MATCH REPORT: IRVINE MEADOW XI 3-2 ARTHURLIE

Saturday 12 August 2023 14:00

WoSFL Premier Division

IRVINE MEADOW XI 3-2 ARTHURLIE

Scorers

Meadow: Fyfe (14), Lambert (73, 74)

Arthurlie: Own goal (36), Bolger (39)

Meadow Park, Irvine

ARTHURLIE’S troubles on the road continued on Saturday as they went down by the odd goal in five to Irvine Meadow following an inspired fightback by the North Ayrshire side.

Colin Reilly’s men had looked to be cruising to victory as they went in at half-time leading 2-1, but tiredness seemed to take its toll and they had no answer to the second-half pressure from the home side at Meadow Park.

The game had started in the way it was to go on, with the play flowing from end to end, although there were few chances in the opening stages.

Arthurlie ‘keeper Max Clarke was first called into action on 12 minutes, doing well to parry a dangerous cross from the right to keep the scores level.

Mo Sugufara continued his great start to the season for ‘Lie and he immediately caused the hosts problems at the other end, his cross narrowly going wide of the post.

On 14 minutes the home side took the lead, Stuart Fyfe grabbing the goal with a shot from inside the box.

The goal seemed to rile the visiting side, Arthurlie going on to dominate the remainder of the half, and Sugufara was again instrumental as they claimed the equaliser on 36 minutes, his cross being turned into his own net by a Medda defender.

Just three minutes later, the Barrhead men took the lead, Conor Bolger grabbing the goal.

Arthurlie missed a host of chances to finish the game off before Innes Lambert grabbed a quickfire brace on 73 and 74 minutes to give the home side a 3-2 lead.

The stretched squad, which saw skipper Gary Carroll having to come on as a second-half substitute in the second half despite carrying an injury, struggled to see the game out as the lack of options, and fresh legs, on the bench, seemed to play its part as the starting eleven tired.

Next up for Arthurlie is Glenafton at Dunterlie on Wednesday night where they will be looking to get back to winning ways to maintain their perfect home record.

Arthurlie team: Clarke, Magee, Greenwood, Docherty (c), Sugufara, Kerr, McLaughlin (Carroll), McPherson, McGuigan, Bolger, Dykes

Subs: Anderson, Carroll, Bamba, McIntyre

Meadow team: Waters, Wallace, Byrne, Lennox, Fyfe (O’Hare 46), George (O’Donnell 46), Faulds (c), Davidson, Baird, L.Kerr (Brennan 64), Lambert

Subs: Findlay, I.Kerr, Brennan, McNair, McInnes