TOUGH PRE-SEASON GAMES FOR GLENCAIRN
Hardie and Co thumped in tough pre-season test
Glencairn ...........0 Hurlford United..4
Rutherglen Glencairn’s latest signing Michael Hardie was handed his first start for the club in their second successive 4-0 defeat.
The Glens rounded off their preseason match schedule with a tough game against another West Region Super Premier League, Hurlford United.
With manager Willie Harvey on holiday, assistant manager Joe Pryce took the opportunity to give game time to no fewer than 19 players ahead of the start of The Glens’ competitive matches this weekend.
Midfielder Hardie, who signed from Lowland League outfit East Kilbride, joined defender Alex Grier and midfielder Craig Young in the starting line-up following their promotion from the under 21 side.
The Glens were sharp out of the traps and took the game to Hurlford in the opening moments.
A good passing move ended with Young slicing a shot wide of goal from 20 yards out inside the opening minute.
The positive start continued and Glencairn thought they had taken the lead in the fifth minute when Jamie Hamilton’s precise pass released Gary Smith on the left before he slid the ball into the path of Alessandro Savarese to score.
But the celebrations were cut short by the assistant referee who flagged for offside.
Hurlford responded by going close for the first time as Ross Robertson fired in a shot which was deflected wide of goal. The resulting corner was not effectively cleared and Glencairn goalkeeper KP McAllister did well to get down low to smother Glen Mitchell’s shot.
The Glens had been giving as good as they were getting but the visitors took the lead in the 24th minute with a touch of good fortune.
A lofted pass into the path of United striker James Marks ended with a shot which flew into the net off the leg of Grier as he tried to block.
The lead was doubled in the 31st minute when a free-kick was lifted in from the left and defender Glen Mitchell got in front of the defence to glance a precise header home.
There were three changes for Glencairn at the interval. Anthony Dempsey replaced Andy Neil, Ryan McArdle came on to play on the left side of midfield in place of Del McNab, and Jay McKay came on for Savarese up front to link up with Smith.
Lessons clearly had not been learned from the loss of the second goal however and Hurlford made it 3-0 in the 47th minute. A corner from the right saw Glen Mitchell once again get away from his marker and he placed his header into the far corner of the net.
Hurlford went close again on the hour mark as Calum Watt saw McAllister slightly out of position and tried a curler but he missed the target by a couple of yards.
Moments later McGregor was short with a passback to McAllister and Marks nipped in to dribble round the keeper. But McGregor recovered to make an interception and clearance.
Substitute Dean Agnew hit the post before another goal was added. Hurlford’s clear threat from set pieces continued as they made it 4-0 in the 77th minute. A corner from the right saw Ross Robertson peel off his marker and place his header into the net off the underside of the crossbar.