Glenafton bid for Boxing Day bash of champs

Dec 26 2008

GLENAFTON are trying to pull a Christmas cracker by hitting champions Pollok with a Boxing Day bash.

The two teams have agreed to bring forward this weekend's clash by 24 hours and will lock horns at Loch Park at 1.45pm on Friday.

Glens, who lost their unbeaten league record when they fell 2-1 at Auchinleck, believe they can cash in with a big holiday crowd.

And with Pollok losing their 100 per cent run to Arthurlie, Gordon Dalziel's men are primed to turn up the heat at the top of the Premier Division.

Glens, who had Jamie Doyle sent off three minutes before the interval, were hanging on grimly for a point when former Ayr United kid Craig Pettigrew buried a screamer right at the death.

Danny McKelvie had got Talbot off to a seventh minute flier but Glens hit back through Gordon Moffat on the stroke of the break. Talbot missed a hatful of chances and sent on subs David Gillies and Gary Phillips for Colin Spence and Kris Doolan.

But just when Glens looked like grinding out a point, Pettigrew came up trumps with the winner which lifts Talbot above big spenders Irvine Meadow. Glens have transfer listed Stuart Tullis at his own request.

IRVINE MEADOW’S fading title hopes were finally extinguished with a 1-1 draw away to leaders Petershill.

Former Ayr United striker Andy McLaren headed home a Mark Crilly free-kick to give them the lead but Stephen McGowan equalised in the last minute.

MAYBOLE bounced back from their shock defeat at home to Port Glasgow to win 2-0 at Kilwinning and slide fallen Buffs closer to relegation.

The Abbey Park men shot themselves in the foot when Alan Shields was sent off before the break for an alleged head-butt on Steven Crawford.

Maybole nosed in front with a superb effort by Barry Crawford who beat two men before crashing the ball home from a tight angle. Victory was sealed when Paul Kerr was pulled down for a penalty which sub Andy Stevenson drilled home.

Chris Faulds hit the bar late on following a stray clearance from Stuart Peacock but there was no way back for Buffs who are second bottom with only six points from nine games.

Delighted ‘Bole boss Peter Leonard said: “The return of experienced players Peacock, Kerr and Barry Scott made a big difference and we could have won by more. It was a determined and controlled performance.”

Martin Barr is the only absentee for Saturday’s trip to Kilbirnie while Joe Flannigan will resume training next month after being sidelined with ruptured ligaments.

LARGS came from behind to draw 2-2 with Lanark to stay top of the First Division. Willie McClure was the two goal hero, netting the equaliser in the last minute. Second top Lanark had surged ahead with a double from Keiran Downs who twice lobbed keeper Steven Connick in the opening 12 minutes.

Largs boss Sandy Maclean, a former Ayr United keeper, was sent to the pavilion after words with the referee.

ANNBANK urgently need safety points after crashing to fourth bottom following a 2-0 defeat away to Port Glasgow.

Free scoring KELLO made it 46 goals from 11 games as they returned to the top of the Ayrshire League with a 3-1 win at home to nine man Winton Rovers. But the Kirkconnel side had to come from behind after Winton took the lead with a second minute penalty.

Davie Thomson equalised just before half-time and then David Jardine fired them ahead with a tremendous strike from 30 yards into the top right hand corner.

It was game over when Martin Shaw drilled home the third from a Jardine free-kick. Winton finished in disarray after two red cards.