Ashfield F & A C 1 Rutherglen Glencairn 1 - Saracen Park, Glasgow



Ashfield welcomed high flying Glencairn to Saracen Park this afternoon and the match turned out to be as keenly contested as expected. Both teams were playing in their `away` strips in a game that was spoiled slightly by the fierce wind and the erratic Refereeing of Mr Tait.

Glencairn settled the quicker team, and you could tell that they were full of confidence after putting 8 past Yoker Athletic last Saturday. However Maxwell & Chalmers in the Ashfield attack had to be well marshalled by the Glencairn defence in the early stages. There were a couple of ex-Ashfield players - McCarthy & McDougall - in the Glencairn side & were relishing playing at Saracen , with the latter causing Murphy and Reilly problems throughout the afternoon. With the wind behind them, Glencairn took the lead in the 20th Minute. A long diagonal ball over the Ashfield defence was finished well by the No.9.

Ashfield stepped up a gear and were unlucky when Ian Garscadden`s Free-kick was well saved by the Glens Goalkeeper. Shortly after Ashfield had the ball in the net, however the Referee stated that the ball had hit Tony Chalmers in the arm before the ball hit the back of the net. A bit harsh. A minute later Kevin Miller thrashed the ball into the roof of the net, only to be denied by the Referee who had spotted an earlier infringement , which again seemed harsh.

HALF TIME:- ASHFIELD 0 RUTHERGLEN GLENCAIRN 1



Ashfield started the 2nd Half with the wind behind them and were hoping to use this to their advantage, however Glencairn started the smarter and knocked the ball round well. Glencairn's number 11 was causing Ashfield problems whipping in some excellent crosses. McGovern in the Ashfield goal was again on top form denying a string of Glencairn chances.

Ashfield could have levelled on the hour mark, a free kick from Garscadden was whipped into the box and was met by a towering Thomson who headed it over the bar. Chances were limited as both teams battled to take control of the game. The referee was still pulling the yellow card out his pocket at every opportunity even though there was hardly a dirty foul in the match.

Glencairn could have sealed the match with approx 10mins to go, McDougall got the break of the ball in the Ashfield box and looked certain to score but the ex-Ashfield striker ballooned it over the bar from 10 yards out. Ashfield continued to struggle to make any clear cut chances. Darren O'Donnell, Martin Gault and Stevie Martin came on for Ashfield and this seemed to make a difference.

As the game moved into the final minute, Ashfield were thrown a life line as they were awarded a free-kick centrally on the edge of the Glencairn box after a foul on Maxwell. Glencairn pulled everyone back to create a massive wall, but Thomson stepped up and bent the ball round the wall with great pace, it lashed the top right hand corner of the net before the Glens keeper could move. The Ashfield bench were clearly delighted along with the Ashfield support in the ground.

A vital point for Ashfield and probably deserved. It keeps the 'Field' unbeaten in the league campaign with 2 draws and a win against teams who have been in this league for a number of years.

FULL TIME:- ASHFIELD 1 RUTHERGLEN GLENCAIRN 1

Man of the Match:- Mark 'Thomo' Thomson - he won everything in the air today and capped it off with a bullet of a free kick to seal a point

Attendance: 60