MATCH REPORT: ARTHURLIE 0-3 DARVEL

Saturday 18 November 2023 13:30

WoSFL Premier Division

Arthurlie 0-3 Darvel

Scorers: J.Moore (1, 9), G.Wilson (80)

Dunterlie Park, Barrhead

IT was finally back to home action for Arthurlie on Saturday as Darvel made the trip to Barrhead for Dunterlie’s first action since September 30th.

The homecoming they received was far from welcoming on this occasion though, as a combination of the miserable wet weather and clinical Darvel finishing made this an afternoon to forget for Colin Reilly’s side.

It was the worst possible start for Arthurlie as the visitors took the lead within 60 seconds, Jordan Moore being released on the left and showing great composure to slide the ball past Max Clarke.

From kick-off the home side went straight on the attack and Conor Bolger was unlucky to see his goalbound left-footed strike deflected wide for a corner.

It was all the away side in the early stages of the match, however, and they doubled their lead on 9 minutes when Jordan Moore took advantage of a calamity at the back, racing on to a loose pass by Conor Bradley and slotting under the onrushing Clarke for his second.

Conditions weren’t making things easy for either team and the game became more scrappy as the half moved on.

Seeking his hat-trick, Moore lashed a shot wide from 20 yards on 22 minutes and Mark Docherty sent one over the bar at the other end a minute later as ‘Lie desperately looked for a way back into the game.

Clarke was called into action on 34 minutes when a quick Darvel counter led to the ball falling at the feet of Craig Moore, but the home goalie stood up well to parry the visiting attacker’s powerful effort.

After a slow start to the second half, it was the home side who carved out the first real chance, Dylan Fletcher finding space inside the box but seeing Andrew Leishman save with a degree of ease.

Arthurlie were certainly finding more space in the second period, and on 65 minutes they should have had a goal back when Max Kerr crossed for Dylan Dykes, who saw his header come back off a defender when the goal looked at his mercy.

The drama wasn’t over there, however, and Jordan Leyden saw his effort from the rebound well blocked before seeming to be pulled down with the ball still running loose, only to see the referee somehow award a free-kick to Darvel.

At the other end, Leon Murphy had a good chance on 75 minutes to put the game well out of Arthurlie’s reach but his left-footer was well saved by the feet of Clarke.

Five minutes later, the away side did have a third when substitute Graham Wilson saw his cross deflected over the head of Clarke and drop into the far corner of the net to put the seal on a convincing win.

Arthurlie team: Clarke, MacNeil, Wharton, Bradley, McPherson (Sugufara 26), Kerr, Docherty (c) (Anson 78), Leyden, Fletcher, Bolger, Dykes

Subs not used: McCallum, Mallon (GK)

Darvel team: Leishman, Baird, Bronsky, Syme, Sideserf, Hutton, Aitken (Cairns 69), Caldwell, Murphy, C.Moore (G.Wilson 69), J.Moore

Subs not used: A.Wilson, Brown, O’Halloran, Paterson, Ronney