Kilsyth return to the top with victory at Yoker

Kilsyth Rangers regained top spot in the Super League First Division table with a 2-0 win at Yoker Athletic on Saturday.
Kilsyth are back on top of the leagueKilsyth are back on top of the league
Kilsyth are back on top of the league

The victory put them back in first place on goal difference over Largs Thistle, who took the points from previous leaders Clydebank, knocking them off the top spot.

It was not an easy win though. Yoker were stuffy opposition, although they lacked a cutting edge and never seriously looked like getting a win.

There wasn’t much between the teams in the early stages.

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Kilsyth ’keeper Andy Carlin had to get down to stop a header while at the other end a Nicky Prentice cross was headed out of danger for a corner to Rangers.

Ross Hepburn then had a cracking shot blocked on the line but neither goalkeeper had been really been seriously troubled in the opening 20 minutes.

A free-kick into the Yoker area was quickly cleared out to Gary Arbuckle and the striker ran in on the Kilsyth goal with what was a great opportunity to open the scoring but he put his shot over the bar.

And Kilsyth punished the home side by taking the lead a couple of minutes later.

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Prentice delivered a great cross ball into the Yoker goalmouth for Joe Barclay to head it in from almost under the bar.

The one goal lead at half-time was no more than what Rangers deserved for their first half efforts.

There wasn’t much action in the opening spell of the second period; defences were on top and there was little for fans to get excited about.

Yoker’s Gary Bissland took a tumble in the box but it was clearly a dive and ignored by the referee.

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Rangers had by far the greater amount of possession but they didn’t get too many shots on target.

Eventually they did have the ball in the net following a corner but it was disallowed for an infringement in the box.

A double substitution was made by the visitors with Damon Welsh and Corey Pearson coming on for Hepburn and Michal Hrenak.

It was still all Kilsyth but the second goal looked no nearer as the game entered its final stages.

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A third change was made with Paul Stewart coming on for Barclay and within a couple of minutes he got onto a knockdown by Paul McBride to shoot home the second goal.

That sealed a deserved win for Kilsyth at a venue which has not been a lucky one for Rangers in recent times.

Yoker Athletic: Campbell, Carson, Cairns, Harvey, Reilly, Henry, Crerand, Kelly, Arbuckle, Bilsland, McNanus. Subs: Graham, Rankin, Miller, Hardie, Edgar.

Kilsyth Rangers: Carlin, Reid, K McBride, Hughes, McLaren, McGee, Hrenak, Hepburn, Barclay, P McBride, Prentice. Subs: Welsh, Pearson, Andreoni, Nash, Stewart.

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Rangers take a break from league business on Saturday when they entertain Aberdeenshire side Culter at Duncansfield in the second round of the Scottish Junior Cup.

The match will kick-off at 2.30pm, but prior to the start of the game the official opening of the new toilet block/ refreshment stall will take place.

This facility is dedicated to the memory of the late Counciller Tom Barrie OBE who was a great friend and supporter of the club. It will be at 2.15pm.

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