McBookie Premiership

KILBIRNIE LADESIDE 0

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC 3

By Frank Cassidy

LADESIDE tumbled to their sixth defeat out of nine against the 2016-17 champions.

Glens carved out a chance in the opening minute with Joe Andrew's pass intercepted by keeper Grant Hay before it reached Ally Park.

His counterpart Brian McGarrity was also called into early action when he saved a Ryan Hynes shot. Park then tried to nick a shot over Hay's head but the keeper stretched to make the catch.

While the action swung from end-to-end, Glens looked the more dangerous and Liam Murphy did well to prevent a ball going out, however his subsequent pass was well read by Reon Juskowiak.

David Gray then collected a superb back-heel pass from Jon Scullion and advanced on goal but his final ball was poor.

Hynes, who injured his back in the warm-up, had been struggling and eventually came off to be replaced by Joel Kasubandi.

Things went from bad to worse for Ladeside in 23 minutes when Juskowiak handled in the box and Mick McCann scored from the spot.

It was no more than Glens deserved and they almost made it 2-0 five minutes later. Park was preparing to shoot, but the ball took an awkward bounce and he couldn't control it.

Andrew then had a shot which was tipped round the post by Hay after it had taken a deflection.

Kasubandi looked as if he had turned Kyle McAusland, just before the break, but the big defender got a foot in to divert any danger.

Just as they had started the first half, Glens launched an attack and Leon Murphy was desperately unlucky with an angled shot which came off the post in 46 minutes.

McAusland was in the thick of things with a well-timed tackle, to foil David Anderson, followed a minute later by a curled shot which was just wide.

It seemed a matter of time before the goal came but it was almost scored at the other end when a low Scullion shot almost caught out an unsighted McGarrity.

Then Kasubandi squandered a good chance when his header, from a good position, was well off target.

Alan Cairns was injured in the build up to the goal attempt and was unable to continue, despite extensive treatment.

Kilbirnie upped a gear but, apart from a goal-line clearance, the visiting back four coped well and looked like holding on to the 1-0 margin.

That was until McCann finished off a move which carved open the defence to double the lead with just two minutes left.

Dale Moore's pace took him past two defenders before he cut the ball back to fellow-sub Cammy Marlow.

His pinpoint cross found Dan Orsi whose header crashed off the crossbar with McCann pouncing to score.

Not content with that, he made it 3-0 in added time when Moore left the defence trailing once again, to set up McCann whose shot went in off the post.

KILBIRNIE LADESIDE: Hay; Mitchell, McCreath, Davie Anderson, Juskowiak, O'Byrne (Hughes 45), McVey, David Anderson, Hynes (Kasubandi 21), Scullion, Gray. Subs not used: Finlay, Williamson, Wilton (gk).

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC: McGarrity; McLean (McChesney 74) Cairns (Marlow 65), Menzies, McAusland, Park, Orsi, Hawkshaw, McCann, Andrew, Murphy (Moore 81). Subs not used: Lynass, Cummins.