Glens make Vics sick with five-goal rout
GLENCAIRN ............................................. 5 IRVINE VICS .............................................. 0 Staff Reporter
The Glens maintained their four-point lead at the top of the table as 2019 started with a comfortable win against Irvine Victoria.
Dale Simeon set up Del Esplin in the opening minute, but defender Lee Davidson got back just in time to clear the ball over his own crossbar.
Gary Smith headed Simeon’s cross back across keeper McDonald, but the ball dipped onto the roof of the net.
There was a huge let-off for the visitors as Simeon smashed the ball on target from six yards, only for it to hit Davidson on the goal line.
The pressure had to tell, and the deadlock was broken as Gebbie’s low drilled cross was deflected off the leg of defender Michael Holden and flew into the net, despite McDonald getting a hand to the ball. Three minutes later the ball fell perfectly into the path of Gary Smith who blasted low past McDonald.
It was Smith’s 50th competitive goal for the club on his 50th competitive appearance.
Smith fired in a trademark free kick which McDonald palmed over the bar, before Jordan Leyden’s shot had McDonald beaten but rebounded from the crossbar.
Leyden turned provider as he rolled the ball into the path of Kris Gebbie who lashed the ball home.
It was 4-0 in the 37th minute as Simeon lifted the ball across goal and Gary Smith notched his second by nodding home from close range. Home keeper Garry Whyte had nothing to do in the first half, but he was beaten by Euan Farrell in the 47th minute, only for Tam Miller to block on the goal line.
Smith should have completed his hat trick as he was set up by Simeon, but lifted his shot over the crossbar.
The Vics went close as firstly Skeoch’s corner flashed across goal, and then Farrell sent a free header wide of goal from six yards out.
There was still time for one delightful moment as Mitchell’s incisive pass split the defence, allowing Jordan Leyden to run onto the pass, cheekily dink the ball over McDonald and dribble it into the empty net for 5-0.
Whyte wanted his clean sheet, and he saved from Skeoch and McLuckie in the closing minutes before the Glens went close again in stoppage time with Leyden again lobbing onto the top of the crossbar.
Rutherglen Glencairn: Whyte, Gebbie, Miller, Donaldson, Stevie Kerr, Fraser, Leyden, Esplin (McGuire), Smith (Gormley), Simeon (McArdle), Mitchell.
(Subs not used - McKay, McGregor, McLellan (gk).)