MATCH REPORT: TROON 1-2 ARTHURLIE

Saturday 16 November 2024 14:00

South Challenge Cup R4

Troon 1-2 Arthurlie

Scorers

Troon: Baird (65)

Arthurlie: Roulston (10, 41)

Portland Park, Troon

ARTHURLIE carried on their excellent cup record this season with a win over Troon at Portland Park to see them though to the last 16 of the South Challenge Cup.

In blustery conditions both teams had hopeful efforts from distance as they looked to test the goalkeepers early on.

Arthurlie goalkeeper Marc Waters had a comfortable early save before tipping a Lewis Jamieson effort kust wide on 8 minutes.

One minute later, however, ‘Lie took the lead as Troon struggled to clear into the wind and Lee Roulston slammed home from the edge of the box.

A few minutes later, Ross McKenzie was inches away from an almost identical second, the ball whistling past Dale Burgess’s right-hand upright.

On 37 minutes Tam McGaughey came close to making it 2-0, receiving a deflected Aaron Healy cutback in the box, but Burgess made a brilliant instinctive save to deflect his left-footer wide for a corner.

A second was added in great style on 41 minutes, however, when McGaughey and McKenzie linked up well to set up Roulston for his brace with a curling effort into the far right corner from 12 yards.

Seven minutes into the second half Healy came close to adding a third, creating space for himself inside the box before driving a low left footer towards the bottom right corner, but Burgess did well to block with his feet.

On 62 minutes Healy came close again, cutting in from the left but seeing his right-footer rebound back off the left-hand post with Burgess beaten.

Three minutes later the home side reduced the deficit to a single goal, Jamie Gallagher floating in a ball from the right and Nathan Baird doing brilliantly to turn home acrobatically.

Mick MacNeil almost restored the two goal advantage on 74 minutes, heading a corner goalwards, but Burgess did well to parry away from goal.

Troon were piling on the pressure in search of the equaliser, but with 7 minutes to go, substitute Mark Taylor had a golden opportunity to finish the game when he was put through on goal, but the big striker put his effort straight at Burgess and it was turned away to safety.

Healy had another go as Arthurlie countered as the clock ran down and it was to be the final action of a hard-fought match with Arthurlie claiming their place in the next round.

Arthurlie team: 1. Waters, 4. Roulston, 5. MacNeil (c), 7. Bolger, 8. Leyden, 10. Healy, 11. McGaughey (9. Taylor 70) 14. McGregor, 15. Carey, 18. McKenzie (12. McGuigan 70), 20. Greenwood

Subs not used: 2. Sinclair, 6. Doherty, 16. McEwan, 21. Anson, 26. Calder (GK)

Troon team: 1. Burgess, 2. Bronsky, 5. Smith, 6. Sherrie, 9. Jamieson, 10. Gilroy (11. Logan 72), 12. Veitch, 14. Fulton, 15. Morrison (c), 19. Gallagher, 20. Baird (17. Viviani 83)

Subs not used: 3. McCloskey, 4. El-Zubaidi, 16. Wharton, 18. Brennan, 21. Harkins (GK)