Barrhead YFC took a big step towards the latter stages of the Trans World Soccer Scottish Youth FA Cup on Saturday by grafting hard to beat a good Troon outfit 4-0. A bumper crowd turned up to take this key tie in at Cowan Park in Barrhead despite the chilly conditions. The match was slightly overshadowed by a bad incident involving Barrhead's Kieran O'Donahue, and the midfielder had to be stretchered off the park and into an ambulance after suffering a leg injury. O'Donahue will be cheered though at the fact his team made it through to the next round of the cup.

 

Barrhead got the match underway and were immediately on the attack as they won a free kick on the right hand side of the pitch early in the game. The ball was swung in by Thomas McGoughey to the back post and cleared by Troon's Morgan Brown, but the ball fell to Brian Ashe on the edge of the box who volleyed a great effort just over the bar.

 

The combination of McGoughey and Ashe were at it again soon after as another great ball in by McGoughey saw Ashe's header clip the left hand post.

 

The game eased into a tighter affair after the initial 15 minutes, with Troon seeing more of the ball and winning a succession of free-kicks inside the Barrhead half, though they could not convert any of the chances.

 

And Troon had a great chance to go ahead through Dean Fulton shortly after. The winger found himself through on goal with only the keeper to beat but was overcooked the shot and the ball blazed over the bar.

 

The breakthrough came for Barrhead after a corner. The ball was swung in by Fraser McLaughlin and the ball pinged around in the box before landing kindly at Jack Easdon's feet and the attacker finished well, high into the net.

 

After taking the lead, Barrhead never really looked like letting it go and crafted a series of opportunities towards the end of the first half.

 

Brian Ashe saw a shot whistle just past the left post and Jack Easdon was at it again, this time nodding the ball just over from a wonderful Thomas McGoughey delivery.

 

Easdon linked up some lovely play with left-back John Middleton, and Middleton found himself through on goal. His shot was a good effort low to the keeper's right, but Cameron Taylor kept his side within touching distance with a good save.

 

Troon almost got themselves level after Morgan Brown delivered a great ball from the corner spot. Centre-back Sean Vance was unlucky to see his header clip the top of the bar though, and the chance was gone.That moment proved pivotal for the game as Barrhead's star man Thomas McGoughey delighted the home crowd with a fine goal. After winning the free-kick 25 yards out, McGoughey curled the ball right into the top corner from the spot-kick, leaving 'keeper Cameron Taylor with no chance and Barrhead two nil up before the break.

Troon got us underway again in the second half, but it was Barrhead who were still asking the questions after the interval.

 

A lovely move came from a corner, with Fraser McLaughlin passing to Thomas McGoughey who then dummied to set up Anthony Etherson for the long range effort. The defender's effort was just a little too close to Cameron Taylor though, and the goalkeeper got down well to his right to make the save.

 

The game took a sour turn shortly after.

 

Midfielder Kieran O'Donahue came together in a 50-50 with Troon's Jordan Greenlees, and the Barrhead man came off second best, leaving him lying on the pitch in some distress. The referee stopped his watch at this point and after Barrhead's physio assessed the situation, an ambulance was called and O'Donahue was eventually stretchered off the park after a 30 minute delay. It was a very unfortunate incident and we wish Kieran all the best in getting back to playing again.

 

Barrhead weren't going to let the disruption affect their game plan though, and striker Brian Ashe was very unlucky not to get on the scoresheet after lobbing Cameron Taylor. Sean Vance did incredibly well to get back though and he cleared the ball off the line.

 

Within minutes though, Barrhead found themselves 3-0 up and out of sight of plucky Troon.

 

Danger man Thomas McGoughey was really troubling the Troon defence and showed some great flair to beat his man and send a cracking ball to the back post, where Jack Easdon was on hand to get his second of the game.

 

One of Troon's shining lights was creative midfielder Ross McCrea. He was probing the Barrhead defence and managed to pick out a good ball to Louis Kerr, but the attacker only managed to force a good save from Mark Parsons.

 

Barrhead found themselves four to the good before long, and it was that man Easdon again on the scoresheet wrapping up his hat-trick after a scramble in the box from another McGoughey ball.

 

Sam McNeill nearly put Barrhead five up with a fine effort from long range. Even finer though was the save, with Cameron Taylor doing incredibly well and showing great determination to tip the ball onto the top of the crossbar.

 

Troon had another opportunity with Christopher Vance finding Ross McCrea on the edge of the box, but McCrea was unlucky to see his shot fly just past the bottom left corner.

 

It was all too late though for Troon, and Barrhead deservedly march into the next round of the cup.