MATCH REPORT: ARTHURLIE 4-3 CUMNOCK JUNIORS

Saturday 29 July 2023 14:00

WoSFL Premier Division

Arthurlie 4-3 Cumnock Juniors

Scorers

Arthurlie: Coleman o.g. (30, 78), Dykes (32, 73)

Cumnock: McGaughey (45), Moore (54), Buchanan (64)

Dunterlie Park, Barrhead

It was the opening day of the West of Scotland Premier Division on Saturday as Cumnock Juniors were the visitors at Dunterlie Park.

And it was quite the start that was served up for the healthy crowd that showed up in the mixed conditions, as a goal-fest was served up on the pitch, while heavy showers were followed by bright sunshine, and vice versa, off it.

Former Arthurlie man Tam McGaughey went close just a couple of minutes in with a free kick that Max Clarke, making his competitive debut for ‘Lie, did well to paw wide.

Clarke was called into action again soon after to turn another stinging drive past the post for a corner.

On 17 minutes the visitors came close when Jamie McKernon whipped in a corner from the left, seeing his kick crash off the post and deflect wide off Lewis Magee.

The clearer chances were falling the way of Cumnock but it was a very even game in the opening 25, swinging from end to end, as Arthurlie just failed with the final pass on a number of occasions.

On the half hour they did find that bit of luck that had been missing, however, Mo Sugufara being played into space on the right and his low cross being diverted into his own net by Keirin Coleman.

Two minutes later, ‘Lie doubled the lead, Dylan Dykes persistence paying off as he won the ball 20 yards out and slammed home a low right-footer that seemed to catch Jamie Barclay by surprise.

With 45 minutes on the clock Magee had an opportunity to make it 3-0, but his shot from an angle sailed just over the bar.

It was a miss that was to be punished as the visitors immediately went up the park and pulled a goal back, McGaughey getting in at the back post to head home a cross from the right.

Cumnock pulled the scores back level 9 minutes after the restart when a free-kick from deep was knocked back across goal and somehow eluded everyone barring Jordan Moore who easily tapped home.

Ten minutes later the Ayrshire men took the lead, Jamie Conn’s cross being met by a diving header from Robert Buchanan six yards out.

Arthurlie nearly levelled the scores a few minutes later but Dylan McGuigan’s shot from a Mark Docherty corner was somehow diverted over the bar by Cumnock.

On 73 minutes the scores were level, though, the referee awarding a penalty following a melee in the box, and Dykes sending Barclay the wrong way from the spot.

Five minutes passed before Colin Reilly’s side regained the lead with almost a replica of the first goal, Sugufara sending in a cross from the right and Coleman diverting it into his own goal.

It was to prove the clincher in what had been a brilliant contest as, despite some late Cumnock pressure, Arthurlie held on for the three points to make the perfect start to the new season.

Arthurlie team: Clarke, Greenwood, Magee, Docherty (c), Sugufara, Kerr, McLaughlin, Roulston (Trialist 65), McGuigan, Bolger, Dykes

Subs not used: Bamba, Strain

Cumnock team: Barclay, Sewell, Kelly (Carnwath 76), Coleman, Dickie, McKernon (Veitch 80), Conn, Frye (c), Moore, Buchanan, McGaughey (McGinty 76)

Subs not used: Trialist, Wilson, Strain