The Buffs all but secured promotion with a narrow win in Rutherglen, in a very cagey affair. Chris Strain’s side didn’t hit the heights they have in recent weeks, but deserved the win nonetheless, creating by far the best chances in the game.
The Buffs kicked the game off well, as Murray MacKintosh sent a good cross into the box. It was nice play down the right wing from Buffs, which eventually allowed MacIntyre to feed a neat pass through to MacKintosh. Murray swung the ball in, and his cross found the head of Boylan, who tried to glance the ball into the far corner, but his header spun wide of the far post.
It didn’t take long for Rutherglen to reply with their own first chance of the match through Daniel Connor. A throw-in from the right broke loose to the edge of the box, where Connor was able to have a snapshot at goal. Despite being unable to get a clean strike at goal, Connor’s effort still forced Brown into action, as he dove low to his right to save comfortably.
Ryan Wilson had numerous sights at goal throughout the game, with his first coming on a quick counter. The Buffs broke quickly and switched the ball out to the right wing for Wilson. Glencairn goalkeeper, Ewan Henderson, was some way off his line, which caused Wilson to take his shot on first time. The forward attempted to chip his effort over the goalkeeper, but got it wrong, missing well wide of the right post.
The deadlock would be broken halfway through the half as a clever touch from Wilson clearly bounced off the hand of Leadbitter in the box. Referee, MacDougall pointed straight to the spot, with Danny O’Neil stepping up to take the penalty. O’Neil stepped up and sent Henderson the wrong way, as he smashed the spot kick into the left side of the net.
There was very little first-half action after the goal was scored, and The Buffs headed into the break in front after scoring the first goal for the seventh match running.
The second 45 started much like the first, with The Buffs on top. Harry Weir had a half-chance as he tested Henderson from range. The Partick Thistle loanee cut in from the right wing and tried to bend an effort into the bottom left; however, Henderson was able to push wide.
Glencairn’s best chance of the game came around the hour mark when a second ball fell to Harry Mitchell in the box. A throw-in from the right resulted in a cross being whipped into the centre of the box. The Buffs defended the first phase well, but failed to clear the ball, which left it bouncing at Mitchell’s feet at the back post. The winger struck a half-volley at goal, although it flew narrowly over the bar.
The Buffs went so close to doubling their lead when they nearly made the most of a deep free-kick. Lockhart swung the ball in from just inside the Rutherglen half and found Fraser Malcolm, who squared across the box. Fraser’s volley found Wilson, but he couldn’t quite get over the ball as his free header clipped the top of the crossbar.
Bryan Boylan was the next to threaten the Rutherglen goal as he curled a shot towards the top right corner. Lamont found Boylan on the left wing, who chopped inside and took aim at the far corner. The shot had the beating of Henderson, in goal, but bent around the wrong side of the far post.
It was a nervy finish for The Buffs as they failed to extend their lead during the second period. Wilson could’ve put the game out of sight in the final few minutes after McLaughlin played him through with a great pass. Wilson drove forward and beyond the hosts’ defence before trying to place the ball into the bottom right corner. Unfortunately for Wilson, it just wasn’t to be his day in front of goal as Henderson managed to get his fingertips on the ball to save.
The Buffs managed to get over the line with no real drama and now await the result at Bellsdale Park between Beith and Largs on Tuesday night. Anything but a Beith win would confirm promotion for The Buffs, who head to Johnstone Burgh next weekend in their final away trip of the season.
