Ashfield F & A C 4 Rutherglen Glencairn 2 , Saracen Park, Glasgow - Kick-Off 2pm.

Ashfield welcomed the League Leaders to Saracen Park this afternoon desperate to try and haul themselves back into the fringes of the promotion race. This they did in style after a brilliant second half performance ensured the points remained at Saracen. Glorious sunshine greeted both teams with Ashfield playing in their traditional Black & White hoops with the visitors changing to an all Red strip.

The game was barely 3 minutes old when Ashfield took the lead quite spectacularly. A free kick was awarded just inside the Glencairn half and Captain for the day Jim Smith noticed the Rutherglen keeper slightly off his line and launched the ball over his head from 40 yards and in just under the bar to the delight of the home support. It was Jim Smith`s 2nd goal in 2 weeks following his goal against Shotts in the `field`s last outing. A great start for Ashfield ! Ashfield 1 R`Glen Glencairn 0.

This goal sparked the visitors into action and they were unlucky not to be on level terms in the 8th minute when a poor clearance out of defence fell to the Glens No 8 who drilled a low shot, missing the far post by inches. Shortly after, Glencairn were pressurising the home defence and McGovern pulled of a great reflex save in the 14th minute after a corner on the left was whipped in and deflected. After this period of activity the game developed into a midfield battle which was fiercely contested, however in the 33rd Minute Craig Smith picked up the ball midway inside the Glencairn half and charged at the visitors penalty box, evading tackles before despatching an angled drive into the bottom corner of the net for his 21st goal of the season and one of his best. A really terrific goal from the Ashfield forward. Ashfield 2 R`Glen Glencairn 0.

Ashfield needed to settle on this lead, however 2 minutes later found themselves clawed back by a controversial Refereeing decision. The visitors were shocked at going 2-0 down and set out offensively at Ashfield and were awarded a corner on the 34th Minute. From the corner the ball broke out after a fierce challenge on Ashfield`s Paul Maxwell by the Glencairn forwards. As the Ashfield star was lying on the ground the ball bounced up and was adjudged to have hit Jim Smith on the arm. No appeals were made by the Glencairn team, however Referee McFaulds saw fit to award a penalty which was converted with aplomb by the Glens No 11. His reaction after scoring was disappointing and for some reason escaped a booking after goading the Ashfield keeper. Ashfield 2 R`Glen Glencairn 1.

This gave the League Leaders a lift and for the next 10 minutes played most of the game in the Ashfield half. In the 38th Minute, the Glens Captain picked up the ball 25 yards out and unleashed a dipping shot which bounced off the bar to safety. A minute later and Alistair Martin on the left should have increased the `field`s lead however his header came back off the post.

It was really end-to end stuff now and ex-Ashfield player MacDougall went through one on one with Stevie McGovern but the big Ashfield keeper saved low to his left to ensure the home side went in ahead at the interval.

HALF TIME:- ASHFIELD 2 GLENCAIRN 1

The second half was probably one of Ashfield`s best performances of the season and they will be wondering why they only finished 2 goals ahead at the end. Early efforts by Tony Chalmers and Jim Smith almost increased the home side`s lead, however in the 57th Minute Ashfield went further ahead after excellent wing play from Alistair Martin. A lovely angled cross was delivered to the far post for the onrushing Tony Chalmers to head down into the Glencairn net despite the frantic efforts of the keeper. This goal capped a great performance from the Ashfield Midfielder and he certainly enjoyed his goal. Ashfield 3 R`Glen Glencairn 1.

The home side`s priority was to settle on this lead for a period of time, however as earlier in the match they found themselves clawed back by another controversial goal. A curling free kick from Glencairn was met by a strong header which Stevie McGovern seemed to have gathered in the Ashfield goal despite the low bounce, however after appeals from the visitors Referee McFaulds deemed that that the ball had crossed the line and the League Leaders were back in the game. Ashfield 3 R`Glen Glencairn 2.

It was game-on again however the home side did not let this affect them and they produced a great last 25 minutes to the Match. Firstly after a clearance from the Glens defence, Tony Chalmers curled the ball to the far post which was brilliantly saved by the Glens keeper. Shortly after Craig Smith weaved his way through the Glens defence in the 70th minute only to be crudely brought down on the edge of the box. It was a `last man` situation and Referee McFaulds gave the Glens left back a straight `Red`. Ashfield did not capitalise on this occasion however were celebrating on the 77th Minute.

After a period of concerted pressure Ashfield sealed victory in the 77th Minute from their top scorer of the last two seasons, Darren O`Donnell. A wicked corner kick was delivered by Alistair Martin and after a `stramash` in the Glens box the ball broke to the `Dazzler` who nudged the ball over the line to the delight of the players, bench and home support. Ashfield 4 Glencairn 2.

This goal gave Ashfield confidence and they pressurised the visitors until the end with the Glencairn keeper excelling himself with some super stops. This was a good victory for Ashfield against quality opponents who will deservedly lift the League title, however is there still a glimmer of hope for Ashfield in this promotion race ?

FINAL SCORE:- ASHFIELD 4 GLENCAIRN 2

Man of the Match:- Some excellent individual performances in what was a great team effort. Special mentions to Tony Chalmers and Paul Mangion, however Jim Smith produced a terrific and experienced performance against a very lively forward line.

Attendance:- 85

Photographs by:- Inga