Setback for YM’s promotion hopes
EKYM ..................... 3 Callander Thistle ... 3
Striker Ross McDonagh suffered a season-ending injury as East Kilbride YM’s Caledonian League promotion hopes suffered a blow on Saturday.
They hosted Callandar Thistle bidding to stay in touch with Division 1B leaders Cambria, but fell five points behind after being held to a 3-3 draw.
It proved to be a costly day all round as McDonagh landed awkwardly after winning a header, turning his ankle, and YM will be without their key player for the run in.
YM shot themselves in the foot in the opening minute when they gifted the visitors a penalty. Keeper Fraser Campbell mishandled a pass back and then prevented the Callandar forward trying to get to the loose ball.
The referee had an easy decision to award the penalty and Callander made no mistake from the spot.
But the hosts hit back when an excellent move between James Cameron and Craig Tocher resulted in McDonagh rifling home the equaliser soon after.
Midway through the half Ryan Kelly put YM in front when he scored with a well placed shot from inside the area following Scott Chaplain’s corner kick.
Defensively, YM never looked comfortable and just before the break a long ball through the middle caught YM out and the visitors equalised.
Callandar took the lead early in the second half following poor YM marking at a corner kick and worse was to follow for when McDonagh hobbled off.
To YM’s credit they kept plugging away and were rewarded in the last minute of stoppage time when Craig Fry’s low cross was turned in at the far post by Mikey Carroll, earning a share of the spoils.
Elsewhere, YM’s Greater Glasgow Premier League side qualified for the semi-final of the Presidents’League Cup with a resounding 5-1 victory over Calderglen. Ross Anderson notched a hat trick, while Josh Cairns and Scott Campbell were also on target.