Super dream over for Glens
The Glens’dreams of promotion to the Super Premier League ended when they failed to win their final match away to Cumbernauld United.
To the team’s credit however, they never gave up hope at any point and they still had a chance of promotion right until the referee’s final whistle in the last game of the season. Everybody at the club deserves great credit for that achievement alone.
Glencairn were missing influential players in Andy Neil, Tony Fraser and Sean McGuire but Ryan Docherty returned to the starting line-up after his own recent suspension. Heavy rain fell upon Guys Meadow but luckily the pitch managed to absorb the rain better than it did last time when the match was abandoned for a waterlogged pitch.
The biggest chance of the first half for Glencairn came on the half hour mark as Fraser Team pounced on an error by Terry Hewitt and raced through on goal, but home goalkeeper David Buchanan raced out to make a block.
United took the lead in the 41st minute with a stunning strike from a free kick. Jamie Hamilton was shown a yellow for the foul and the ball from Paul Murphy’s set piece flew like an arrow into the top corner of the net.
The second half saw United defending strongly and Glencairn huffing and puffing, but lacking in a genuine cutting edge. As the match went on Glencairn knew they had to gamble, and at one point there were five Glencairn players left upfield when United had a corner.
Alessandro Savarese went close with a low shot after latching onto the ball from Team’s burst through the defence, but Buchanan palmed the ball away.
Just as it looked like United were going to hold on for a crucial three points, Glencairn equalised right on the 90th minute.
Jamie Hamilton’s free kick was rolled to Team on the edge of the penalty area, and he flicked the ball into the path of Savarese who struck a firm shot past Buchanan at his near post.
As the match moved deep into the stoppage time The Glens were awarded a free kick but the ball was caught by Buchanan and the ref blew for full-time.