By Paul Cooper
Hungry Hurlford United saw their chances of progressing in this year’s Junior Cup go up in smoke as Cumnock showed their resilience to march on into the semi-finals.
Blair Park could have been mistaken for derby day in Tel Aviv before Saturday’s clash.
Smoke billowed from the away support, as the contingent of visiting vans in the crowd, made themselves seen and heard in this all-Ayrshire clash.
They were soon to go a bit quieter, as ‘Ford started this match the better of the two teams.
It was the home fans turn to become louder in the 34th minute as their team took the lead.
Kris Kerr showed a good first touch to bring the ball out of the air, he then passed inside to Marc McKenzie on the edge of the box who curled it high into the net.
Five minutes before half-time came the turning point in the match. Kerr brought out a good save from Jamie Barclay who could only turn the ball into the path of Marc McKenzie, and from six yards out and the goal at his mercy, he was denied as Barclay recovered brilliantly to make an amazing point-blank save.
The missed chance was to come back and haunt Hurlford soon after, as Cumnock’s Finlay Frye took advantage of slack Hurlford defending to drive his shot low past Martin McDonald into the bottom right-hand corner, making it 1-1 at half time.
And 13 minutes into the second half, Cumnock were awarded a penalty as Hurlford captain Paul McKenzie was booked for handball.
Jordan Moore took the spot-kick, but was denied by McDonald, as the ‘Ford keeper leapt down low to his left, to make the save.
Moore fought through the Hurlford defence again, but saw his shot heroically cleared off the line by ‘Ford left back Ross Love.
Only a minute later, the pressure was to pay off, when a cross from the left was turned high into the net, by the unchallenged Jordan Moore, to make it 2-1 Cumnock.
Hurlford manager Darren Henderson saw the first half save as the turning point in the game.
He said: “Marc McKenzie’s missed a real good chance to make it 2-0, their ‘keeper’s had a good save. You maybe get to half-time at 2-0 and your game plan’s different.”
He added: “I have no complaints, the best team are in the semi-final, good luck to them.”
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