Boyd's double hands Bellshill lifeline

May 8 2008

STUART Boyd’s dramatic double sealed a last-day win over Auchinleck Talbot and steered Bellshill clear of relegation from the Super League Premier Division.

But they could still be dragged into a play-off, depending on results of three teams below them who have games in hand.

A 3-2 home defeat on Saturday by Cumnock put additional pressure on Bellshill when they lined up against Talbot, who themselves were fresh from their 5-0 trouncing of Shotts Bon Accord.

But after the 2-1 win, assistant boss John Gibson beamed:

“We got a good reaction from the dressing room and the attitude was right.

“We knew we had to win the game and there was no way a draw, let alone a defeat, could be contemplated.

“I thought we were excellent in the first half and could have been two or three up by the interval.

“That win takes us above Arthurlie in the league, who will now have to beat Pollok to avoid the play-off, and it puts pressure on Auchinleck and Cumnock to win their games in hand, so we have to be pleased with the position we are now in.”

Boyd struck five minutes before the break when, from a position a few feet from the touchline, he sent a speculative effort over the keeper’s head and into the top corner.

Talbot equalised in 53 minutes but Boyd popped up to snatch a close-range winner from a Kevin McDonald free-kick five minutes before the end.

Gibson added: “Boyd did well, he ran them ragged and deserved the two goals for all his efforts.”

Bellshill conceded an early penalty against Cumnock on Saturday, but Boyd equalised before half-time.

Cumnock went 3-1 up, before Brian Felvus grabbed a consolation.

Shotts Bon Accord are staring relegation in the face as they go into their final league game at home to Glenafton.

A home win would put Shotts one point above Cumnock, but the Scottish Cup finalists have four games in hand.

Saturday’s 5-0 drubbing at Auchinleck was the final nail, with club officials and players admitting it’s almost certainly all over.

Assistant boss Willie Burns said: “It’s a sad way to whimper out but Saturday’s result sums up our campaign; there’s been no consistency.

“In the previous couple of games we had played well and on Saturday we knew what we had to do, but it didn’t pan out that way — we never got into our stride.

“We’ve got to take it on the chin and hope we can bounce back.”

Super League First Division side Lesmahagow have lurched from one crisis to another, following up a 2-0 midweek defeat at Vale of Clyde with a 5-0 roasting at Renfrew, and a 3-2 home defeat against Kilwinning Rangers on Monday.

Goalkeeper Stewart Thomson was punished for a mistake at the edge of the box, and Vale added a second goal after the break.

Saturday was simply a nightmare scenario as they fell behind after 14 SECONDS, and were 3-0 and out of the game within 30 minutes.

Two late goals in either half on Monday denied them the points.

Kevin McDade equalised a few minutes before the interval, but Kilwinning instantly restored their lead.

Paul Crumley levelled, but Rangers grabbed a winner as the game moved into stoppage time.

Assistant boss Robert Irving said: “We didn’t play too badly at Vale of Clyde, but Saturday’s performance was totally unacceptable and the players were told that in no uncertain terms.

“On Monday we had only 10 players available due to work commitments, and had to bring in some young trialists.

“By the time we play Annbank on Monday we will have played eight games in 16 days — about a third of our season in a fortnight.”