MATCH REPORT: KILSYTH RANGERS 0-4 ARTHURLIE

Saturday 2 September 2023 14:30

Scottish Junior Cup 1st Round

KILSYTH RANGERS 0-4 ARTHURLIE

Scorers: Bolger (6), McGuigan (40, 69), Dykes (90)

Duncansfield Park, Kilsyth

ARTHURLIE booked their place in the Scottish Junior Cup Second Round with a resounding victory over Kilsyth Rangers at Duncansfield Park on Saturday.

As a reward for the win they will face a trip to Forfar United in that next round, after the East coast side saw off Saltcoats Vics in their first round tie.

Despite the scoreline at Kilsyth, however, the Barrhead men were made to work hard for their goals against an energetic side three tiers below them in the West of Scotland League.

After a frantic start to the game the first chance fell to Dylan Fletcher on 5 minutes when he turned a Lee Roulston cross towards goal, but Danny McLean in the Rangers goal easily saved.

A minute later Arthurlie did take the lead, a smart Dylan Dykes pass out wide finding Conor Bolger, who drove into the box and sent a low shot into the far corner.

The goal seemed to spark the home team into life and Michael McKinven, on his competitive debut, had to react smartly to turn an effort wide a couple of minutes later.

Kilsyth were dealt a blow on 28 minutes when Scott Brodie was forced off with an injury and had to be replaced by Tony Kerr.

Godwin Kangni-Soupke was another making his full Arthurlie debut and he was posing problems for Kilsyth anytime he picked the ball up on the left wing.

On 35 minutes he sent a great low ball whistling across goal, just needing any kind of touch from an attacker, but it was turned wide for a corner at the backpost.

From the resulting corner Roulston headed over from 8 yards out after rising well.

Two minutes later, at the other end of the park, Max Kerr had to be sharp to head away a dangerous Connor Hamilton cross that had sailed out of reach of McKinven.

Kangni-Soupke was again instrumental on 40 minutes as Arthurlie doubled their lead, the diminutive winger taking a touch before sending over a teasing cross that Dylan McGuigan headed home at the back post.

The game should have been put to bed 7 minutes after the break when McGuigan sent Dylan Fletcher racing clear. The striker seemed in two minds, however, about passing across goal to hand Kangni-Soupke a tap-in, and dragged his shot past the post.

McKinven had to be at his best on 68 minutes when Jack Walsh sent over a cross for Ryan Milne, the visiting keeper getting down well to save the striker’s header.

The win was effectively sealed on 69 minutes when ‘Lie added a third, McGuigan tapping into an empty net after Bolger had saw his shot parried back out by McLean.

After an entertaining and high-energy game, both teams seemed to tire and the quality on show took a drop as a result.

There was just enough left in the tank, however, for Arthurlie to add one more, deep into injury time, Dylan Dykes nodding home a McGuigan cross from close range.

Arthurlie team: McKinven, Roulston, Magee, MacNeil, Kerr, Leyden (c), Kangni-Soupke (Bradley 84), McGuigan, Bolger, Dykes, Fletcher (Sugufara 55)

Subs not used: McPherson, Docherty, Clarke (GK)

Kilsyth team: McLean, Waters, Walsh, Black, Campbell (Stewart 74), A.Smith, P.Smith, Brodie (Kerr 28), Hamilton (Milne), Hampson (Prentice), Chaudry (Maher 70)

Subs not used: Brady, Armstrong