Glens claim title at last
Final day win seals the championship
GLENCAIRN ..................................... 6 DALRY THISTLE ............................... 2
PETER FERGUSON It was the moment everyone at Glencairn had believed was possible all season – and finally came to reality on Saturday.
The Glens are the first ever winners of the SJFA West Region Championship – and as such, the first name on the new trophy after the league was restructured last summer.
It came as no surprise that manager Willie Harvey selected an unchanged starting team and substitute’s bench from the commanding midweek win over Neilston Juniors.
Unsurprisingly for a match with so much at stake, there was a nervous opening quarter with play somewhat scrappy and no real clear cut chances.
Many in the healthy crowd had their eyes on their smart phones, looking for updates from Kello Rovers v Benburb, as a landslide win for the Bens could have seen them pip the Glens to the trophy.
The attention was back on events at The Celsius Stadium, though, as the league leaders finally made the breakthrough in the 26th minute.
Mitchell’s beautiful pass over the top was perfect for Dale Simeon to beat the offside trap, and he fired into the corner.
Confidence was surging through the Glens players now, and Mitchell headed narrowly wide before Thistle goalkeeper Marc Fisher saved at McKay’s feet.
Just as word had come through that Benburb were a goal ahead and playing against ten men, disaster struck for the Glens as Dalry were awarded a penalty kick for a rash challenge by goalkeeper Garry Whyte.
Jordan Stuart stepped up to fire into the net and put some serious doubts into the minds of the home contingent after 33 minutes.
The doubts didn’t last for long, though, as Glencairn took only five minutes to regain the lead.
Jordan Leyden cut in from wide and curled a low left foot shot into the corner of the net, and suddenly the Glens fate was back in their own hands again.
Two minutes later the home support were in dreamland when Simeon’s cross picked out the run of Leyden at full speed, and his header bulleted into the net from 12 yards out for his 18th goal of the season.
The Glens were now playing with lots of confidence and, knowing that Benburb were still only one goal ahead and needed an obscene amount of second half goals to change things.
The black and white faithful were now beginning to relax a bit and enjoy the afternoon.
Things got even better only two minutes into the second half as the lead was increased to 4-1.
The ball broke out to Del Esplin from a corner and his shot was blocked, but spun into the path of Stevie Kerr who produced a tidy finish from close range.
Fisher continued to impress with further saves from Simeon and Leyden, but he could do nothing to stop a Jay McKay header, picked out brilliantly by Simeon’s cross.
A minute later it was 6-1 as Mitchell sprung the offside trap and squared to Simeon, who calmly passed the ball into the net with his right foot.
With half an hour left on the clock, there was now no doubt about the destiny of the title, and everybody connected to Glencairn could enjoy the closing moments of the season.
Three substitutions were made, as Callum McRobbie, Liam Gormley and Gary Smith replaced Esplin, McKay and Mitchell respectively.
Dalry got some consolation as Dylan McLintock produced a great left foot strike to make it 6-2 with fifteen minutes left on the clock.
As the season moved into its final five minutes, Thistle were bizarrely reduced to ten men, as Stuart Hannah picked up a second yellow card for time wasting, despite his side being four goals behind.
The Glens were awarded a very late penalty kick to wrap things up.
After much debate between the dugout and the players, Leyden was given the opportunity to complete his hat trick, but he fired over the bar, much to the amusement of many.
All that was left now was for the referee’s whistle to bring a wonderfully entertaining season to an end.
The celebrations very quickly got into full swing, and lasted long into the night!