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Thorn Athletic v Harestanes
Thorn Athletic v Burntisland Utd
Thorn Athletic v Tynecastle
Thorn Athletic 5 Paisley FC 3 (AET, 2-2 Ft)
Thorn Athletic 4 Strathclyde University 1
Thorn Athletic 5 Bearsden 1
Giffnock North 1 Thorn Athletic 1
TEN-MAN Thorn Athletic secured a heroic away point against much-fancied Giffnock as they took a step closer to League Cup progress.
The Glasgow giants knew a draw wasn’t enough against the Johnstone side with goal difference going to be crucial in the fight for top spot in the section.
And James Donnelly’s team now go into Saturday’s home clash with Weir Recreation knowing that a reasonable win would see them reach the quarter finals.
Red-hot striker Craig McMahon made a lightening start and could have opened the scoring early on but eventually dragged his shot wide.
But he was not put off and soon broke through again after a pass from Tony Galbraith and this time made no mistake with his shot across the keeper and into the net.
Giffnock started slowly but going behind soon saw them step up a gear and control proceedings.
Thorn remained dangerous with Tom Smith and McMahon causing problems for an experienced home defence that included Scotland’s amateur No1 Craig Marshall.
Some strange refereeing decisions from the match official left players on both sides scratching their heads.
Donny Morrison saw his name in the book for dissent and not long after tempers on the touchline boiled over as back-up keeper and coach Tony McWilliams kicked out only to see a yellow card flashed back.
Both teams had a few half chances and Giffnock were finally rewarded with an equaliser when a poor clearance came back into the box and home skipper Mark Shanta was played on side as he directed a backwards header past Liam McWilliams.
With the teams level at the break Thorn really had to produce more in the second half to trouble their rivals.
And with half an hour to go that was made to look like an impossible task when Morrison appeared to head the ball onto his hand on the edge of the area.
The inexperienced whistler blew and reached for a second yellow card followed swiftly by a red and sent Morrison off.
The resultant free-kick was a poor effort and Thorn knew they had to regroup fast.
Giffnock sensed blood and began to throw bodies forward and balls into the box. As the game wore on Thorn’s forays up the park were restricted to only the odd breakaway.
Giffnock penalty claims were waved away with 20 minutes to go with howls of derision and figures on the home touchline becoming increasingly exasperated.
However, Thorn were defending well and dealing with most of what the home side threw at them.
Tired legs crept in and that was probably the biggest danger to Donnelly’s team as they edged closer and closer to a crucial away point.
It looked like disaster had struck in the closing moments when the ball ended up in the Thorn net but play was hauled back by the official to the relief of the away touchline.
And in the dying moments a few welcome fouls from the home side allowed Thorn to see it out and head home the happier of the two sides.
Thorn Athletic v Gartcosh United
SIX-SHOOTERS Thorn Athletic kicked off the competitive campaign in style as they sent Glasgow outfit Gartcosh packing.
The Johnstone side top their League Cup section after their opening day win that came in more style than was predicted.
With no fewer than eight members of the squad missing through suspension and holidays there was pressure on the remainder of the team to come up with the goods. And that they did.
And there was no shortage of good play on show as well as some slick finishing from the home side.
The opener came when Darren Lamont played a good through ball to Craig McMahon and he finished well as he went one on one with the goalkeeper.
It seemed to shake the visitors and as Thorn pressed high up the park a short back pass to the keeper saw Ryan Crawford nip in to round the keeper for the second.
The third goal bizarrely came direct from a corner kick as Liam Allen swung it in only to see the ball evade everyone and end up in the back of the net.
By this point Thorn were well on top and determined to turn the screw on a team they will also meet during the league campaign.
A great team move led to a delightful one two between Tom Smith and McMahon, with Smith applying the finish into the bottom corner to make it 4-0 at the interval.
The Glasgow side’s manager was close to meltdown at the interval as he tried to force a response from his men.
The second half started in scrappy fashion as Gartcosh began to become heavy handed in their attempts to thwart their dominant hosts.
And they eventually sneaked a consolation after some poor play in midfield allowed them to breach the home rearguard.
But Thorn hit back immediately after Crawford grabbed his second following a good ball in from wide.
And soon Thorn added the icing on the cake when the ball broke in the box to Allen and he dispatched a fine finish with his weaker foot past a despondent keeper.
Manager James Donnelly said: “It was just the way we wanted to open the season with a win as it’s been a long pre-season campaign for the boys.
“The squad has undergone a fair amount of surgery again during the summer but we are in relatively good shape considering the suspensions and holidays we have had to contend with.
“It will be well into September before things settle down but I’ve been impressed by the squad.”
