Bens Get The Hang Of Lang

Bens bounced back from last month's Cup defeat by Cambuslang to take maximum points at Tinto Park this afternoon. The Bens' recovery was all the more marked considering their recent poor form in the League which culminated in a terrible display last week against Neilston.
For today's match, Bens followers were inspired by the teamsheet which had Dexy Wingate back in the heart of the defence. The former Bens favourite re-signed for the Tinto club this season but has been trying to shake off a back injury for the last few months and this delayed his appearance in a Bens jersey. Dexy lasted just under an hour in this first match back before retiring as a precautionary measure with a tight hamstring.
Bens also featured a trialist in the other centre back position. The time required for this new defensive formation to settle may have contributed to the opener for Cambuslang who wasted no time in grabbing the lead from a header after 12 minutes.
The home side came close after a quarter of an hour when McInnes, today at right back, forced his way into the box finding McKenna who skipped to the side of the defender, releasing a shot which the Lang keeper did well to block with his legs.
McKenna and Waddell were combining well with the former laying the ball off for Waddell to shoot from the edge of the box; the shot looked netbound until the keeper managed to turn it onto the top of the bar.
This looked like the last chance of the half until Bens won possession in the midfield and the pass released Waddell into the right side of the box. His run drew the keeper before squaring for Gary McKenna to tap into the empty net.
Bens' centre McKenna was quick out of the blocks after the break smashing a volley off the crossbar from 18 yards.
Bens took the lead on the hour mark from the penalty spot following handball: Steven Waddell netted confidently.
Cambuslang came close ten minutes later when a cross was whipped in and bobbled in front of the striker who directed it with his knee onto the top of the bar.
Bens made a further breakthrough on 80 minutes when they got numbers into the box and showed calmness in front of goal working the passes to the back post where Gary McKenna converted with ease.
Minutes later fury erupted in the Cambuslang ranks when Quinn clashed with their striker in mid-air with the Bens keeper dropping to the ground- play continued as Lang held possession, had players in the box and an open goal, then the referee blew to stop play as Quinn had not recovered. The Lang players felt the Bens' keeper had stayed down and arguments broke out all around the referee. To his credit, the official managed to restore order without booking anyone and was able to restart play with a dropped ball.
The visitors were probably further aggrieved by this denied chance when they grabbed a second goal with only minutes remaining.
But Bens held on for a good win after a much improved performance and next week face the ultimate test travelling to runaway League leaders Glasgow Perthshire.

BENBURB: Quinn, McInnes, Smith, Wingate, Gupwell (T), Wright, S.Jackson, Carroll, McKenna, Waddell, Mackenzie.

Central District League Division One

***********************************************
* Benburb 3 Cambuslang Rangers 2 *
***********************************************

Bens Christmas Stocking Filler

Bens are pleased to say that they've now located a recording of the 1980 Scottish Junior Cup Final which is in DVD format. The club hopes to make copies available shortly. Details will be posted soon on the website.
The club would like to thank everyone involved so far and hope for further interest when the DVD becomes available.

Farmers Boys In Early Harvest

After two away matches at Shettleston and Vale of Leven which only yielded a point, Bens were keen to get back to winning ways in their home match with Neilston today. The two sides faced each other in a meaningless Sectional League Cup match earlier in the season where Neilston emerged victorious.
And so it proved again today.
The visitors made short work of the job this afternoon and come half-time the points were good as gone to the red corner.
The opener came in the eleventh minute. The Neilston midfield worked their way across to the right hand side and despite their midfielder 'air kicking' his initial cross attempt, he recovered to nutmeg the first Bens defender and force a corner with a deflection off the second. The corner was played to the front post, where Lavery's attempted clearance sent it spinning backwards across goal and the Neilston striker jabbed it home from close in.
Neilston again had the ball in the net on 15 minutes but a late whistle pulled play back for offside.
The second came on the half hour mark when the Neilston centre steamed past the Bens defenders on the left side and squared to his fellow striker; he had time to turn and shot past Quinn with the home defence too slow to react.
On 40 minutes, Neilston again made it all look easy as they snatched their third with a midfield burst into the right side of the box and a dangerous sweep onto the six yard line where their centre despatched the ball firmly behind Quinn.
Bens brought on Gillan for Lavery at half time and rejigged their defence for the second period.
McKenna forced the Neilston keeper into a save from his volley just after the break and Shane Jackson had his effort saved by the keeper's legs after Waddell had expertly released him into the box but the defensive reshuffle was more about stemming the tide than producing a fightback.
A weak performance all round by Bens today with their haphazard defending, lack of bite in midfield and poor penetration upfront giving them plenty to think about before the visit of Cambuslang Rangers next week- another side who have already left Tinto this season with a cup victory.

BENBURB: Quinn, C Jackson, Lavery, McInnes, Wright, Carroll, Gibson, S Jackson, McKenna, Waddell, Mackenzie.

Central District League Division One

***********************************************
* Benburb 0 Neilston 3 *
***********************************************