNeil, Shields, McLaughlin, McGaughey, Warnock, Carroll (c), Leyden, Healy

Subs: Mackay, McLachlan, Dunsmore, Ramsay, J.Catlow, A.Catlow, Black (GK)