New Coin Automatics Cup Draw
Should the Wanderers get through against Maybole a week on Saturday, the reward is an away tie against St. Roch's at Provanmill Park. The winners of this tie will play Ashfield or Troon at home. In the semi, the winners of this quarter will play either Cumbernauld/Ardrossan/Girvan/Larkhall or Auchinleck - simple really !
Maryhill 4 Forth Wanderers 5
A fantastic comeback from 4-1 down saw the Wanderers win 5-4 at Lochburn Park today. The Forth goals were scored by Tony Traynor, David Grant, a Chris McGroarty double and the winner from Kenny Wright.
Unbelievable fightback which puts the Wanderers top of the league for the first time this season.
Forth got off to the worst possible start going a goal down within 30 seconds. Jasper Donnelly sprinted down the right wing and crossed and although Lewis McKinlay tried to chest it back to keeper Glenn Weir, Phil Cannie nipped in to score. Weir then had to look lively to touch away a dangerous cross from Paul Gordon as Maryhill tried to double their advantage. The Wanderers began to get into the game and the 'Hill keeper saved a Tony Traynor shot and a volley from Kenny Wright.
An equaliser was looking likely and it duly arrived on 17 minutes courtesy of Tony Traynor. He received the ball after an excellent thirty yard chest pass by Gordon Murphy and bore down on goal, evading challenges and finishing with aplomb low to the keepers right. Glenn Weir then had to look lively to turn away a Donnelly shot. Forth were now beginning to dominate proceedings, so it came as a surprise when Maryhill regained the lead through Jasper Donnelly. Donnelly, looking suspiciously offside, gathered a through ball and dispatched it with the minimum of fuss to make it 2-1 to the home side. Paul Gordon could have made it 3-1 on the stroke of half-time when he met a corner on the volley but blasted over.
Maryhill came flying out of the blocks in the second half and within 10 minutes had built up what looked like an unassailable 4-1 lead through further goals from Donnelly and Cannie. Forth manager Jamie McKenzie made a triple substitution at this point, bringing on Crawford,Felvus and Stevenson for McKinlay, Murphy and Traynor. This seemed to have the desired effect as Forth visibly upped their game and only a good save from 'Hill keeper Shepherd denied Barry Canning. The Wanderers efforts were rewarded though when Chris McGroarty curled a peach in from 20 yards to make it 4-2. With just under half an hour remaining Forth still had time to mount a comeback although this was aided by Maryhill's decision to replace striker Cannie with a defender in order to try and shut up shop. This tactical change allowed Forth to go for the jugular and it was no surprise when David Grant popped up to make it 4-3, forcing the ball home through a ruck of players after his initial header was blocked.
Forth were now pressing strongly for an equaliser and were rewarded in the last minute of normal time when Chris McGroarty struck from fully 25 yards, his shot thundering in past the keeper just under the bar. With the bit now firmly between their teeth, Forth continued to attack, not happy to settle for a draw and Kenny Wright capped a superb fightback with an injury time winner. There seemed little danger when he picked up the ball wide but he cut inside and unleashed an unstoppable shot past keeper Shepherd, sparking massive celebrations on the pitch and amongst the travelling support.
Skipper David Grant believes the team "showed great character" and "always knew we could get back in it" while manager Jamie McKenzie heaped praise on his captain saying "he grabbed us by the scruff of the neck and got us back into the game" and "it's probably the best game he's played for us." The manager also commented that he'd told his players that "to win leagues, we have to come to places like this and win" and also mentioned that it was "probably the best win as a manager I've ever been involved in."
Chris McGroarty believes the victory was "definitely fully deserved" and spoke of the team's "massive belief" that they could mount a comeback , even at 4-1. He also spoke of his "wonder strike" for the fourth goal from "fully 40 yards" although his tongue was firmly in his cheek at this point. At least I think it was ...
'Mon The Forth
Forth Team : Weir,Napier,Gemmell,McKinlay(Stevenson),Grant,Canning,Traynor(Crawford),McGroarty,
Wright,Jarvie,Murphy(Felvus)
Unbelievable fightback which puts the Wanderers top of the league for the first time this season.
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| Restart after the early 'Hill opener. |
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| Gordon Murphy pushes it forward. |
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| David Grant plays it forward. |
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| Crawford crosses as McGroarty looks on. |
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| Celebrations after the winner. |
Chris McGroarty believes the victory was "definitely fully deserved" and spoke of the team's "massive belief" that they could mount a comeback , even at 4-1. He also spoke of his "wonder strike" for the fourth goal from "fully 40 yards" although his tongue was firmly in his cheek at this point. At least I think it was ...
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| Craig Crawford salutes his adoring Maryhill public... |
Forth Team : Weir,Napier,Gemmell,McKinlay(Stevenson),Grant,Canning,Traynor(Crawford),McGroarty,
Wright,Jarvie,Murphy(Felvus)
Maryhill v Forth Game On
Today's match at Lochburn Park between Maryhill and Forth goes ahead despite the recent wet weather.
