Glens battle back to see off Wishaw
Rutherglen men take third place in pre-season tourney
Glencairn came away from the annual Kilbirnie pre- season tournament unbeaten over 90 minutes for the third year in a row as they came from two goals down to defeat Wishaw Juniors.
Having lost out in a penalty shoot-out to eventual winners Shildon AFC, it was a squad of 19 players who travelled to Ayrshire for Sunday afternoon’s third/ fourth place play-off match.
Despite completely dominating the game in the opening stages, Wishaw were gifted the chance to take the lead in the 12th minute.
A cross into the box saw striker Stephen Mullen go down under a challenge by Craig McGregor, and the referee whistled for a penalty kick.
Kevin Barry Grant stepped up to take it and fired past JC Hutchison to put his team ahead. Wishaw doubled their lead in the 17th minute.
Chris MacIntyre’s cross from the right was only partially cleared by Rhys Donaldson, and Michael Collinder latched onto the loose ball to beat Hutchison at his near post.
The match was far more even at this stage, and Wishaw wide man Daniel McNulty out-paced defender Brian Eadie on the right before firing in a shot which Hutchison parried, and Collinder scuffed the rebound wide of goal.
Wishaw passed up a golden chance to effectively kill off the game in the 42nd minute, as Mullen, who only had Hutchison to beat, tried to chip the Glencairn keeper but instead succeeded only in lifting the ball straight into the grateful stopper’s arms.
That was a huge let-off for Glencairn, and they looked to take full advantage as Marshall’s low drilled free kick was tipped round the post at full stretch by Lawrie. From the resulting corner, Glencairn found their way back into the match in the 44th minute.
The cross was not effectively cleared, and Paddy Cullen was first to react with a perfectly- executed overhead kick which flashed into the corner of the net.
As the first half moved into stoppage time, Wishaw’s defence switched off momentarily, and Fraser’s inswinging corner was met by the glancing head of Cullen, and the ball flew into the corner of the net for an equaliser.
Glencairn made six changes at the interval, and Jamie Hamilton was moved into a central striking role alongside Cullen.
The two late goals in the first half had clearly turned the psychological edge in the game back in Glencairn’s favour again as Danny Salah’s effort from eight yards was blocked away by a fine defensive challenge. Such had been Glencairn’s grip on the game in the second half, it took until the 65th minute for Wishaw to have an effort on goal, with Graeme Goodall’s curling free kick from 20 yards comfortably saved by Hutchison.
But Glencairn’s patience and persistence finally paid off in the 71st minute as they took the lead for the first time in the match.
Fraser’s cross from the left picked out the towering head of Stewart Hall at the back post.
His effort rebounded from the post before rolling into the path of Paddy Cullen, who had an open goal from a yard out to score and make it 3-2.
Wishaw pushed to score the equaliser in the final minute, but McNulty fired high over the crossbar from 20 yards after good build-up play by Mullen.