Late penalty is sickener for unlucky Glens

Rutherglen Glencairn ... 2 Cumbernauld United .... 2

Glencairn came desperately close to their first home league win of the season — but they had to settle for a point after conceding a 92nd-minute goal.

The visitors Cumbernauld United scrambled a draw after coming back from 2-0 down against 10-man Glens.

Once again, the Glencairn playing squad was stretched to the limit, with Jonny Boal, Andy Neil, Dean Muir, Ryan Docherty, Tony Fraser and Mark Tait all ruled out through a mixture of injury, illness and suspension. Under-21 midfielder Danny Salah made his first start for the first team.

The Glens were on the front foot from the kick-off and took just over a minute to take the lead. A lovely clipped pass by Sean McGuire saw Mark Duffy spring the offside trap, and he knocked the ball round goalkeeper Steven McGuire before firing into the net from a tight angle.

After mounting pressure on the United defence, Glencairn got a reward for their domination just after the half-hour mark and doubled their lead.

David Dunnachie’s pass bounced off Nicky Sullivan into the path of Mark Batchelor, and he produced a delightful chipped finish over McGuire.

Cumbernauld grabbed themselves a lifeline right on the stroke of half-time. Dale Clark and Dylan McGuigan burst forward at the heart of the defence, and Clark’s clever flick set up Ross Foley to score from close range.

The second half was an even contest up until the 75th minute when Muir clattered into a late tackle on Clark in the centre of the park, and the referee produced a second yellow card for the Glens playmaker.

Then came the moment that broke the hearts of the home supporters in the second minute of stoppage time.

United forced the ball forward again, and it broke into the path of substitute Stevie Mullen. JC Hutchison raced from his line and Mullen knocked the ball up into the air and collided with the big stopper.

The referee immediately blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot. Clark stepped up and fired his shot past Hutchison to salvage a point.