GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 2 KILBIRNIE LADESIDE 1

Scorers: Clapperton, Miller

Ladeside almost got off to a dream start with less than 2 minutes gone when a great run  to the bye-line by Jamie Longworth ended with ball being cut across the six yard and put on a plate for Alain Kinney but he blastie(d) the ball over the bar. Four minutes later the Glens countered through Simon Eeles who hared down the right flank and fired the ball at pace across the goalmouth but although Michael Hart had left the Kilbirnie central pairing for dead his touch saw the ball go wide. 

The strong wind was making life difficult for both sides but the visitors, playing into the teeth of it,  at times tamed it with fine passing play taking the ball from box to box with some style.  With the wind at their back the Glens attempted the occasional shot from long range but keeper Paul McCann was their match. He could little though on 38 minutes when local lad DAVIE CLAPPERTON was first to react and pick up the pieces from a partially cleared free kick and slotted the ball home from the corner of the six yard box to score his first goal for the Glens. Three minutes later the midfielder almost doubled his account and the Glens' lead with an angled shot from the edge of the box but McCann at full stretch palmed the ball to relative safety. HT Glens 1 Kilbirnie 0

As in the first period Kinney was first to threaten but his clever turn in the box to tee up a shot was foiled by a timely tackle from Jamie MacDonald. At the other a lungbursting run by MacDonald saw him forge his way into the Blasties box , where he appeared to be held back by the beleaguered right back, before shooting for goal. The Glens were coping well playing against the wind but proceedings were brought to a hold after a crowd disturbance in the covered enclosure leaving the referee no option but to remove both teams from the field of play.

 The momentum swung Kilbirnie's way after the re-start and their pressure paid off when in 65 minutes Paul Bell headed home a corner kick. Ally Semple then pulled off two great saves as the visitors got wind of a possible victory. All credit to the Glens the heads stayed up in the prevailing wind and new signing BRIAN MILLER, former Blastie and former Glens player, restored the home side's advantage when his shot was deflected beyond the marooned McCann. FT Glens 2 Kilbirnie 1