Win lifts ’Lie out of the drop zone

ARTHURLIE ................... 2 CUMNOCK .................... 1

New Arthurlie boss Colin Reilly enjoyed a dream start at Dunterlie Park as his battling side held on for a crucial three points against Cumnock.

Reilly and his backroom team arrived last week from Vale of Clyde, replacing former boss Johnny Millar, and were given a warm welcome from the home crowd on a wet and windy day in Barrhead.

It didn’t take long for the new management team to get their first goal. After some scrappy play in the middle of the park, the ball broke out to Max Kerr on the left and, after a couple of touches to drive inside, he smashed the ball home from 20 yards off the inside of the post.

Five minutes later‘Lie thought they had grabbed a second when Lewis Magee headed a Gary Carroll cross high into the net but the standside linesman had his flag up for offside.

The home side were piling on the pressure and, in 12 minutes, Kerr broke free on the left following a great move, sending a teasing cross into the box that Greg Ferry somehow headed out from under his own crossbar.

It was merely a short delay for the second, however, as, from the resulting corner, the ball broke out to Dale Simeon and he slammed high into the net from 20 yards.

Simeon turned provider in 23 minutes, sending a low cross to the back post for the onrushing Carroll, but the ‘Lie skipper was always stretching to make a connection and turned the ball narrowly wide.

Four minutes later, Andy McLaughlin was looking to get in on the scoring, running on to a Lee Roulston cross, but saw his left-footed effort sail harmlessly over the bar.

As the half-hour mark arrived, Jordan Shelvey was sent clear on goal, but Jamie Barclay was quick off his line in the Cumnock goal and saved bravely at the forward’s feet.

It was looking only a matter of time before the third arrived, and it was quite a surprise in 38 minutes when the visitors pulled one back against the run of play, Grant Dickie expertly finishing from Jamie Wilson’s knockdown.

From being in complete control, things got even worse for the Barrhead side in the 43rd minute when goalscorer Kerr was shown a red card following a second yellow for a foul on the halfway line.

At the break, Shelvey made way for Callum Shields as the home side looked to protect their lead with ten men.

Just three minutes later, they were forced into another change, Simeon limping off with an injury and Lewis Warnock being introduced to the action.

It was approaching the hour mark before either team registered a real chance in the second half, McLaughlin finding Roulston following some fine work, and Barclay doing well to hold on to the midfielder’s deflected effort.

With 10 minutes remaining, Cumnock came close to levelling the scores with James Scott saving well from substitute Jordan Moore.

From the corner that followed, the visitors saw an effort crash off the bar before Graham Boyd somehow headed over from close range.

With just two minutes remaining, and following what seemed like endless Cumnock pressure, Shields almost put the ball into his own net, slicing wildly from the edge of the box and seeing the ball dip just over the bar.

Shields was then the hero just a matter of seconds later, clearing off the line when the Cumnock corner was diverted goalwards.

With injury time well underway, Ferry had another chance for the Ayrshire men but headed over from close range.

Despite the constant push for the equaliser, it wasn’t to come for the visitors and the ten men of Arthurlie bravely held on to give Reilly a huge debut win in charge.

The win lifts Arthurlie out of the WoSFL Premier Division drop zone, with another home clash against high-flying Irvine Meadow all set for this Saturday – three points would be priceless.