MATCH REPORT: ARTHURLIE 1-1 GARTCAIRN

Saturday 9 March 2024 14:00

WoSFL Premier Division

Arthurlie 1-1 Gartcairn

Scorers

Arthurlie: Roulston (47)

Gartcairn: McGuigan (13)

Dunterlie Park, Barrhead

IT was back to Dunterlie this week for Arthurlie following last week’s loss at Pollok as big-spending Gartcairn made the trip to Barrhead.

The Airdrie side were sitting in eighth place coming into this match with a ‘Lie side who were looking to escape the relegation zone ahead of next week’s six-pointer at home to Troon.

After a quiet start to the game, the first chance fell the visiting side’s way on 11 minutes when Kevin Nicol won a header at the back post to set up Kieran McDonald, but the defender’s effort sailed harmlessly over from 8 yards.

Two minutes later, however, Gartcairn did take the lead, Mark McGuigan taking advantage of some shambolic defending to give Graham Black no chance from close range.

Arthurlie had a good chance to level on 19 minutes when a cross from the right found Dylan McGuigan unmarked in the box but his header drifted well over the bar.

Dylan Dykes had a sight of goal 3 minutes later but again Liam Russell in the away goal was untroubled as the first time effort flew wide following good work by Tam McGaughey.

McGaughey also tried his luck a few minutes later with an overhead kick from 20 yards but Russell easily held on to the inventive effort.

With half-time fast approaching Russell was forced into his first real action of the match, the away ‘keeper getting down well to his right to turn a Dykes free-kick round the post.

There was still time at the other end for Gartcairn to come within an whisker of a second, Scott Ferguson’s header from close range somehow being diverted round the post by the left-foot of Black.

Two minutes into the second half, the scores were level, Max Kerr finding space on the left of the box and finding Dykes free to slot past Russell into the net.

On 54 minutes Mark McGuigan came close to adding a second for the visitors when he had a pop from range, but his powerful drive was only just too high.

With 16 minutes remaining Bryan Wharton was denied by the crossbar when he turned a corner kick goalwards as the home side searched for the winner.

Two minutes later Dykes was inches away when his dipping drive from range rippled the side netting but was just the wrong side of the post.

Scott Anson and Dylan Fletcher were introduced in place of Dykes and McGaughey with Arthurlie pushing hard for a second.

Despite a couple of goalmouth scrambles, however, they couldn’t quite find the quality required to break down a stubborn Gartcairn and had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Arthurlie team: Black, Wharton, MacNeil, Bradley, Duncan, Kerr, Docherty (c), Roulston, McGuigan, Dykes (Anson 87), McGaughey (Fletcher 87)

Subs not used: Bolger, Magee, McPherson, Sugufara, Clarke (GK)

Gartcairn team: Russell, Bain, McDonald, Rumsby, Dunlop, McShane, Ferguson, Nicol (Barr 35), McGuigan, Reilly (Krol 64), Mitchell

Subs not used: Stevenson, McLaughlin, McKeown, Smith, Pirie (GK)