Good run goes on for Glens
Glencairn’s unbeaten run was extended to eight as they made it four wins in a row with the club’s first home victory over Shotts since September 1998.
It came as no surprise that manager Willie Harvey named an unchanged team for the fourth game in a row, with the same substitutes as well.
The visitors’ starting team included three familiar faces for Glencairn fans, with last season’s players Paul Doyle and Mark Duffy now wearing Bon Accord shirts. Veteran defender Paul Finnigan was making his second appearance of the season for Shotts in his role as player/assistant manager.
The deadlock was broken in the 34th minute as The Glens took what was a deserved lead. Del McNab and Jamie Hamilton linked on the right to set up Jay McKay who fired a shot into the net.
The Shotts keeper was fortunate to stay on the park as he conceded a penalty kick in the 39th minute. Tony Fraser’s cross from the right saw Johnny Murdoch block from McKay but the ball broke free and Hamilton seemed certain to score before being tripped from behind. Murdoch received a yellow card before McKay stepped up to send him the wrong way.
The visitors made a double change at the interval and they were back in the game in the 61st minute. Burns found space on the left and his cross was deflected into the path of Stephen Maguire who flicked the ball home.
The Glens reacted well as Sutherland raced out to try to block Stewart Hall’s strike just inside the penalty area but succeeded only in tripping him. McKay sent Murdoch the wrong way again from the spot once again to make it 3-1.
There was a nervous ending for the home fans as Shotts pulled a goal back with 11 minutes left on the clock through Danny Burns, who took a touch round Ryan Docherty before drilling a low shot under Hutchison.
But the match was finally killed off when Fraser Team showed good pace to skip away from Doyle on the right to square for Hamilton who was waiting to apply the finish.
Glens defender Ryan Docherty received a red card in the 88th minute after he slid into a block challenge with Doyle.