West of Scotland Football League Cup (Preliminary round) 

ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS 0 ARTHURLIE 5

By Frank Cassidy

IT was an unfamiliar looking Arthurlie team who took to the field for this rearranged cup tie.

And there was also a different than usual start to the match as the visitors came under attack with keeper Garry Black called into early action.

He touched a Sean Mears shot round the post with the resulting corner swung inwards and just over the bar.

Another corner, taken by Rhys Devlin, found Aiden Ferris who headed just past, before Arthurlie took a 19th minute lead.

In their first real attack Dale Simeon outpaced several defenders and sent in a low cross which Gary Carroll met perfectly.

As Arthurlie increased the pressure, David Mackay pinpointed a ball into the heart of the penalty box but Andy McLaughlin and Nad Zeb were crowded out.

Another rapid-fire passing move between several players ended with a Zeb cross being nodded inches wide by Simeon.

Winton continued to press for an equaliser and only a tremendous save by Black, from an Andy McGregor header, kept the score 1-0.

Within two minutes it was 2-0, though, as The ‘Lie swept forward at pace with the final touch coming from Mackay who set up Carroll to double the lead.

Winton started the second half as they had begun the match with an attack but Black was alert to the danger with another excellent stop from a Ryan Morrow piledriver.

Once again, this proved to be a vital save as Simeon took advantage of some slack defending in 49 minutes and gratefully made it 3-0.

He doubled his tally when he headed home a Keiran Chalmers cross from what looked like an impossible position, inches off the ground.

Black’s successful debut continued with a save, which he made look so easy, but had been hammered in with some force by Ferris.

Arthurlie were now in full flow and Jordan Leyden was unlucky not to score while Lee Roulston and Zeb also came close.

Number five was inevitable and it was McLaughlin who finished well after an unselfish assist from Simeon with five minutes remaining.

ARTHURLIE – Black; Chalmers, Mackay, Pearce (Nolan 5), McFarlane, McLaughlin, Zeb, Leyden, Carroll (MacLeod 78), Simeon, Ramsay (Roulston 62).

Sub not used – Scott (G/K)

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