Central League – Division 1

Saturday 20th September 2014

LARKHALL THISTLE 2 MARYHILL 2

Maryhill were perhaps a little fortunate to emerge with a point following a dull and uninspiring encounter at Gasworks Park.

The prospects looked good for Hill early on, however, and after only three minutes they were awarded a penalty when William Wells was fouled by Niall Reynolds. Andy Monaghan made his usual effective job from the spot to make it 1-0. The home side responded and put the Maryhill defence under some pressure, and Grant Hay in the Hill goal saved well from a Ross McGeachie shot. A deserved equaliser arrived after thirteen minutes, although there was some controversy surrounding the award of a free kick for Andy Banks’ challenge on McGeachie. There was no doubt about the quality of Graham Gracie’s perfectly executed conversion, however, and Hay was left with little chance as the ball sped past him into the net. Memorable moments were in short supply for the remainder of the first half, with some over robust challenges and petty squabbling from both sides the order of the day. A 20 yard drive from Monaghan was well saved by Thistle keeper Alan Colquhoun, and a shot from David Reid for Larkhall which narrowly missed the target were the only real moments worthy of mention, before Maryhill regained their lead just before the break. There was again an element of controversy about the goal, with claims from the home side that Kieran Furay handled the ball before firing a low shot into the net from close range.

Half Time – Larkhall 1 Maryhill 2

Early in the second half Andy Monaghan had a shot from eighteen yards saved by Colquhoun, but most of the subsequent play took place in the Maryhill half. A well merited equaliser came after 56 minutes when, following a good run and cross from Niall Reynolds, Ross McGeachie shot home from six yards. The home side were well on top after this and missed a series of chances to take the lead. McGeachie headed just over the bar, a shot from Mark Canning was inches out, and a third goal looked certain when Ryan Inness’ lob beat Hay, but Paul Callander managed to scramble the ball clear just before it crossed the line. Paul Temporal then kicked a goalbound effort off the line, and another header from McGeachie was well saved by Grant Hay. The scrappy and undisciplined tone of the game was underlined with red cards for Larkhall’s Scott Nicol and Maryhill’s Kieran Furay sixteen minutes from the end following a petulant exchange. There was always the chance that Maryhill could snatch the game against the run of play, and a quick break presented William Wells with a good opportunity five minutes from the end, but his weak effort was easily gathered by Colquhoun.

In the end, Larkhall will consider themselves unlucky not to have taken all three points, with Maryhill relieved to hear the final whistle after a poor performance.

LARKHALL -: Colquhoun, Reynolds, Nicol, Marshall, Schoneville, Canning, Clarke (Jack 58), Innes, Gracie, McGeachie, Reid (McKeever 58).
SUBS (unused) – Duris, Brown, Moss

SCORERS – Gracie (13), McGeachie (56)

YELLOW CARDS – Reynolds (3), Nicol (33), Innes (79), Canning (79), Schoneville (82)
RED CARD – Nicol (74)

MARYHILL-: Hay, Beckley, Lundie, Temporal, Banks, Callender, Furay, Ferguson, Monaghan, Ndlovu (Orr 26), Wells.
SUBS (unused) – Littler, Asante, Omar

SCORERS – Monaghan (pen 3), Furay (43)

YELLOW CARDS – Banks (13), Monaghan (20),
RED CARD – Furay (74)

Referee – Daniel McFarlane

Man of the match – Andy Banks

Opponents’man of the match – Ross McGeachie