EVENING TIMES CUP SEMI-FINAL

Glenafton 3 Girvan 1

TWO late goals decided what had been a closely contested match at Loch Park.

With Glenafton double winners and visitors Girvan First Division champions there was much back-slapping before kick-off.

Glenafton lined up to applaud their opponents on the park with Girvan then forming another guard of honour to do likewise for Glens.

Both squads and management were then presented with their league championship winning medals followed by the main business of the night.

A place in the Evening Times Cup Final against Glasgow Perthshire was at stake which, for Glenafton, represented the chance of a treble.

It was Glens who started better, creating several chances, with Scott Johnstone having to come out his goals to clear from Conor Lynass.

Girvan's first opportunity came when a Craig Reid cross found Andy Stevenson at the back post, who headed just wide.

Ryan McChesney then side-footed a Davie Gray corner before Joe Andrew found himself one-on-one with Johnstone, who managed to block the shot.

All this was before the 15 minute mark had been reached and more of the same entertained the fans, to take their minds of the invasion of midges.

Ironically, the first goal almost came after a comedy of errors when Chris Meikle headed back to his keeper Blair Lochhead, who missed the ball, which then clattered off the post.

Glens broke the deadlock, at the right end, in the 36th minute when John Carter snapped up a half-chance after a melee in the box.

Peter Leonard's side were by no means out of the contest though and, after withstanding early pressure in the second half, Robert Patterson equalised in 64 minutes.

He had been alert as the home defence were making heavy weather of clearing their lines and finished well.

Lynass fell awkwardly and appeared to twist his knee on the turf, with players from both sides urging the referee to stop the game.

After a lengthy delay while he was treated, the winger was stretchered off with Daniel Oris replacing him.

Despite it being distressful to see your player seriously injured, the introduction of Orsi revitalised Glens.

Within minutes of coming on, with less than 10 minutes left, he forced a series of corners, linking up well with Gray and Kyle McAusland on one occasion.

His contribution then paid dividends when he laid off a ball to Cammy Marlow, who dispatched a superb shot which went in off the post.

With Glens on the ascendancy, they were awarded a penalty after Scott Dinwoodie handled and Gray made no mistake from the spot.

GLENAFTON - Lochhead, McAusland, Cairns, Meikle, McChesney, Marlow, Borris, Gray, Carter, Andrew, Lynass (Orsi 82).

Subs not used: Dallas, McCann, McGarrity (g/k)

GIRVAN - Johnstone, Reid, Doolan, McCreadie. Frame, Dinwoodie, Hilton, McDowall, Stevenson (Reilly 65), Patterson, Jardine (Cameron 81)

Subs not used: Auld, RobertsonÂ