Lanarkshire Junior Football Results

Sep 15 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

THORNIEWOOD United storm-ed back from being a man and two goals down to beat Cumbernauld United 3-2 and seal their first Super First Division win.

But Shotts Bon Accord suffered an exact reversal of fortunes as they threw away a two-goal interval lead to lose 3-2 at Dalry.

And shot-shy Lanark United slumped to their fourth defeat in five games as they lost 1-0 against Girvan, pitching them into the relegation zone.

Thorniewood manager John Fallon said: “It was a great result but we started slowly and went a goal down after only two minutes when we failed to clear the ball after a set-piece.

“Stewart Livingstone was shown a straight red card after four minutes for a two-footed tackle, and Cumbernauld scored a second.

“Fifteen minutes gone and we were2-0 and a man down, but we showed great character as we fought back.

“Barry McGowan pulled one back from a penalty, then Stephen Mullen scored with a great individual goal as he ran from halfway, rounded the centre-half and finished with a good shot.

“Mullen and Stephen Maguire have formed a good partnership up front and they linked up again for the winner.

“Mullen provided the cross and Maguire, with a tremendous overhead kick, hit the winner.

“It was a goal fit to win any game.”

Livingstone will now miss Saturday’s game at Renfrew.

Shotts started off strongly and finished with a spell in the ascendency.

But in between they lost their way – and the game. Murray Watson helped set up the 10th minute opener for Allan McKenzie, then notched the second off a John Boyack pass midway through the first half.

Then came a dramatic collapse, with Shotts’ cause not aided when Gary McStay was red-carded on the hour mark.

Lanark scorned first-half chances as Chris Seenan, Liam Mushet, Alan McFadden and Ross Fletcher all flopped in front of goal, while stand-in keeper Ross Hyslop produced a couple of decent saves to keep the scoresheet blank at the interval.

Seenan headed wide early in the second half and Hyslop – signed on a temporary transfer from Annan Athletic after Derek Barnes injured his knee in training on Thursday – tipped a drive from former Bellshill striker Sean McKenna onto the bar.

On 50 minutes the referee pointed to the spot after Seenan appeared to be brought down but, after consulting with his assistant, instead awarded Lanark a corner... which was probably the correct decision.

But with seven minutes left a speculative shot from substitute Ryan Holmes was deflected over Hyslop’s head for the winner.

Secretary Tam Anderson said: “Lanark will need to get their shooting boots on to get clear of the relegation zone they find themselves in, after failing to find the net.

“Their need for a proven finisher is glaringly obvious after they missed a hatful of chances to finish the game off, before United were cruelly punished with a deflected goal with only seven minutes remaining.”