Time's Up Lads

Rutherglen Glencairn v Cumbernauld United
Friendly
Tuesday 21st July 2009, kick-off 6.30pm
Toryglen Regional Football Centre, Glasgow

Another friendly match and it was to be my first visit to the new Toryglen Regional Football Centre, an impressive complex, to see local side Rutherglen Glencairn play Cumbernauld United. Glens won promotion and the title from the Central Division One last season, the league that United will be playing in, and are preparing for life in Super First Division. Around twenty or so fans turned up in the heavy rain, that thankfully stopped for kick-off as there was no shelter. The referee was the last to show up and they were no linesmen for the game.

The Glens struck first, Paul McLaughlin tapping in at the second attempt after a chipped through ball caught out the Cumbernauld defence. There appeared to be only one team in it with the Glens very much of top and McLaughlin causing havoc in the United defence. A rather bizarre goal got Cumbernauld on level terms against the run of play, a deflected clearance spun up in the air travelling towards the Glens 'keeper. He shouted “it's coming, it's coming”, then after it bounced he changed his mind and yelled: “it's no!”, the ball ended up trickling into the net after the 'keeper, a defender and a striker all challenged for it.

McLaughlin continued to terrorise the United defenders and won a free-kick on the edge of the area after being tripped. He picked himself up and casually banged it into the far top corner, someone said: “peach!”, it certainly was. Half-time came and the sun peered through the grey clouds as the Glens made several changes to their side, McLaughlin sadly went off, I fancied him to get his hat-trick, but Paul McDougall replaced him, an entertaining character. I was also surprised to see ex-Spider Div Waters, who's presumably on trial for Glencairn at the moment, he captained the Hampden XI side to amateur cup glory last season but was still released by Queen's.

The pattern of play had changed dramatically and United were looking more likely to equalise instead of Glens running away with it, a bit of bickering amongst the Glens ranks as things weren't going they're way. But again, against the run of play the opposition scored, Glens were awarded a penalty after their tall central midfielder was tripped in the box, and McDougall coolly stroked it in (below, right). United continued to press on as the majority of the play was in the Glens defensive half, they were awarded a free-kick on the angle just outside the area. On the off chance I decided to video it, a wise move as it was hit into the far corner (below, left), similar to McLaughlin's first-half free-kick.

United were pushing for a late equaliser but time seemed against them, but not in the usual manner. I assume the pitch was only booked until eight o'clock as another team were waiting at the side of the pitch to begin training, and a horn had just been sounded to signal time-up. The referee blew his whistle soon after, but I made it around five or so minutes left to play. The Rutherglen Glencairn website has a match report.

Result: Rutherglen Glencairn 3-2 Cumbernauld United

Line-ups
Rutherglen Glencairn: Turner (McNeil), Kerr (Trialist), Paul (Barr), Trialist (Kane), Palmer (Trialist), Thompson (Trialist), O'Keane (Gentile), Hopkins (McShane), McArdle (Trialist), McLaughlin (McDougall), Carr (Trialist).
Cumbernauld United: unknown

Goalscorer(s)
Rutherglen Glencairn: Paul McLaughlin (2) and Paul McDougall (pen)
Cumbernauld United: unknown

Attendance: unknown

Glens Progress In Paper Cup

On a roasting Monday evening I popped along to New Southcroft Park for my first time. A new ground that only had it's very first game at the beginning of this season when senior opposition in the shape of Clyde came to visit for the grand opening. It's a perfect modern ground for a club of it's size with crowds of only a few hundred to be expected, it consists of a covered enclosure at two sides of stepped terracing. Everything is new and shiny, even the graffiti is fresh!

The match was the preliminary round of the Evening Times Cup, with Rutherglen Glencairn playing hosts to Beith. The Glens have marked their ground opening season with promotion and the Central Distract Division One title, whilst Beith won the West of Scotland Cup just over a week ago. So, superb weather and two successful teams, potential for a good match, or perhaps more likely; I'll just get burnt and look like a lobster by tomorrow.

I only recognised two players from previous junior games that I had been to, which are mainly just Pollok games, Glens ginger frontman Paul McDougall and Brian McKeown, a versatile player for Beith. It's hard to forget McDougall, he enjoys the crowds banter and plays along, giving as good as he gets. Great entertainment if he's playing for your team and the target of the colourful language from the opposition fans. He blew them a few kisses when subbed late on, all 'friendly' banter. McKeown, or Sniffer as he's known, is a player that I really like, he was a Pollok player last season, and even won their player of the year. A small, defensive player that's quick thinking and more than comfortable when on the ball. My uncle informed that the nickname was because he suffers badly from hay-fever and therefore sniffs a lot, hence 'Sniffer', being the gullible sod that I am I'm still undecided whether to believe him or not.

As for the game itself, I found it quite enjoyable if lacking in quality and entertainment. Of course with this being a junior game there was the staple sending off, or am I stereotyping? The majority of sending off's that I've see at junior level isn't because of the rough style reputation that the junior game seems to have but more to do with the inexperienced referees making hasty decisions. I'm pretty sure the lad received two bookings, one for a bit of verbals and the other for a mistimed tackle, a bit harsh in my view.

Harsh or not it meant Beith had ten men for the last thirty minutes or so. Up until then the match had very few chances despite a comical own-goal in the opening exchanges of the match when a Beith defender headed over the out-coming 'keeper. A man down and a goal down, then two down after a superb wee move. After a bit of twisting and turning in the box before the ball was played to McDougall to cross back-post with the outside of his foot for Andy Murray's long lost twin brother to nod home. I'd heard he was fairly decent at football so it could've been him, but it wasn't, it was Richie Burke.

Beith then had a spirited fight back, crashing a shot off the underside of the bar and then finally getting a deserved goal with about ten minutes to go to set-up a nervy finale. The Glens had to clear the ball off the line in added time, it looked like it was done so by a hand but with the lack of serious protests and my glasses this evening I'll put it down to my eyes playing tricks on me as I hoped for a dramatic penalty shoot-out to decide the tie, not to be though. The Glens progress to the quarter-final and now face an away tie to Blantyre Victoria at the weekend.

Full Time – Rutherglen Glencairn 2-1 Beith

Below are links to YouTube video highlights from this game, credit to lokpars and vitomac19.

1-0 goal
2-0 goal
Beith hit bar
2-1 goal

Goal highlights

My next match will be Auchinleck Talbot v Pollok at Beechwood Park. Pollok travel to the newly crowned Junior Cup winners and need a victory to win the league, if they fail to do so Irvine Meadow will become the champions of the west.