Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Last kick to victory
Cairn outrun Shettleston
Gartcairn scored with the last kick of the ball on Saturday to seal victory in a turbulent opening league match away to Shettleston.
Gartcairn ran out 4- 3 winners in a game which saw three penalties, two red cards, three lead changes and a genuinely world-class goal by Ryan Donnelly.
Gartcairn were trailing 3- 2 with little over five minutes to go, but Ryan Bennett’s deflected effort and Thomas Kilmartin’s penalty turned the game around.
Donnelly had earlier scored the game’s opener before Liam McLaughlin’s classy finish made it 2-1.
Boss Jamie McKenzie, who was sent- off after disputing the amount of time the referee added on at the end of the game, was delighted with the comeback.
He told the Advertiser: “We got there in the end.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever seen a game won with literally the last kick of the game; the ref blew for full- time during the celebrations!
“It was one of those action-packed games and I’m over the moon with the boys.
“Our first two goals were superb and were both great, team-wise and individually.
“With the exception of the defeat to Glasgow Perthshire last week we’ve not lost a game so far.
“The fitness has been great and the boys’ attitudes have been first class.
“Working with a new squad is difficult but they’ve been a pleasure to work with and have got on board quickly with a few new ideas.
“It’s been great but this is just the beginning of a long road this season.”
On his sending off, McKenzie said: “I’m disappointed I got involved in that but I told the ref I didn’t agree with the amount of time he’d added on.
“There were three penalties awarded, six substitutions and their goalkeeper was down injured for at least five minutes.
“I just stated the obvious that more time needed to be added on.
“The most important thing is that we won the game and I’m delighted to start the league campaign with a win.”