DOOMSDAY Defeat leaves Arthurlie with a mountain to climb
Craig Ritchie
Arthurlie’s worst fears were finally realised on Monday night with a heavy defeat to Hurlford United.
After years of scrambling around near the bottom of the table, the Barrhead side face an anxious couple of weeks as they battle to save their skin once more.
They look likley to have to do it via the means of the relegation play- offs, with defeat to the Ayrshire outfit confirming that they can no longer finish outside of the bottom two.
There is still a chance that Billy Ogilvie’s side could yet suffer automatic relegation if Girvan, sitting just two points behind them but with three games in hand, manage to get their act together before the end of the campaign.
The once proud junior side have fallen on hard times in recent seasons – long gone are the glory days of winning the Scottish Cup in 1998 when goals from Mark McLaughlin, Johnny Millar, Steven Convery and Steven Nugent sealed a famous 4-0 win over their fierce rivals Pollok.
Instead, the Dunterlie side have had to make do with simply trying to beat the drop, although 2015’s West of Scotland Cup triumph offered brief respite.
Managers and players have come and gone over the course of the past 10 years.
Ten managers in 10 years hammers home the issues that have run deep throughout the club for almost the past decade.
Gary Faulds, Mark Cameron, Sa n d y Mc L e a n , Cameron again, Gavin Duncan, Craig McEwan, Robert Downs, Stevie Kerrigan, Chris Mackie, and now Ogilvie have all tried to restore the side to its former glories.
From season 2003/04, Arthurlie alongside Auchinleck Talbot are the only two ever presents in the West Regions top division. With reorganisation coming next season, Arthurlie are in grave danger of missing out on the newly-formed 16 team top league. There were changes yet again in the Arthurlie line up with Robert Storrie coming into central defence while Vincent Newlands was handed his first start for the club after a couple of appearances f rom the bench. Although neither side took control of the game in the early stages, the visitors always looked likely to open the scoring as the back five of Arthurlie sat in and allowed Hurlford time and space to come on to them. It was no surprise when Ross Robertson, from what seemed an offside position, opened the scoring seven minutes from the break. RESULTS Super Premier League: Arthurlie 0 Hurlford United 3, Auchinleck Talbot 2 Glenafton Athletic 1. Super First Division: Cumbernauld United 3 Petershill 1, Irvine Meadow XI 5 Maryhill 0. Central 3 District First Division: Forth Wanderers Yorker Athletic 2, Greenock Juniors 3 Thorniewood United 0, Lesmahagow Juniors 1 East KilbrideThistle 3, Shotts Bon Accord 0 Blantyre Victoria 1, St Roch’s 2 Wishaw Juniors 1.,
Two minutes later and Grant Hay made a great block to deny Liam Caddis with a header.
The second half was one way traffic as wave after wave of attacks rained in on the Arthurlie defence.
Arthurlie’s first real attempt on goal came after an hour when Jamie Maclennan’s shot come cross went straight into the hands of Ali Brown.
Hay had to be alert soon after to deny firstly Fisher then Robertson again but it was only a matter of time before the Ayrshire side grabbed their first and it was Robertson again, this time from the spot.
Scott Ferguson added another late on to put a more realistic score-line to the game as Arthurlie finished their home league campaign with another defeat – meaning they have picked up a just nine points from a possible 33 at Dunterlie this campaign.
The league season finishes on Saturday with a trip to Townhead Park to face Cumnock Juniors.
Arthurlie FC’s AGM takes place tomorrow night in the 1874 club from 7pm, and season ticket holders are urged to attend.