Glencairn unleash a goal storm on rivals
Rutherglen side put eight into back of Girvan net
R’glen G’cairn......... 8 Girvan .................... 0
Glencairn made it three wins out of three to start the league season for the first time in a decade as they moved to the top of the league table.
An unchanged team was named by manager Willie Harvey after the midweek away win over Whitletts Victoria, and the team wasted no time in getting on the front foot as the match got under way.
The breakthrough arrived in the 16th minute when Ryan McArdle’s low cross picked out Gary Smith, and although the big striker’s initial effort was mis-hit, he reacted quicker than his marker to the loose ball and fired it into the roof of the net.
While Glencairn continued to create plenty of chances, they were wasteful in front of goal for the remainder of the first half.
However the second half was to turn into one of those afternoons which Girvan supporters will wish to wipe from their memories quickly.
The crucial second goal came in the 49th minute when Stevie Kerr released Gebbie on the right, and his cross fell for Jay McKay to drill home.
McKay’s clip over the defence then picked out Simeon and he unselfishly set up Gary Smith to make it 3-0 after 54 minutes.
It was one-way traffic, and things went from bad to worse for Girvan as they were reduced to ten men when substitute Andrew Hunter was shown a straight red for tugging back McArdle as he was clean through.
Hunter would have been better just letting McArdle score, as Gary Smith promptly curled a trademark shot over the wall and into the net.
Things were to get even worse for Girvan, though, as they were reduced to nine men when Antonio Sisi clattered into Esplin in the centre circle, earning himself a second yellow card.
Gormley’s low cross was then stabbed into the net by Del Esplin in the 70th minute and the goals continued in the 79th minute when Simeon’s blocked shot fell for Liam Gormley to roll the rebound into the net.
Less than a minute later it was 7-0. Simeon picked out Gormley, who was tackled in the act of shooting, but the ball fell to Ryan McArdle who fired home from close range.
Simeon was the architect again three minutes later to make it 8-0, as his pass split the defence, allowing Gormley to roll an angled shot past Clark.