Football: Wee Glens battle for good win

Jan 16 2013 by Kenny Smith, Rutherglen Reformer

Glencairn 21s claimed full points at the weekend in a tough league clash with Harmony Row.

With the juniors at home, the young Glens made the short trip next door to Burnhill to take on Harmony Row. Both teams had produced an exciting 3-3 draw at Harmony in September so hopes were high of another good game.

With work commitments for Dom Slowey and an injury to goalkeeper Alan McLenaghan, there had to be a couple of changes from the team that won at Goldenhill last Saturday.

To be fair the first half was a strong midfield battle with neither set of defenders really having much to do, although Harmony almost took the lead on 15 minutes when their striker found himself alone in the box but shot wide.

The Glens took the lead on 26 minutes Nad Zeb broke on the left and his deep cross to the back post was finished by Jordan Dalzell for his first goal of the campaign 1-0.

He nearly doubled the lead right on half time a great diagonal ball from Wullie McCulloch beat the defender but with Jordan Dalzell running in his shot skipped past the post.

Harmony came out strong in the second half and for the first 10 minutes they pinned the Glens back in their own half and it was no surprise on 56 minutes when a poor clearance fell in the box to a Harmony player and his shot was deflected past Ryan Hay for 1-1.

It was a determined effort now needed by the Glens and on 70 minutes Ryan Bennett replaced Calum McRobbie.

The Glens should have regained the lead on 74 minutes a cross from Wullie McCulloch was met by the head of Ross McNeil but with the goal gapping the ball flew over the top.

Two minutes later an even better effort man of the match Wullie McCulloch clipped a ball on to the chest of Ross McNeil on the edge of the box and with his back to goal his spectacular overhead kick produced a stunning save from the Harmony keeper.

Andy Bargh replaced Nad Zeb on 77 minutes and on 79 minutes the Glens regained the lead a ball over the top saw Ross McNeil raced past the defender with Harmony claiming offside he headered the ball past the keeper and squeezed it in from a tight angle 2 - 1.

Kieran Chalmers replaced Jordan Dalzell at this point and Glens saw the game out for a hard-fought three points, but Harmony will feel mighty aggrieved that they took nothing from a game they worked hard in.