McBookie Super League Premier Division

HURLFORD UNITED 0

BEITH JUNIORS 1

A HARD-fought opening league fixture on a impressively revamped Blair Park surface saw the visitors narrowly but deservedly head home with the points.

Honours were about even in the opening exchanges but Beith looked particularly dangerous through Conor McGlinchey and Darren Christie down the right flank.

A corner in 12 minutes caused danger in the Hurlford box but Chris Robertson managed to get a crucial toe to the ball to clear the danger as John Sheridan prepared to shoot. Ross McPherson then was only inches away with a shot after good work by Christie to create the opening. Beith were on top but several more corners came to nothing with the strong home defence holding firm. Beith almost caught a sucker punched from Calum "Tiny" Watt, who left Beith to return to his former club in the summer when he managed to find some space in the box before dragging his shot wide of the far post.

Play continued to flow mostly towards the home end but another fine Beith move ended tamely with dynamic midfielder Paul Frize shooting wide. Solid defending from both sides resulted in a midfield battle in testing weather with few clear chances. A strong penalty claim from Beith was turned down and Hurlford offered a reminder that that they were still in contention with Beith keeper Grindlay having to look lively to touch an on-target Chris McKnight free kick over the bar before the break.

Little changed in the pattern of play in the second half with Beith again looking the more potent side going forward. Darren Christie also continued to open up the home defence but several good centres found no takers. Hurlford's forwards were getting little change from the solid Beith defence and any opportunities were falling to supporting midfielders and the best chance so far fell to Allan Jenkins but Steven Grindlay stopped his shot with a good save.

Beith kept up the pressure and Hurford's Robertson, McKillan and Robertson were booked for foul challenges along with McKenzie for a blatant dive with the hosts battling to keep the visitors at bay. It was starting to look like the match could remain goalless with Beith seeing shots from Christie and Frize blocked however a couple of corners midway through the half finally produced a goal. From the second delivery into the box the ball was cleared only as far as Nicky Docherty just outside the box and he took the ball early to lash a great left foot shot into the top corner.

Darren Henderson made changes in an effort to get something from a game now slipping away from them. They duly exerted some pressure but the Beith defence remained resolute and saw off a goalmouth scramble when the hosts pushed big men forward for a free-kick and further aerial half chances fell to Jenkins but Grindlay saved one and the other cleared the bar before the end.

Both sides should be commended for producing a well-contested match with some decent football in some brutal weather. Hurlford will almost certainly recover from this opening day setback.

Beith had several outstanding performers on the day and if they can reproduce this kind of determined display they can look forward to a good season.

BEITH: Grindlay; McGlinchey, Docherty, McLaughlin, Sheridan, Wilson, Christie, Frize, McPherson, Milliken, McGowan. Subs: McKenna, Bradley, Collins, Martin, MacDonald.