A share of the spoils
The Glens confirmed their status as a Super League club for the seventh consecutive season as they came from behind to draw 2-2 with promotionchasing Shettleston at New Southcroft Park on Monday evening.
Shettleston were on the front foot right from the kick off and Glencairn had to be switched on to keep the scoreline blank as the visitors pressed hard for an early goal. Reece McGillion sent a free header over the bar in the second minute, and then Hutchison made an excellent reaction save to keep out Callum McRobbie’s shot which bounced awkwardly right in front of him.
Glencairn calmed the storm, however, and opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Jonny Boal fed the ball through to Ross McNeil, who took an excellent first touch before holding off his marker and firing into the corner of the net.
Shettleston were level in the 34th minute when they awarded a penalty kick. Graeme Brown dived into a challenge on Robert Campbell on the edge of the penalty area, and the referee correctly pointed to the spot. Scott Anson stepped up to drive the ball into the centre of the net to make it 1-1.
Glencairn were on the front foot at the start of the second half, and almost regained the lead when Boal anticipated a back header and lobbed Halliwell, but McGillion got back to head over his own crossbar.
Shettleston took a 2-1 lead in the 51st minute when a through ball released Callum McRobbie, and the former Glencairn under-21 striker produced a clinical finish to put the visitors ahead.
The Glens hadn’t given up, though, and they pressed for an equaliser, McNeil glanced a header inches wide before McGuire swivelled away from his marker and fired a shot across goal and inches wide of the far post.
The pressure paid off for Glencairn in the 69th minute as Kilmartin worked his way to the bye line and cut the ball back for Ross McNeil to squeeze the ball over the line from close range to make it 2-2.
Jordan Dalzell had a shot cleared off the line by Dickson after more persistence in the penalty area by McNeil as Glencairn pushed for a winner.
Dickson tried a back header for Shettleston in the 81st minute which flew over the bar, but it was a reminder to Glencairn that Shettleston were still very capable of grabbing a winner as well. Hutchison saved a snap shot by Boyle after a clever reverse pass by McRobbie.
Glencairn keeper JC Hutchison made a superb parry save in the 86th minute to deny what seemed a certain goal for Campbell.
The final big chance of the game fell to McNeil right on the 90th minute.
Irvine’s cross saw McNeil spring the offside trap and take a brilliant first touch, but the ball seemed to bounce awkwardly and the striker missed his kick as he tried to slip the ball past Halliwell, and the keeper gratefully grabbed the ball to deny Glencairn’s top goal scorer a hat-trick.
GLENCAIRN: Hutchison, Brown (Donaghy), Ballantyne, Neil, Dunnachie, Welsh, Dalzell, McGuire, McNeil, Kilmartin, Boal (Irvine)