MATCH REPORT: BELLSHILL 1-2 ARTHURLIE

Saturday 10 February 2024 14:00

Scottish Junior Cup Quarter-Final

Bellshill 1-2 Arthurlie

Scorers

Bellshill: Fraser (25)

Arthurlie: Leyden (80), Fletcher (83)

Red Card: Fraser – Bellshill (87)

Rockburn Park, Bellshill

FOUR days before Valentine’s Day, the romance of the cup was in the air as Arthurlie travelled to Bellshill to take on the WoSFL third division side in the quarter finals of the Scottish Junior Cup.

For most of the match it looked like a giant-killing was on the way, but a dramatic turnaround at the death led to the Premier Division side claiming victory and denying the fairytale to claim their place in the semis.

It proved a battle throughout for the Barrhead side, as they spent much of the game on the back foot and struggled to come to terms with their hosts despite being three divisions above them.

A bumper crowd was in attendance and after a cynical foul by Lewis Magee around 25 yards from goal, the home side had the first effort on goal in the 9th minute, Kevin Fraser getting his free kick nicely over the wall but not getting enough dip on it to trouble the target.

Two minutes later Gary Stewart did hit the target but his header after a flick on by Jack Currie was straight at Graham Black in the visiting net.

It was 17 minutes before Arthurlie managed a shot, but Conor Bolger’s long range strike sailed well over following good work from Max Kerr.

Black was called into action once again two minutes later when Currie found space in the box to send a low effort goalwards, the Arthurlie ‘keeper reacting well to save with his right foot.

There was nothing Black could do to deny Currie on 23 minutes, however, the Bellshill forward curling a beautiful shot from range towards goal only to see the ball rebound back off the right hand upright.

In the 25th minute the home side finally found the back of the net, taking a well deserved lead when Fraser made it 1-0 direct from a left wing corner.

Arthurlie struggled to make any impact in the game and Dylan McGuigan was introduced at half-time in place of Ciaran McPherson as the Premier Division side tried to find a way back into the tie.

Immediately after the restart the visitors won a corner on the right and Bryan Wharton rose well from the kick to head goalwards at the back post only to see it cleared off the line.

Five minutes later Jordan Leyden created a good chance for himself inside the box, turning two defenders inside out but blasting his effort high out of the park.

Arthurlie were pressing forward a lot more in the second half and had certainly turned the direction of play around when Mick MacNeil missed a glorious chance with 79 on the clock.

They were to be level just a minute later, however, Leyden turning home from close range following a goalmouth scramble.

Just three minutes later the visitors were ahead, substitute Dylan Fletcher being sent clear on goal and slotting home after rounding the goalkeeper.

On 87 minutes Bellshill’s chances of getting back into the game were dealt a blow when Fraser had a rush of blood and flew into a challenge on Kerr out on the wing.

Despite Kerr staying on his feet and racing into space the referee pulled play back and showed Fraser a straight red to reduce the home side to ten men.

As time ticked on Dylan Dykes was given a golden chance to finish the game, racing clear from halfway but sending a soft left footer straight at the goalie.

It wasn’t to matter though, as Bellshill looked a tired team by this stage and Arthurlie safely saw out injury time to take their place in the semi finals.

Arthurlie team: Black, Magee, MacNeil, Wharton (Bradley 69), McPherson (McGuigan 46), Kerr, Docherty (Fletcher 69), Leyden, Roulston, Bolger (Eadie 90), Dykes

Subs not used: Eadie, Anson, Clarke (GK)

Bellshill team: Hutchison, Wilson, Lee, Craig, Newton, Cherrie (Clark 77), Cowie, Fraser, Currie, Markey, Stewart

Subs not used: McDougall, Tierney, Elliott, McGrath, Thomson, Laughlin