Glens suffer unlucky 13 as Medda stalemate could spell end of their title charge

Willie Harvey’s men continue to sit top of the pile. However, it was difficult not to believe the long-serving Glens gaffer was regarding Saturday’s 0-0 stalemate with Irvine Meadow as a case of two points dropped as he walked off the Celsius Stadium pitch at the final whistle with his head held low.

The various ifs and buts had already been assessed in the terraces in the lead up to kick-off and the strong body of opinion favoured the Glens being crowned champions by coming out on top in their final two matches against the Medda and Cumbernauld United.

Yet such are the fine margins between success and failure in this most competitive of the McBookie.com leagues that 90 minutes later those same Ru’Glonians were bemoaning the likelihood of their team missing out on promotion altogether.

The league table doesn’t lie and Glencairn’s fate is assuredly not in their own hands with five sides in proximity and, crucially, all with games in hand. However, a play-off spot could well be the reward for Harvey’s side getting their act together to win their last game against Cumbernauld.

The Glens chief could not mask his disappointment afterwards. "The vast majority of my players have never been in a title-challenging position before and I felt nerves were clearly evident in their game today – Tony Fraser apart," Harvey said.

“He used his experience to knit us together after an edgy opening spell and we really should have scored at least a couple of goals before half time but even he couldn’t prevent the team getting more and more worried about losing a goal and sitting far too deep as the game wore on.

“We tried to change things with three attacking substitutions but it just wasn’t to be and I found it hard to decry the players for their efforts given the marvellous run they have been on of late.”

The marauding runs forward of Glens full-back Ryan Docherty were a feature of the early exchanges when he was more often seen in the visiting penalty box than his own. And not surprisingly Medda keeper Shaun Newman was called upon for a few saves – the best preventing a certain score by Del McNab – and his luck was in as Glens striker Fraser Team miskicked when through on goal before the hitman also contrived to put a close-range effort wide of target after a Jay Mackay long throw landed at his feet.

Glencairn had the wind in their favour when the second half got underway and they started brightly. But the visiting Ayrshiremen – with Chris McKnight pulling the midfield strings – began to assert themselves as an attacking force and J.C. Hutchison found himself the busier of the two goalkeepers.

The impressive Docherty's foul to bring down an opponent just seconds after being yellow carded for dissent had a posse of Ayrshiremen screaming for his dismissal and whistler Stephen Brown’s refusal to take action prompted Harvey to immediately substitute his team’s best player on the day – for his own good.

The absence of Docherty’s aerial ability in defence allowed Irvine Meadow to gain the upper hand at set plays and Ryan Begley came close with a strong header that kicked off a frantic closing period that saw Newman tip over a scoring shot from Craig Johnston prior to the dismissal of Glens skipper Andy Neil after crazily picking up a second yellow card for a show of dissent in injury time.

An even greater penalty was almost the outcome of the resulting free-kick as a Medda netbound effort was headed off the line by Craig McGregor to ensure the spoils were shared between the teams. Visiting team boss Michael Wardrope admitted: "Our promotion hopes were dead and buried before today so it speaks volumes for the players to show a lot of desire and commitment particularly in light of four regulars being posted missing.

“Today was the fourth league game on the spin where we have failed to score and that’s something we have to address if we are to be in the promotion running next season.”

Glencairn’s lapse was not capitalised upon by closest challengers Kilsyth Rangers after they also had to settle for a share of the spoils at home to fellow title contenders Girvan, who led through a Michael Reilly strike that was cancelled out by Kilsyth’s top marksman Paul McBride.

Petershill’s promotion hopes were dented by losing 2-1 at home to a resurgent Clydebank – now up to third on the back of a comeback win over their rivals, who led through a Jason Hardie penalty before Nikky Little (pen) and Alan Frizzel goals helped the Bankies come good.

Matters at the other end of the table are similarly up in the air with only Irvine Vics definitely doomed to take the drop at this stage.

Things are looking ominous for Blantyre Vics following a 6-4 defeat by Yoker Athletic after doubles from Ryan Hynes, John Harvey and Kuris Roberts, while Shotts Bon Accord are looking precariously placed after Gregor Wylie, Darren Jones and Jamie Benton goals saw Renfrew run out 3-0 winners at New Western Park.

Maryhill won another round in their battle to avoid relegation thanks to a scoring brace from veteran front man Jamie Docherty and a Keiran Furay counter bringing a 3-2 triumph over Irvine Vics.

WEEKEND RESULTS :McBookie.com Super Premier Division.Troon 2 Beith 4, Arthurlie 1 Glenafton 1, Hurlford Utd 2 Auchinleck Talbot 2, Rob Roy 0 Kilbirnie Ladeside 1 .McBookie.com Super First Division. Irvine Vics 2 Maryhill 3, Rutherglen Glencairn 0 Irvine Meadow 0, Kilsyth Rangers 1 Girvan 1, Petershill 1 Clydebank 2, Renfrew 3 Shotts Bon Accord 0,Yoker Athletic 6 Blantyre Vics 4.McBookie.com Central First Division. Thorniewood Utd 3 Cambuslang Rangers 3, Vale of Clyde 1 Greenock 1, Lesmahagow 2 Bellshill Athletic 0, Forth Wanderers 0 Benburb 4, Johnstone Burgh 0 St Rochs 2, Neilston 3 Larkhall Thistle 2.McBookie.com Central Second Division. Newmains Utd 0 Port Glasgow 5, Gartcairn 1 Ashfield 2, Dunipace 0 Lanark Utd 4, East Kilbride Thistle 1 Royal Albert 0.McBookie.com Ayrshire District League. Craigmark 1 Maybole 6, Dalry Thistle 2 Annbank Utd 2, Darvel 1 Muirkirk 0.