As Bens prepare for their Fair Monday friendly with Ashfield, there's been many times over the years when the two sides have met in more adversarial circumstances.
The Evening Times of 13th November 1954 carried one such encounter under the headline 'Tinto Cup Battle In The Glaur-Thrills From Both Sides In Test Of Stamina'.
'Alex. McAllister, the Benburb left half, who is a Lanarkshire policeman, was unable to get off duty for today's Scottish Junior Cup third round tie against Ashfield at Tinto Park, and Mitchell took his place.
Benburb .....3 Ashfield.....3
Ashfield had Dawson, wanted by Kilmarnock, Albion Rovers and Dundee United at centre forward, and MacGuire, whom Albion Rovers also want to sign, at outside left.
BENBURB: Forsyth; Westwater and Ford; Paterson, Carden and Mitchell; Rae and Logie; Bain; Tracey and Douglas (pictured above).
ASHFIELD: Robb; Ralston and Houston; Rice, Cassidy and Clinton; Graham and McCarthy; Dawson; Innes and MacGuire.
Referee- J Steppey, Bellshill.
The kick-off was delayed to allow the long queues of fans outside to get in.
The ground was well filled when Benburb kicked off on a heavy ground. Cup-tie excitement prevailed and it was not long before the crowd were roaring, especially when Dunky Rae, the Benburb outside right, headed in for Robb, the Ashfield keeper, to save in splendid style.
Ashfield were awarded a free kick for "hands" against Mitchell. Clinton took the kick, but offside against Graham stopped the move.
The moment the forwards were waiting for arrived. Billy Dawson, their big centre forward scoring star secured possession. Before he could move, however, two Benburb defenders were on his top.
Next Rae, the Benburb outside right, was downed outside the box by Houston. Westwater took the "free" and lashed in a great shot which was well held by Robb and the referee blew for offside against Bain.
Fifteen minutes from the start Carden was at fault when he misjudged the ball and DAWSON was left, with an easy chance to thump the ball into the net and put Ashfield on the lead.
Five minutes later, INNES, the Ashfield inside left, brilliantly wormed his way through on his own to send a shot raging past Forsyth to put Ashfield two up.
In a Benburb fight back Tracey fired in a hot shot which Robb saved and knocked out, and then, tearing in, came DOUGLAS to flash the ball into the net.
Benburb, fighting all the way, equalised after Douglas had put the Ashfield defence in a tangle and LOGIE had an easy chance to find the net.
The stamina of the players on this battle in the "glaur" was amazing. Bens, after a bad start, were now playing with joyous abandon, and form a well taken corner kick by Rae, PATERSON slickly headed the leading goal for Bens.
Half Time-
Benburb, 3; Ashfield, 2
Second Half
The second half started at a cracking pace considering the muddy ground. There was an early fright for Benburb when Ashfield raided in a body. Carden came to the home side rescue with a timely tackle on Dawson.
The tackling was razor-edged and no quarter was being asked or given. In one Benburb raid Bain was brought down in the box, and the referee awarded a penalty. Westwater struck the crossbar and the ball was cleared. A near thing for Ashfield.
From a long shy by Rice, MacGuire back-headed the ball high up towards goal and DAWSON carried on the good work by equalising for Ashfield.
It was a splendid contest with little between the teams before a crowd reckoned to be in the region of 11000.'
0 comments:
Post a Comment