MATCH REPORT: ARTHURLIE 1-1 VALE OF CLYDE

Wednesday 14 August 2024 19:00

WoSFL First Division

Arthurlie 1-1 Vale of Clyde

Dunterlie Park, Barrhead

Scorers

  • Arthurlie: Bolger (13)
  • VoC: Donaghy (72)

Red Cards

  • Arthurlie: McMullin (90)
  • VoC: Donaghy (90)

AFTER the blow of defeat on Saturday against Rutherglen Glencairn, it was another tough lesson for Arthurlie on Wednesday night as Vale of Clyde left Dunterlie Park with a share of the spoils.

Ross McKenzie was introduced to the starting line-up after signing from Darvel earlier in the week, while Marc Waters and Sam Greenwood also started in a trio of changes from Saturday.

Mark Taylor saw the game’s first chance fall his way on 4 minutes, a Conor Bolger free-kick invitingly finding him in the box, but his diving header was way off target.

Five minutes later Taylor got on the end of another Bolger free-kick from deep, this time keeping his header on target but not troubling Vale goalkeeper Craig Gordon who comfortably held the effort.

Gordon was stretched more to keep it level two minutes later when Ross McKenzie sent Aaron Healy racing clear, and the ‘keeper reacted well to block the winger’s shot with his foot.

Only another minute passed, however, before the opener arrived when Healy went on a trademark mazy run begore sliding a pass to Bolger, who took one touch before curling a left-footer high into the right corner of the goal.

Bolger nearly added a second soon after, but Gordon did well to get across to an ambitious 25-yard volley from the right.

The visitors should have been level on 28 minutes, a cross from the left being diverted across goal at the back post by John McCue, and only an incredible reaction save from Marc Waters denying Paul Donaghy from close range.

McKenzie almost grabbed a debut goal on the half-hour, holding off the attention of a defender before poking past Gordon with his left-foot, but Ryan Cherrie did brilliantly to get back on the line and clear.

The second-half started in much the same fashion as the first and ‘Lie had a good opportunity in the first couple of minutes when Healy looped over a cross from the left, but Michael MacNeil’s forward run ultimately proved fruitless as he failed to get proper contact on the header and it floated into Gordon’s hands.

With 18 minutes to go, Arthurlie had fallen out of the game somewhat and the visitors grabbed a deserved equaliser, Donaghy poking home from close range after Waters had parried a shot from an angle.

Arthurlie thought they had regained the lead on 80 minutes when Sean Doherty got on the end of a Bolger free-kick to head home, but the referee blew for an offside against Lee Roulston.

With time running down and only 4 minutes to go, substitute Sam McNee almost claimed the points for Vale, getting on the end of a ball to the back post but heading just over the bar.

As injury time got underway, the game took a nasty turn as Donaghy was shown a second yellow for a bad challenge on Michael McMullin, and the Arthurlie defender was them shown a red card for something said in the aftermath.

Despite 10 minutes of additional time being added, neither team could find a winner and the game ended with them taking a point apiece.

Arthurlie team: 1. Waters (GK) 4. Roulston 5. Healy 7. Bolger 9. Brophy 16. Taylor (11. McGaughey 70) 17. MacNeil (c) 18. Doherty 20. Greenwood 23. McMullin 24. McKenzie (10. McGuigan 73)

Subs not used: 6. McEwan 22. Gordon, 26. Calder (GK)

Vale of Clyde team: 1. Gordon 2. Richardson 3. Cherrie 4. Peebles 5. McDevitt 6. Cookman 7. McCue 8. Stokes 9. Donaghy 10. Turner 11. Taylor

Subs: 12. Coyle 14. McNee 15. Fraser 16. Martin 17. O’Hare 18. Wright 19. Molloy