Central Regional Cup Third Round - 11/02/2012

 

The ground staff at Cambusbarron worked overtime before kick-off to ensure this game went ahead. One area of the pitch required spiking to allow standing water to drain and it was clear to see on kick-off that the turf was still more than slippery as players from both sides struggled to keep their footing. 

 

Kilsyth playing up the slope broke well in the fifth minute sweeping forward after defending a corner only to be denied by the home keeper and then by a desperate block by a defender. Twelve minutes in and Nicol drove down the right flank and delivered the ball into the danger area, the keeper and Kilsyth’s Turpie met the ball together causing it to spill and be hoofed clear by the defence. However, the long clearance was met well and Rovers broke down the right wing and a vicious shot from an acute angle was palmed onto the face of the crossbar by stand in Kilsyth keeper Waters. Kilsyth broke back and it needed a good save to stop Ross from opening the scoring. 

 

Kilsyth were now starting to get the upper hand and play nice football despite the poor under foot conditions. From a throw in on the right McClear played a good ball to Nicol who drove in well and laid the ball to Turpie who’s shot rebounded and found the net to give Kilsyth the lead. Kilsyth maintained the pressure and minutes later they broke down the left and with the keeper committed Ross rounded him only for a defender to get back and clear. On twenty five minutes Ross again did excellent work on the right and laid back to Nicol whose great cross was met well by Turpie only for the ball to go over the bar. Cambusbarron started to edge their way back into the game and created a number of chances late in the half. With forty two minutes on the clock Rovers pushed forward and a goal bound shot struck Eccles and deflected onto the post and into the hands of the grateful hands of Miller now in the Kilsyth goal. A minute later Rovers attacked down the right, Paterson deputising at sweeper for the injured Holmes tried to shield the ball out of play but was muscled off it and the ball was laid across the face of Kilsyth’s goal and forced home. One all right on the break.

 

Half time: Cambusbarron Rovers Under 17s 1-1 Kilsyth Athletic Under 17s

 

As the teams turned around you could sense that we had a good cup tie on your hands. Both teams seemed to cancel each other out in the second half with some committed tackling on the greasy surface and chances were of a premium. Nicol had a good driven shot parried away mid way through the half and almost straight after Ross broke into the box for Kilsyth but his shot was deflected and the keeper scrambled the ball past the post. 

 

On the seventy minute mark a Kilsyth attack broke down and Rovers swept up the hill with a long ball falling to their striker who drove on to the edge of the area and fired at goal only to see his shot palmed away by Miller . Kilsyth defended the corner and broke out securing a corner of their own which was taken short to Nicol who delivered it into the danger area and Morrison’s header was well saved. With minutes remaining Kilsyth broke down the right flank with Forsyth skipping past challenges, he cut inside and fired across goal narrowly missing with two Athletic players inches from tapping home to secure the tie. 

 

The tie moved into extra time and Athletic were in determined mood. With three minutes of the first period gone they secured a number of free kicks outside the Kilsyth goal area. The ball in was cleared to the edge of the area and met by Nicol who rifled home a volley to give Kilsyth the lead. Minutes later some great play by Forsyth at the corner flag saw him deliver an inch perfect pass to the head of Turpie whose header grazed the post. Had the ball gone in the net the tie would surely have been over. From the goal kick Rovers secured the ball near the half way line and as the Kilsyth defence backed off they drilled a low shot into the net to level the scoring. 

 

The teams turned around and Rovers playing up the hill almost immediately secured a throw in. The long throw was delivered into the box and an almighty scramble took place with the ball being blocked three times by Kilsyth defenders resulting in a corner kick. The kick was delivered well and the Rovers player headed inches wide. Both sets of players gave everything in what was both a keenly and fairly contested match and were a credit to their clubs. With one minute remaining on the clock and the spectre of the dreaded penalty shoot-out looming large Kilsyth broke down field and a perfect pass from Kilsyth’s captain in midfield was gathered by Forsyth on the left who carried the ball into the box and drove his shot straight at the keeper, the ball squirmed under the keeper and nestled in the net to give Kilsyth the tie and break the valiant Rovers’ hearts.

 

Full time: Cambusbarron Rovers Under 17s 2-2 Kilsyth Athletic Under 17s (2-3 AET)