Spiders’ early Christmas present for Cove Rangers
Glencairn’s dismal run of league results continued with this home defeat to Beith Juniors.
While all is far from lost with 60 per cent of league fixtures still to be played, it’s going to take quite a change in form to give the black and white faithful hope of survival in the top league of junior football.
Willie Harvey opted for a change in formation to a traditional 4-4-2, with Gavin Lachlan deployed at right back and the versatile Craig McGregor filling in at left back in place of Tam Miller.
Rhys Donaldson returned in place of Terry Hewitt in central defence, while Liam Gormley came in up front with Gavin Mackie dropping to the substitutes’ bench.
The first big chance of the match came for Glencairn when McRobbie got free on the left, and his cross was palmed by goalkeeper Stephen Grindlay towards Liam Gormley, who couldn’t force the ball over the line.
As has been the case on many occasions this season, though, the visitors showed a much more ruthless touch, taking the lead in the 15th minute.
Ross McKenzie bundled his way through the defence and found himself one on one with Grant Hay, and he calmly rolled the ball past the ’keeper.
The visiting fans were in uproar a minute later as striker Sean McIlroy ran through on Hay and collided with the goalkeeper on the edge of the penalty area, but the referee judged that Hay had got a touch to the ball and that the foul should go to Glencairn.
An even more bizarre incident occurred at the mid point of the first half, as Beith playmaker Joe Bradley was shown yellow for a wild swipe at McGregor, and proceeded to give out verbals and lift his hands to his own captain.
Just as it looked like the Glens were going into the break only one goal behind, the roof caved in.
A cross from the right saw Sean McIlroy bundle the ball
QUEEN’S PARK ........................................... 1 COVE RANGERS ......................................... 3
Queen’s Park showed too much goodwill toward men after gifting visiting Cove Rangers three points.
It was the Balmoral club’s first ever visit to the National Stadium and a Jamie Masson goal and Mitch Megginson double ensured they went home happy.
Salim Kouider-Aïssa netted for the Spiders.
Queen’s boss Mark Roberts felt the game was lost in a disappointing first half.
He said : “We never laid a glove on them. We didn’t play at the intensity or the home after Hay blocked his header.
Things got worse for the home side inside the opening minute of the second half with McIlroy outpacing the Glens defenders pace that we asked of them (the players).
“The big difference between the first and second half was that we actually passed the ball in the second half - in the first half I was really disappointed that we were just lumping the ball forward to Salim.
“The two stupid goals in the first half meant it was a mountain to climb.”
Megginson grabbed the opener on 25 minutes when he side-stepped Cameron Clark and then darted past Creag Little before slamming a shot past Willie Muir at his near post.
Within 90 seconds of going ahead Cove grabbed their second with referee Craig to and roll his shot across Hay into the net.
There seemed very little prospect of a comeback from Glencairn from that point, and Beith could have increased their
Napier receiving praise for his role in Jamie Masson’s strike.
A shot from Fraser Fyvie was pushed out by Muir and Megginson looked set to turn the loose ball home until he was fouled by Little, however Napier played an advantage that allowed Masson to slam in from six yards.
Kouider-Aïssa notched his 12th goal of the season when he headed home in the 50th minute.
But Queen’s struggled to create more chances and Cove sealed victory when Megginson scored in injury time.
Queen’s travel to Annan on Saturday for their final fixture of 2019. lead when Christie and McIlroy linked cleverly with Christie pulling his shot wide.
There was a welcome sight for the home support as the top scorer for the past two seasons Gary Smith came off the bench to mark his return from injury, with McRobbie making way.
Once again, though, Beith showed Glencairn the way to hit the target as they made it 4-0 in the 76th minute.
Connor McGlinchey curled a free kick from the edge of the penalty area into the net.
Glencairn got a consolation goal in the 87th minute as a tidy passing move was finished off by a fine strike by trialist Lee Cochrane.
The home side weren’t finished there, though, and when Mitchell was tripped inside the penalty area in stoppage time, the referee correctly whistled for a spot kick. Jordan Leyden then smashed the ball past Grindlay.