Smith returns at the double
Petershill ........... 1 Glencairn ........... 3
Glencairn made a sweet start to 2018 and gave their promotion hopes a boost with a win at Petershill.
Manager Willie Harvey gave starts to returning top scorers Gary Smith and Jay McKay while Sean McGuire and Stewart Hall also came back to the fold.
The Glens had goalkeeper Jack Baker to thank for a wonderful save in the eighth minute, diving low on his goal line to keep out a near post header.
Referee Ross Hardie angered the Rutherglen players and supporters in the 16th minute as he waved away appeals for a penalty as McKay was clearly pulled and pushed in the box.
Home keeper John Gibson did well to beat away a low angled shot by McKay in the 21st minute and grab a lobbed McGuire attempt minutes later.
The opening goal arrived in the 33rd minute with a touch of real quality. A long ball forward found its way to Smith who took an excellent first touch which enabled him to turn and then volley a decisive finish into the net.
The pressure continued, though, and only two minutes later The Glens doubled their lead. McKay once again skipped past his marker before this time chipping his cross to the back post where Gary Smith nodded the ball in.
Jordan Leyden then saw his shot rattle the post before the break.
The home side were out early for the second half with the words of manager Willie Paterson ringing in their ears. However, before the home side could build any form of momentum, The Glens increased their lead to 3-0 in the 47th minute. Hall cut infield from halfway before feeding the ball to McKay, who in turn linked with Smith, before the ball broke back into the path of Hall for the midfielder produce a tremendous top left-hand corner finish.
Baker made a good save to deny Cassells again but the Peasy were soon gifted a route back into the game, Jordan Murch cleverly pulled Hall towards him and hr fell to the ground. Cassells stepped up to convert the awarded penalty kick on 58 minutes.
They came close to a second but Rys Donaldson cleared Steffan Graham’s attempt off the line.