Beith Juniors 2 Cumnock Juniors 1,
Stagecoach West of Scotland Super League Premier Division,
Saturday 24th December 2011.
There were no Christmas presents given in this game and it wasn’t harsh tackling – it was both teams giving one hundred per cent effort and making the game entertaining despite the terrible weather. Beith went into a two goal lead but James Tyler then led the Cumnock charge as he put a goal back and Cumnock pinned the home side for a lengthy time in the second half leaving the home team pleased to see the final whistle.
Cumnock kicked off down the hill but had a strong wind and driving rain in their faces. The visitors had two blows as George Wallace and Willie Howie both lost fitness tests just before the game and their names had to be quickly deleted from the referee’s starting side. Ally Patrick and Tom Donovan found themselves running out with the team instead of on the bench. James Tyler was also in the team as there was no Graeme Wilson who had to end his ban after the red card against Largs.
Beith got the better start and right-winger Calum Hardie and right back Ross Dunlop soon found themselves in formidable form as they caused all sorts of bother for the visitors on the right. A low cross from Calum Hardie found Kenny McLean right in front of goal but it came unexpectedly and he scuffed it giving Cumnock a let-off.
Ross Dunlop then sent a low cross from the right, bouncing across the 6 yard line but there was nobody there. Two minutes later, in the 6th minute he did exactly the same cross and this time Tony Fraser was there and Beith were a goal in front.
Cumnock’s make-shift team just couldn’t get going and Beith soon realised this as the ball particularly continued to come low across from the Beith right as Calum Hardie and Ross Dunlop got along to the bye-line.
Aaron Connolly continually looks as if he is the player Cumnock have been looking for a while – a central striker who could cause trouble for the opponents if he got some support. He showed this by dribbling pastthree defenders before Beith keeper Neil Greenwood made an excellent save.
Beith got another goal in the 19th minute. Stevie Murray had to deal with most of
the central play and played very well but this time Ross Dunlop went across to the middle to meet a long pass the courageous Cumnock defender slightly slipped in the mud at the wrong time and couldn’t get a foot in, leaving the Beith man to give a delightful pass to Andy Reid who calmly put the ball past the advancing Stuart Watterson and into the net.
At this stage Beith displayed such a good team and looked as if they would score
several times before half-time. But Cumnock’s defence made things difficult for them and gave no chances for Beith until the interval.
Although losing, the visitors mid-field and strikers kept battling and the speed of Tom Donovan, James Tyler, Brian Miller and Aaron Connolly at least were nuisances to the home defence who had few chances to come forward.
Half-time: Beith Juniors 2 Cumnock Juniors 0.
Cumnock set out facing the hill but with the wind behind them although the driving rain never stopped. The pitch started to cut up and be soft though was always playable.
This was displayed by Cumnock’s Gary McMenamin who just after the second half, intending to make a tackle he slipped as he went in and instead of tackling with his boot – he fell full-length and actually tackled with his head. We can be sure that was the first he did that before.
Cumnock got a good start, a corner-kick from the right and Stevie Murray battled to get the ball but in front of the goal it was just too strong and it went past. Beith also had a near thing as a low, dangerous cross from Tony Fraser went across and bounced between the line and the 6 yard line. Calum Hardie launched himself to get to it but was just too late.
Cumnock become more confident. Ally Patrick had a speculative wind-assisted 30 yard shot which went over the bar and Aaron Connolly made a first-timed shot which was just too near keeper Greenwood but they both showed Cumnock the way.
Cumnock continued to play more attractive football and in the 70th minute they deserved to score. Aaron Connolly did the spade-work on the right before sending a perfect cross for James Tyler who was in the right position to steer it into the net.
This time it was Cumnock who were in top and Beith found themselves pinned down although John Sheridan and his Beith defence played well and gave Cumnock few opportunities to equalise. Aaron Connolly had another wind – assisted 25 yard shot which was on target. Neil Greenwood saw it right from the start and got right behind it.
Beith almost got another goal in the 78th minute when Calum Hardie came inside from the right and sent a blistering shot which thumped the bottom of the far post.
Manager Stevie Easton decided to make sure they were going to keep the Beith defence intact and in the 80th minute he took off Gary Wilson and Andy Reid and brought on Paul McMenamin and Gary McGrath.
After three consecutive corner-kicks which ended with a glancing header by Ally Patrick which went inches past the Beith post, the home side were overjoyed when the referee called it a day, to Cumnock’s disappointment.
All players played well in atrocious conditions and never stopped all of the game. With mud, gusting wind and driving rain, both goalkeepers played exceptionally well, especially coping well with long punts, shots and crosses.
Cumnock struggled in the first half but in the second they played very well and the score could easily have been a draw.
To finish on a high point, Bellsdale Park had all the supporters well under cover, so well done to those involved.
Beith: Greenwood, Dunlop, Wilson, Callaghan, Sheridan, O’Kean, Hardie, Lang, Reid, McLean, Fraser.
Subs: Kisuka, Hughes, McMenamin, McCulloch, McGrath.
Cumnock: Watterson, C. Comnolly, McMenamin, McDonald, Murray, Patrick, Tyler, McKnight, Donovan, A. Connolly, Miller.
Subs: Moore, Farrell, Kennedy.
Referee: Alan Newlands (East Kilbride).
