Hurlford Utd's drab season ends

May 29 2009 by Clair Fullarton, Kilmarnock Standard

RELEGATED Hurlford United’s last game of the season proved to be as disappointing as the season itself.

With eight players missing from the usual squad, it was a much-depleted side that welcomed their visitors to Blair Park last Wednesday.

The first goal was conceded after just two minutes when a cross from the left hand side was not picked up and Clydebank striker Chris Mackie was given all the room he required to slot the ball home from the edge of the six yard box.

The visitors, possibly with one eye on their forthcoming Scottish Junior Cup final, failed to add to that one strike before the interval.

And Ford didn’t learn the lesson of the first half, because they conceded the second goal just four minutes after the break, and this time it was a penalty kick.

Hurlford’s Kieran Donnelly brought down a Clydebank player who had made a run into the Hurlford box and the resultant spot kick was calmly put beyond keeper Darren Wilson, by Mackie again.

Other than these moments, there wasn’t much happening at either goalmouth.

Hurlford’s Campbell McCluskey came closest for his side in the dying minutes after the home side were awarded a succession of free kicks.

Said manager John Crawford: “This was a disappointing end to a disappointing season. It is now a time to reflect, and after that it will be time for the club to put this behind us and move on.

“If I am here next season, of course, the target would have to be to bounce back into the First Division, but we have to be respectful of the teams in that league, who are quality teams and always improving too.

“It’s not a God-given right just to go back up and we would have to earn it.”

Hurlford: Wilson, Donnelly, Burgess, McCluskey, Doolan, McKinnon, Nimmo, Adams, Morrison, Fulton, Orr. Subs: Deeney, trialist.