MARYHILL FOOTBALL CLUB

Date: Saturday, September 6th

Venue: Lochburn Park

Maryhill bounced back from the previous week’s defeat to take all 3 points following an 8-goal thriller with Larkhall Thistle FC at Lochburn Park. Early goals from Jonny Baxter and Connor Hamilton put the ‘Hill 2-0 up within 20 minutes but a 9-minute treble from the visitors through Doug Galloway, Cameron Ballantyne, and a spot-kick from Larkhall skipper Kennedy gave the away side a lead going in at the break. An equaliser from Cammy Armstrong quickly after the restart and a late brace from second half substitute Logan Hunter secured the points following an action-packed game.

Following a cagey opening 10-minute period, the game burst into life when Armstrong’s through ball was controlled and finished by Baxter to give the hosts an early lead. Hamilton doubled the lead just a few minutes later when he ran onto Jordan Duffy’s flick-on. With his back to goal, Hamilton made a yard of space for himself before firing a shot across Alexander and into the bottom corner of the net.

It looked like the home side had clicked into gear and were in control but the game was turned on its head in little over 9 minutes as Larkhall battled back. First, Jamie Wright was called into action to make a crucial close-range stop at the feet of a Larkhall attacker. Within minutes the men from Larkhall pulled a goal back when Galloway’s volley from the edge of the box ricocheted off the face of a defender, wrong-footed Wright, and came to rest in the Maryhill net. Two minutes later and the visitors were level. A free-kick from halfway was sent into a crowded Maryhill penalty area and Ballantyne rose highest to head the ball home. The turn-around was complete within a few minutes. A shot from the edge of the Maryhill penalty was adjudged to have been blocked by an arm so a penalty was awarded. Kennedy stepped up and calmly gave his side the lead from the spot, which they carried into the break.

The ‘Hill regrouped at half-time and got themselves level within 5 minutes of the restart. Jordan Duffy’s drilled cross from the left ran to the back post where Jordan Hood pulled the ball back for Armstrong to finish from close range.

The dynamic of the game changed shortly afterwards when Larkhall were reduced to 10 men as Kennedy was shown a second yellow card with over half an hour remaining. In response, Mark Young made a couple of attacking changes to make use of the extra man as Logan Hunter and later Roan Mina entered the game. Larkhall still posed a threat and looked particularly dangerous from set pieces – Callum Imrie had to be alert to clear a header off the goal line following a corner kick. 

The big moment arrived for Maryhill in the final ten minutes. Hunter collected the ball in the Larkhall half and ran at the defence. He assessed his options before firing an effort from the edge of the box that took a slight deflection beyond the reach of Alexander and nestled in the bottom corner to spark celebrations on the park and in the home dugout.

Larkhall sent men forward in an attempt to get back into the game. The ball was sent into the Maryhill penalty area at the earliest opportunity in search of an equaliser. In stoppage time, the home side defended a set piece and broke forward. Mina’s cross-field ball was finished by Hunter to bag his second of the game and seal the points for his side.

Thanks to everyone who turned out to back the team👏

We travel to Recreation Park for a Tuesday evening friendly against Darvel FC. Kick-off there is 8pm.

Next weekend we’re in South Challenge Cup action when we host South of Scotland Football League side Abbey Vale AFC at Lochburn Park.

MOTM: Callum Imrie (available for sponsorship).

Maryhill FC: Wright, O’ Brien, Lauchlan, Pacitti (39’ Pacitti), Duffy (C), Baxter (76’ Mina), Dempsey (65’ Carmichael), Imrie, Armstrong (65’ Hunter), Hood, Hamilton.