MATCH REPORT: ARTHURLIE 3-0 ST. CADOC’S

Saturday 24 February 2024 14:00

WoSFL Premier Division

Arthurlie 3-0 St. Cadoc’s

Scorers: Kerr (10), Docherty (39), Bradley (53)

Dunterlie Park, Barrhead

FOLLOWING last week’s battling draw with Pollok it was another derby at Dunterlie this Saturday as East Renfrewshire rivals St. Cadoc’s were the visitors.

The away side were riding high in the league coming into the game, sitting fourth, 9 points behind leaders Clydebank, but with 3 games in hand.

After a tentative start to the game Conor Bradley took it upon himself to try and lift things, picking up the ball deep into his own half before proceeding on a driving run that ended with a shot from the edge of the box being deflected just wide.

Arthurlie seemed to be sparked by this, and two minutes later they were ahead, Tam McGaughey picking the ball up on the right and sending a pinpoint cross to the back post for Max Kerr to bullet home a header from close range.

On 26 minutes another incisive move involving McGaughey nearly doubled the lead, the forward playing in Jordan Duncan on the right and his cross finding Dylan Dykes whose header was deflected just over the bar.

It was 34 minutes before St. Cadoc’s had a clear opportunity, and it should have been an equaliser, Neil McLaughlin finding himself in acres of space 8 yards from goal but heading wide of the target.

The home side went straight up the park from the resulting goal-kick and Dykes curled an effort narrowly past the right post after cutting inside from the left.

It was proving to be as good a first-half performance as ‘Lie have probably managed this season and they added a deserved second on 39 minutes when skipper Mark Docherty sent a beautiful chip over the head of Max Carrie and in off the bar.

At the start of the second half the visitors made a brace of changes to try and find a way back into the game, Gary Muir and Kyle Munro coming on for Gary Miller and Reece McGuire.

Much like the first 45 though, it was a slow start to the second period until Bradley decided to take some action.

“Gummy” picked up the ball inside his own half and drove forward from the left-back position, bursting past four opposition players before unleashing an unstoppable left-foot drive from 25-yards into the top left corner to make it 3-0.

The Goal of the Season competition is officially over!

It was a controlling performance in the second half from Arthurlie and they were restricting the visitors to very little in the way of opportunities in attacking areas.

On 79 minutes Jordan Leyden very nearly added a fourth with a free-kick from 25-yards but he saw his right-footer rebound back off the left-hand upright.

It wasn’t until the 85th minute that St. Cadoc’s really troubled Graham Black in the ‘Lie goal, Gary Muir having a pop from distance but seeing the Barrhead goalie parry the ball away to safety.

Substitute Scott Anson had a shot safely held by Currie as the clock ran down, but there was to be no further drama as Arthurlie safely clinched a three goal victory to boost their hopes of safety and dent their visitors title hopes at the same time.

Arthurlie team: Black, Magee, MacNeil, Bradley (McPherson 84), Duncan, Kerr, Docherty (c), Leyden, McGuigan, McGaughey (Fletcher 84), Dykes (Anson 84)

Subs not used: Eadie, Sugufara, Wharton, Clarke (GK)

St. Cadoc’s team: Currie, Taylor, McIlDuff, McKillen, Lithgow (c), Miller (Muir 46), McGuire (Munro 46), Brady, McTaggart, McManus (Malcolm 62), McLaughlin

Subs not used: Hughes, Slattery, Fellowes, Truesdale (GK)