SUNSHINE AN

Weather is the winner as heavens open and derby is a washout

CRAIG RITCHIE

Saturday’s league game between Arthurlie and Renfrew saw Dunterlie Park baked in sunshine during the first half.

However, a downpour during and following the interval saw the officials correctly halt play 15 minutes into the second half.

As the pitch became flooded, and conditions outside the ground saw the street transform into something of a river, there was no option but to call it off.

It followed an entertaining hour of football between two sides with ambitions of promotion this season.

Renfrew were on top in the opening 15 minutes and only a double block from Tony Etherson and Kieran McDade stopped them from going ahead.

At the other end, Niall Reynold’s great ball over the top to David Reid saw the midfielder’s strike saved. His effort was parried into the path of James Marks but his follow-up header was tipped over for a corner that came to nothing.

But Arthurlie went ahead in 27 minutes after benefitting from an uncontested drop ball.

Craig Molloy swung over to the far post and although the ball bounced around the box, Ross Urquhart managed to get enough space to fire home his first goal for the club.

Soon after Marks tried to curl one into the back post but Renfrew keeper Danny McLeay palmed it away.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic however as Craig Gordon had to make a great double save, the first from Andrew MacLennan, before punching the resulting corner clear.

Soon after an Arthurlie corner from Urquhart to the near post found Marks who hit wide .

The second half didn’t just bring the teams out, it also brought the rain, with everyone bar the players under any cover they could find.

Gordon was at his best top tip over a shot from the edge of the area but by now the weather was becoming dangerous.

Connor Bradley gathered the ball on the left and flicked it down the line – only to realise the ball hadn’t moved, and after consultation with both benches the referee correctly ended proceedings for the day.

It was fustrating for the home support but was ultimately the right decision, although the second the referee blew the rain stopped – but the damage had already been done and players and officials had to wade to their cars.

Arthurlie: Gordon, Reynolds, Bradley, Etherson, McDade, Roulston, Reid, Molloy, Marks, Docherty, Urquhart. Subs: Nicol, O’Donnell, McGaughey, Curren, Digney

Renfrew: McLeay, Gilmour, MacLennan, Allan, McGillion, Maxwell, Benton, Borris, Morton, McKenna, Mcintosh. Subs: O’Keefe, Davidson, McEwan, Cummins, Dallas.