Forth Wanderers 3 Royal Albert 0
A Gordon Murphy brace and a single from Kris Jarvie gave the Wanderers all three points against Royal Albert at a snowy Kingshill Park this afternoon. Forth played some excellent passing football despite the conditions and fully deserved the victory against a lacklustre Albert, who failed to build on their win at Maryhill last week.
From the outset, the Albert gameplan seemed to be to keep it tight at the back and hit Forth on the break, but as the game progressed the Wanderers began to create chances. After a good four man passing move, Kris Jarvie challenged for the ball with the keeper and went down, but despite muted appeals for a penalty the referee waved play on. Tony Traynor was then brought down 20 yards out but the resultant Chris McGroarty free kick was easily saved by the visiting keeper. The impressive Gordon Murphy then threaded through an excellent ball for Kenny Wright to run on to but the keeper did well to rush out and block at the expense of a corner.
Royal Albert were rarely seen as an attacking threat, although they were trying to get last weeks hat-trick hero McGill on the ball whenever possible, but he was being well marshalled by the Forth defence. Forth then almost took the lead through an unlikely source when David Grant hit a shot from just inside the box which evaded the keeper, hit the inside of the left post and rolled along the line before being cleared. The snow was by now coming down, making conditions difficult, but Forth kept looking for the elusive opener and McGroarty fired a shot wide with the keeper struggling before Jarvie shot straight at the keeper.
As half time approached Forth eventually made the breakthrough when the Albert keeper flapped at a cross and the ball fell kindly to Gordon Murphy who made no mistake from 12 yards.
Murphy then made it 2-0 early in the second half when a superb Barry Canning pass found him wide on the right and his sweetly hit half-volley beat the keeper at his near post, although the keeper will feel he should have done better. The Albert then launched a rare attack which ended when striker McGill looked to be fouled in the box, but instead of awarding a penalty, the referee booked the Albert man for diving. A great Murphy pass then found Barry Canning whose netbound shot was well saved by the Albert custodian and he followed this up with a near post save from Kenny Wright.
The third Forth goal duly arrived when another pinpoint Murphy cross was despatched past the keeper by the head of Kris Jarvie, for his fourth goal in the last two games. The Wanderers then had the opportunity to go further ahead when a great run and pass from Barry Canning found Kenny Wright just inside the box and as he turned he was upended for a stonewall penalty. Wright took the kick himself but blasted the ball high over the bar. Royal Albert,to their credit, kept plugging away,but their sporadic attacks were expertly dealt with by the Wanderers defence.
Substitute Martin Harty then carved out a great chance for himself when he cut through the Albert rearguard but he elected to pass rather than shoot and the ball was cleared for a corner. From the resultant corner, a Gemmell header was easily saved by the keeper. Chris McGroarty had one final chance for the Wanderers, but after a good run he shot narrowly past with the keeper beaten.
Another professional performance from the Forth in a match many had down as a potential banana skin considering the Albert's victory at Maryhill last weekend. The Wanderers played some excellent passing football throughout which augurs well for next weeks match with Maryhill, assuming, of course, Lochburn Park is playable.
'Mon the Forth
Forth team : Clark,Napier(Harty),Gemmell,McKinlay,Grant.McGroarty,Traynor(Stevenson),Canning,
Jarvie(Govan),Wright,Murphy
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| The snow comes down at Kingshill |
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| Lewis McKinlay clears. |
As half time approached Forth eventually made the breakthrough when the Albert keeper flapped at a cross and the ball fell kindly to Gordon Murphy who made no mistake from 12 yards.
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| Paul Gemmell launches another attack. |
Murphy then made it 2-0 early in the second half when a superb Barry Canning pass found him wide on the right and his sweetly hit half-volley beat the keeper at his near post, although the keeper will feel he should have done better. The Albert then launched a rare attack which ended when striker McGill looked to be fouled in the box, but instead of awarding a penalty, the referee booked the Albert man for diving. A great Murphy pass then found Barry Canning whose netbound shot was well saved by the Albert custodian and he followed this up with a near post save from Kenny Wright.
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| Kenny Wright is fouled for the penalty |
The third Forth goal duly arrived when another pinpoint Murphy cross was despatched past the keeper by the head of Kris Jarvie, for his fourth goal in the last two games. The Wanderers then had the opportunity to go further ahead when a great run and pass from Barry Canning found Kenny Wright just inside the box and as he turned he was upended for a stonewall penalty. Wright took the kick himself but blasted the ball high over the bar. Royal Albert,to their credit, kept plugging away,but their sporadic attacks were expertly dealt with by the Wanderers defence.
Substitute Martin Harty then carved out a great chance for himself when he cut through the Albert rearguard but he elected to pass rather than shoot and the ball was cleared for a corner. From the resultant corner, a Gemmell header was easily saved by the keeper. Chris McGroarty had one final chance for the Wanderers, but after a good run he shot narrowly past with the keeper beaten.
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| Paul Gemmell directs a header towards goal. |
'Mon the Forth
Forth team : Clark,Napier(Harty),Gemmell,McKinlay,Grant.McGroarty,Traynor(Stevenson),Canning,
Jarvie(Govan),Wright,Murphy
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