MATCH REPORT: GLENAFTON 1-0 ARTHURLIE

By Ross Lafferty

Glenafton 1-0 Arthurlie

THE second week of the Premier League campaign saw a second defeat for Arthurlie, this time away to Glenafton, following last week’s loss to Clydebank.

But Craig Palmer’s men can certainly be pleased with their efforts again, losing by a single goal in a match in which they gave as good as they got, and were denied by the woodwork on two occasions.

Glenafton had got out the blocks well in the match and immediately put Garry Black’s goal under threat with an early shot from distance.

And it was the home side who took the lead on 8 minutes, cutting through the middle of the Arthurlie defence before their number 9 was played in to slot home.

They could have doubled that advantage just a couple of minutes later but Black managed to safely collect following a goalmouth scramble.

It was only towards the end of the opening half hour that the visitors started to find a foothold in the game, Aaron Healy having a couple of good runs and Dale Simeon seeing a shot deflected wide from just inside the box.

On 37 minutes the Glens goalkeeper was called into action but he easily held a Jordan Leyden shot that had come from an Arthurlie corner.

The first half finished with attacks going from end to end and this continued into the second half as ‘Lie chased an equaliser and Glens hit them on the break.

Jordan Leyden headed goalwards on 57 minutes but the effort was safely held by the home goalkeeper.

Two minutes later Leyden did nearly find a leveller, his shot coming back off the post before Simeon sliced the rebound wide.

Glenafton were always a threat and Conor Bradley made a last ditch tackle to deny them on the break before they had a header go just over from a corner.

Andy McLaughlin, Healy and Gary Carroll combined to set up Lee Roulston for a shot that went just wide on 73 minutes before the woodwork again denied Arthurlie 2 minutes later.

It was Leyden once again coming close, but this time it was the bar denying him from a free kick after Carroll was fouled just outside the box.

Healy was denied with 10 minutes remaining, another mazy run ending with a shot that forced the goalkeeper into a smart save.

With time running out Glens broke up the park once more, Jordan Leyden needing to commit a cynical challenge to deny them an opportunity for which he received a yellow card.

But despite the efforts from Arthurlie the equalising goal wasn’t to come and the home team held on for the points.

Arthurlie team: Black, Dunsmore (Roulston 64), Bradley (Elrick 79), Pearce, Magee, McLaughlin, McGaughey (Miller 64), Leyden, Carroll, Simeon, Healy

Subs not used: McLachlan, Ross, Scott (GK)