Cup win is Darvel-lous for Whe-Ho
Published 20 Oct 2011 09:30
Darvel FC..................1
Yoker Athletic..........3
YOKER were the hot favourites to win this cup tie against Ayrshire strugglers Darvel.
It went mostly to plan with a stubborn Darvel defence keeping the Whe-Ho strikers at bay.
Had the finishing been a bit better Yoker would have been three up in the first 20 minutes.
Gary Arbuckle and Daryl Boyd both came close but their efforts were saved by the home side's keeper.
It took a penalty from Stephen Wedlock to open the score after Arbuckle was clumsily bundled down in the box in 20 minutes.
There were no complaints from the Darvel defence on this decision but that was soon to change.
With the Whe-Ho going forward at every chance it was no surprise when Yoker got the second. Michael Tolland made a lovely run to the by-line and swung over a tremendous cross which was met by Gary Bissland on the volley.
The home side were complaining bitterly that the ball was out before the cross went in but the referee was having none of it.
Darvel mad only one real effort on goal in the first half but Craig Winslow in the Yoker goal was a match for the long range shot.
Manager for the day John McAulay, pictured, must have been pleased with the professional display but he knows his side should have taken more of the chances.
Soon after half time Jamie Carson came on for Boyd and could have been on the score sheet within minutes had his shot not just missed the target.
With time dragging on and Yoker failing to kill the game the home side were still in the hunt for a result.
It was Gary Bissland again who put the match beyond doubt on the half hour mark when he rose high to bullet home a header from a fantastic cross on the right by Mark Maxwell. Shortly after this Harry McLachlan made is comeback from injury and replaced Maxwell in midfield.
Scott McFarlane and Mark McManus were linking up well on the left and were creating a lot of problems going forward.
With 15 minutes to go the Whe Ho defence was caught sleeping and allowed the home side to score to make the last quarter a little more nervous for the visitors.
Darvel did have a bit more pressure near the end but you always felt that Yoker were in command.
It's back to league business this week when the Whe-Ho make the trip to Denny to take on Dunipace.
This article appeared in Clydebank Post 19 Oct 11
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