McBookie Super League Premier Division

BEITH JUNIORS 4

ARTHURLIE 1

REJUVENATED Beith racked up their third win in a successful week, coming back from a goal down to keep themselves in touch in the title race.

The hosts fell behind after only four minutes courtesy of a blunder by Stephen Grindlay. A cross into the box could have been cleared by Kevin MacDonald but he left it to the big keeper after he shouted but he took an eternity to get down to pick up the ball allowing James Marks to nick the ball away from him and fire it into the empty goal.

Beith gradually recovered from the setback with Paul Frize prominent, driving forward as he does from midfield. However it was a fine solo goal from Darren Christie that settled the nerves when he cut into the box and found enough space to fire a shot across keeper Hay into the bottom corner.

Play continued to flow mainly down the slope towards the Lie goal but they had some luck on their side with the crossbar keeping them level on two occasions. A Richie Burke shot following a corner looked goal-bound but smashed off the bar and was scrambled clear then from another corner the bar kept out a wildly-sliced clearance.

The hosts continued to have the majority od possession but Arthurlie were working hard, none more so than man of many clubs James Marks who always offered as a target to relieve the pressure and this helped his side to get in for the break all square.

'Lie probably had high hopes for the second half with the advantage of the slope but they were quickly dashed when Darren Christie struck again lashing in a cross on the drop at the back post only two minutes in.

Paul Frize and Darren Christie went close to increasing Beith’s lead but they were finding the visitors hard to break down and they still posed an occasional threat up front through James Marks.

Arthurlie’s resistance was only broken with eight minutes remaining when substitute Ross McPherson found the net with a low shot in crowded box with keeper Hay possibly unsighted. Frize was also rewarded for his efforts when he drilled a fine shot into the bottom corner before the final whistle.

BEITH: Grindlay, McGlinchey, N Docherty, MacDonald, Sheridan, Martin, Christie, Frize, Collins, Milliken, Burke. Subs: McLean, McPherson, Bradley, Wilson, Cunningham.

Meanwhile Beith last Wednesday defeated Cumnock Juniors 3-1.

Andy Reid put the hosts ahead with a brilliant goal after seven minutes when he found some space 25 yards out and looked up before firing an unstoppable shot into the top corner. They doubled their lead in 14 minutes when Richie Burke shot home from inside in the box after several efforts had been blocked.

Hard-working striker Thomas Collins scored in 40 minutes when he shot home from six yards.

The visitors grabbed a goal and some hope just before half-time as Paul Burns squared for James Hilton to shoot past Grindlay.