Jim Baird Memorial Tournament

Lugar’s pre – season moved on with the Jim Baird Memorial Tournament and unfortunately they failed to notch up a win over the weekend, more worryingly they failed to find the back of the net. Lugar manager, Lauchlan Millar stated that although he was disappointed that they suffered 2 defeats he is happy with the way his squads’ fitness levels are coming along and he is confident they will be ready for his first real test when the Ardagh Glass sections kick off. Additions to the squad are still being sought and new signings are in the pipeline.

The first game on Saturday saw newly promoted Hurlford take on Lugar and with a goal in each half the Superleague side progressed to Sunday’s final.

St Mirren Youths XI v Annbank United was the second game and despite the fact that new Annbank manager, John “Hoots” Harvey was still phoning up players on the Saturday morning he still managed to put a strong team on the field, so much so that they took the lead midway through the first half. St Mirren upped the pace a little in the second half and with Annbank tiring the Paisley youths drew level to send the game to the penalty shoot-out, which Annbank won 5-4.

On Sunday, Lugar were without a few regulars but they still put in a reasonable performance and were unfortunate to go a goal behind midway through the first half when a speculative shot took a wicked deflection off a defender and found the net.

Lugar pressed hard for an equaliser but the St Mirren lads were making their superior match fitness show and with Lugar running out of steam St Mirren slotted home another 3 goals to run out worthy winner by 4 goals to nil.

The final between Annbank and Hurlford was a close fought contest and it was Annbank that took the lead with a goal from new signing Darren Sherman. End to end stuff ensued but it was Annbank who went in at half time happier. The second half threw up more entertaining football, but a flashpoint 15 minutes into the game changed the complexion of the play. A poorly timed tackle by Annbank midfielder, Conner Simpson, was unfortunately adjudged to have been more serious than it looked for most of the watching fans and the referee produced a yellow card. It was only then that the referee realised that he had already yellow carded the player in the first half and he therefore had to send him off. Unfortunately for Annbank this proved to be the turning point as Hurlford pressed home their advantage and drew level with a goal from David Cunningham. Then with another penalty shoot-out looming the tiring Annbank succumbed to a sucker punch as Hurlford scored with only a couple of minutes left, Johnny Sinclair provided the goal that ensured the trophy was heading to Hurlford.