It’s top spot for the Glens at Christmas
Latest victory puts them in No.1 slot in the league
Glencairn can enjoy Christmas from the top of the league as they brought a deserved three points home from their trip to Girvan.
Willie Harvey named an unchanged team, although there was a welcome return to the substitute’s bench for midfielder Jordan Leyden after two months out with a broken wrist.
The Glens went straight onto the front foot, and Dale Simeon’s cross was met by a volley by Del Esplin which flashed narrowly wide of the post.
Smith had the ball in the net after 14 minutes but he was flagged for offside.
There was a remarkable escape for Girvan as defender Ross Copeland rattled the ball off his own crossbar. Girvan almost made the Glens pay for their missed chances as they sprung the offside trap in the 24th minute, but Whyte raced out to block at the feet of Marc Cameron.
Girvan goalkeeper Ally McInnes made three saves in two minutes from Simeon, Ryan Kerr and Smith to add to Glencairn’s frustration, before Smith missed his kick in front of goal after good work by Simeon.
The Glens went straight back on the offensive at the start of the second half with McKay’s angled shot being blocked for a corner.
There was no let-up in the pressure as Esplin headed over the bar at full stretch. The nerves were building in the travelling support as Stevie Kerr’s header looped up onto the roof of the net.
The hour mark saw Esplin fire a shot just wide from 16 yards.
The breakthrough had to come, though, and it arrived at the mid point of the second half.
McKay was the architect with his cross from the left which picked out Jordan Leyden, and he turned the ball past McInnes from 10 yards out.
Glencairn went looking for a killer second goal, and Simeon’s low cross from the right was blocked away by McInnes at the post.
Girvan substitute McDade was fortunate not to be sent off for a very heavy tackle on Mitchell.
As the game moved into stoppage time, Girvan launched a free kick into the penalty area and Whyte came to claim but fumbled, before recovering to smother the ball on the ground, as Glencairn’s fans breathed a sigh of relief.
Glencairn: Whyte, McGregor, Ryan Kerr, Donaldson, Stevie Kerr, Fraser, McArdle (Leyden), Esplin, Smith (Gormley), Simeon, McKay (Mitchell). (Subs not used - McGuire, Miller, McLellan (gk).