Hurlford Juniors hold on for a vital point

May 1 2009 by Clair Fullarton, Kilmarnock Standard

HURLFORD put in one of their best performances on Saturday and managed to secure a much-needed point.

The Blair Park side had been leading the game until the 90th minute, and were unlucky not to take all three points.

Things started well for them and they had plenty of possession in the first half, with Ryan Caddis having the bulk of the chances.

He had a shot cleared off the line, brought off a great save from the goalie and with another attempt went inches past.

The opener came 15 minutes into the second half when Gavin Brown unleashed a belter of a shot 25 yards out.

Caddis got the second six minutes later when, after a great run, he nipped in behind the defence to hit the top left hand corner of the net.

Chances fell to Charlie Adams and Mark Morrison, who could have wrapped up the points, but just missed out.

The turning point of the match came when defender John McCaig had to leave the park due to an injury.

The Hurlford players never settled back into the game after that and Shotts got a goal back on 90 minutes, when one of their forwards was left unmarked and headed home from close range.

Deep into added-on time, Hurlford hearts broke when a harsh hand ball decision was made when the ball came off Scott McGregor’s hand and the resultant penalty was converted.

But despite the disappointment late on, manager John Crawford said he was delighted with the players’ performance and said it was one of their best of the season.

“Individually and collectively they did well and it was good to see,” said the gaffer.

Hurlford: Wilson, McCluskey, McCaig, Lawless, Nimmo, Caddis, Adams, Brown, Morrison, Orr, Fulton. Subs: Deeney, Donnelly, Doolan, McKinnon, McGregor.

* Hurlford lost 2-1 against Annbank last Wednesday. They went ahead through a Campbell McCluskey free kick, but Annbank fought back with two goals before half-time to wrap the game up and Hurlford ended the game with only nine men.

Tonight (Thursday) Hurlford travel to Girvan at 7pm and are away again on Saturday to Port Glasgow at 2pm.