MATCH REPORT: ARTHURLIE 2-1 BENBURB

Saturday 5 August 2023 14:00

WoSFL Premier Division

Arthurlie 2-1 Benburb

Scorers

Arthurlie: Dykes (2, 37 pen)

Benburb: Purdue (3)

Dunterlie Park, Barrhead

ARTHURLIE made it two home wins from two with a hard-fought for victory over Benburb at Dunterlie on Saturday.

Following the midweek defeat at Rob Roy Colin Reilly’s side were looking to bounce back and build on last week’s win against Cumnock.

They started slowly, however, and the visitors flew out the blocks, taking the lead after only 3 minutes when Max Clarke parried a free-kick on to the head of Jack Purdue for the opener.

Benburb came close to doubling that lead 8 minutes later but Clarke made a great save, tipping over Ryan McCrone’s header from close range.

Clarke was called into action again soon after, parrying wide Dylan Coll’s drive from the edge of the box.

The scores were leveled on 20 minutes, Dylan Dykes grabbing his third of the season from close range after a scramble in the box.

Arthurlie were then given the chance to take the lead on 37 minutes, Dykes sent tumbling in the box after a Conor Bolger free-kick had caused confusion in the Benburb defence.

From the resulting spot-kick, Dykes made no mistake, giving the goalkeeper “the eyes” and calmly slotting home his fourth of the season into the bottom right corner.

The second half followed a familiar pattern for much of the opening half-hour with Bens having plenty of the ball, but not providing much of a threat in front of goal.

Arthurlie always looked to be in control, but it was 75 minutes before they had their first real opening of the second period and it took an excellent intervention from Coll to deny Mo Sugufara the opportunity from a Jordan Leyden cross at the back post.

Leyden and Lee Roulston both had efforts from range as the final whistle approached and the home side saw out the game comfortably to secure the points.

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

Subs not used: Bamba, McPherson, McCamley, Malcolm, McGowan

Benburb team: Law, Halliday, Coll, Livingston, Doyle, Fraser (Cruden), Purdue, Smith (Convery), McDonald, Black, McCrone (Lovering)

Subs not used: Bow, Clark, Menzies, Hay