Cumbernauld United end losing run with win at Maybole

Cumbernauld were delighted with their first league win since October.

The victory at the Ladywell Stadium was a very satisfactory result for the visitors who conquered the difficult conditions and fully deserved the points.

United, with former player James Brown back in the side, had an early chance when Steph McDonald set up Ross Foley but his effor was straight at Maybole ’keeper Cameron Menzies.

United looked for a penalty kick when Dom O’Halloran went down in the box but the referee ignored the claims.

Maybole belied their position in the league bottom team attacking United and when a cross came over striker Andy Stevenson slid in at the far post but just missed connecting.

However United were awarded a penalty in the 25th minute when Steph McDonald was clipped in the box and he blasted home to put the visitors ahead.

Maybole hit back and John Frame headed past from an Alan Love corner,

But Cumbernauld increased their lead in 54 minutes when a Mikey McLaughlin pass found Dale Clark whose cross was converted by the evergreen Davie Dickson.

Clark was causing many problems for the Maybole defence and when he scythed through the home defence on the hour and fired in a shot which Menzies fumbled, Dom O’Halloran was on the spot to make it 3-0.

With Clark on the right and Ross Foley on the left running at defenders Cumbernauld were well on top.

It was too much for Maybole defender Steven Shankland who brutally brought down Foley and was shown the red card, reducing Maybole to 10 men.

Manager John Queen then substituted Foley and McDonald with Kris Irvine and Dylan McGuigan and the replacements were soon in action when an Irvine cross was headed narrowly past by McGuigan.

McGuigan then brought out the save of the match from Menzies as the game came to a close.

It was a great result by a good United team. Everyone played their part and James Brown enjoyed a good comeback helping his young co-defender Kieran Brown throughout the match.

This Saturday United entertain Ardrossan Winton Rovers at Guy’s Meadow, kick-off 2pm.