WoSFL Conference A

ARTHURLIE 5-0 SALTCOATS VICTORIA

By Ross Lafferty

LEAGUE leaders Arthurlie continued to set records as they swept aside struggling Saltcoats Victoria at a blustery Dunterlie Park.

A 5-0 win not only gained ‘Lie another three points in the race for the Conference A title, but it also saw them better two long-standing club records.

The result marked 20 straight wins for Andy McFadyen’s men and also 27 games unbeaten, beating the club’s previous best runs from season 93-94.

It didn’t all quite go to plan though as Storm Malik made for difficult conditions and they had to play for an hour with ten men after captain Gary Carroll was red-carded.

But by the time Carroll left the pitch, Arthurlie were already two goals to the good, and it could have been more as Lee Roulston had a header cleared off the line and Gary Smith and Kevin McFarlane both missed good opportunities from close range in the opening quarter of an hour.

The opener did arrive in the 17th minute when Smith had the goal shaking after cracking a right-footed shot off the goalkeeper’s left-hand post and Michael MacNeil latched on to the loose ball and sent the ball into the bottom corner from 18 yards.

Three minutes later MacNeil’s defensive partner, McFarlane, also got himself on the scoresheet, turning home a Jordan Leyden cross from six yards.

On the half hour came Carroll’s red-card, the Arthurlie skipper receiving his marching orders after some loose words in the referee’s direction.

Despite being a man down, the home side continued to dominate and should have added a third at the start of the second half, Smith dragging his shot wide after being sent clear by Leyden.

Shortly afterwards a third was added though, with Roulston getting himself among the scorers.

Another goal was ruled out for offside and Saltcoats came close with a couple of headers before Tam McGaughey sent a shot across the face of goal following good work on the right by Smith.

McGaughey came close again on 71 minutes with a curler from the edge of the box that was turned wide by Scott Watson in the Saltcoats goal.

With nine minutes remaining, however, McGaughey did get his goal, being sent clear and rounding the goalie before slotting home with his right-foot.

And with two minutes remaining, Smith finally got in on the action as well, adding the fifth goal to complete the scoring.

Arthurlie team: Scott, Zeb, Mackay (Chalmers 63), McFarlane (Brogan 70), MacNeil, Leyden (O’Hare 73), Carroll, Roulston, McLaughlin, McGaughey, Smith

Subs: Bradley, Nolan, Herd, Kerr

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