Marine Harvest South Division One

Glenorchy 3-1 Aberdour

After the scheduled fixture between Glenorchy and Aberdour was cancelled last week due to a waterlogged pitch in Fife, the sides finally got round to meeting for the first time this season at Dalmally. There was certainly no danger of this tie being in doubt as the sun scorched down on The Mart Park for this 1.30pm throw-up.

The home side were missing a whole host of players for differing reasons with Duncan MacDougall, Ewan Murray and Fulton Ronald all dropping out the starting 12 and being replaced by Lorne Brown, Scott Livingstone and Scott MacIntyre as Glen went in search of two more valuable points to keep the pressure on Oban Camanachd at the top.

Referee, Deek Cameron got the game underway and it was a much-changed Glen who were the first to threaten when John Sartain latched on to a neat through ball from the skipper Findlay Ross and his effort forced the Aberdour keeper into an early reaction stop with his feet.

John McNulty, who just about made the starting line-up despite suffering from tonsilitis, was next to try his luck with a low stinger of a shot which flew just past. The Glen forwardline of McNulty, Sartain, Scott MacIntyre and Grant MacPherson were enjoying a lot of the ball in the early stages and were looking very threatening indeed.

With the Glen midfield of Scott Livingstone, Ross and Sandy Leiper bursting forward at every available opportunity the opening goal seemed inevitable and it duly came courtesy of McNulty when he latched on to a rebound from MacPherson strike and bulleted home a drive high into the roof of the net to make 1-0 to Glenorchy.

With his confidence sky-high after that goal, young McNulty then added his, and Glenorchy's, 2nd of the afternoon when he slotted home low past the keeper from close range after a good save saw the ball break loose to make it 2-0 to Glenorchy.

The new-look Glen rearguard of Lorne Brown, Scott McKillop, Kieran MacKay and Duncan Smith were not really being tested a great deal and kept a very high line as the half progressed in order to keep the pressure on the visitors.

Scott MacIntyre saw a strike fly past the near post and then winger Scott Livingstone drove high over the top as Glen seeked what would be a killer third goal before the interval. MacPherson saw a blistering effort go just over before Sartain tried his luck from distance after creating space for himself with some neat touches and his effort found the bottom corner to make it 3-0 to the home side.

McNulty forced the Aberdour keeper into a great save with his hand before Ross tried his luck from distance with a shot that required the keeper to tip the ball over with his stick.

Half-time arrived with Glenorchy leading by 3 goals to nil and Glen gaffer, Allan MacKechnie was delighted with his makeshift side's positive showing in the opening period but demanded that his side keep pushing and pressing for more goals as the game was certainly not won yet by any manner of means.

He made one change at the break with the ill McNulty making way after his two goals and he was replaced by Graham Morrice who went into defence with MacKay taking up a more familiar position at half-forward.

Glen were once more the quicker side out of the traps at the beginning of the second period with MacKay and MacPherson both seeing efforts saved. Glen keeper, Andrew Smith was then called into action for the first time in the game when he dealt with a waist high shot with his hand.

Although the sun was belting down it can be no excuse for the lackadaisical attitude which then beset the home side as Aberdour began to grow in confidence and found the target with a few more efforts as Andy Smith began to have his work cut out. Glen then lost MacKay to injury with Ewan Murray, who had been working late, coming on up-front.

Aberdour then pulled a goal back when John MacLachlan evaded a couple of challenges and slotted the ball beyond Smith at his near post to make the scoreline 3-1 to the black and whites.

Almost immediately, MacLachlan then fired a brilliant strike on target bound for the top corner until Smith touched it round the post with his stick. Glen were now being overworked in defence and the visitors looked the more likely side to score again.

MacPherson tried to settle things with a low strike that flew just wide as Glen reintroduced MacKay to the strikeforce in place of MacIntyre as they seeked to regain their composure and confidence.

Findlay Ross was then harshly penalised for a physical tackle which seemed to be shoulder-to-shoulder and that Ross had just outmuscled his opponent but Deek Cameron gave a free hit and incurred the wrath of the home support. The free-hit was well cleared by McKillop as the clock ticked down.

Neither side really created anything more threatening as the game wore on towards its conclusion with Glen bringing Sartain and Murray back onto the wings with Livingstone and Leiper moving up front to try to stem the tide.

Deek Cameron brought the game to an end after playing 5 minutes of injury-time and Glen had indeed secured the two points but it certainly wasn't without a fight and Aberdour can take great heart from the way they performed in the second half.

Next up for Glenorchy is a visit to Yoker to take on title rivals' Glasgow Mid Argyll for what is sure to be a tight tussle with both sides needing victory to maintain their respective title charges. GMA won the corresponding fixture earlier in the season 2-1 so Orchy will be out for some sort of revenge. Aberdour have a free week ahead.

Glenorchy: Andrew Smith, Lorne Brown, Scott McKillop, Duncan Smith, Kieran MacKay, Sandy Leiper, Findlay Ross, Scott Livingstone, John Sartain, Grant MacPherson, Scott MacIntyre, John McNulty. Subs used: Ewan Murray, Graham Morrice

Duncan Smith