Arthurlie FC
Central League Cup winners
season 2002-2003

Downs says "make mine a double"

Arthurlie 2 (McKeown, Downs)
Larkhall 1 (Watret)

Abercorn Central League Cup Final Friday 30th May 2003

A strangely low key affair for a final this and early exchanges were even with Arthurlie perhaps playing the more attractive football however Larkhall were working hard to close down space & make things difficult for the Barrhead sides pacy forwards. The opening goal was a result of slack marking down the Thistle right which allowed Arthurlie to get in behind the defence & the cross across the 6 yard box was missed by 2 defenders & easily slotted home by Brian McKeown. Chances were hard to come by but from an excellent run down the right by McKeever he sent in a great cross that was headed home by Brian Watret whilst under extreme pressure. A great goal !

Half Time 1-1

The Barrhead team got the winner when a super cross by Bonnar McKenzie was met in the air by Robert Downs at the back of the six yard box & his header looped over Craig Marshall. Thistle then had a great chance to level things up but Cormack pulled over a tremendous double save despite his injury and shortly thereafter he made a great stop from Watret. Thistle were now becoming frustrated and Stephen McQuade was sent off late on for a second booking.
Sponsors man of the match went to Robert Downs but there were great performances from Stuart Allison, Mark Travers and Thistles Brian Watret to name a few.

Arthurlie Cormack, McKeown, Travers, Jack, Allison, Robertson, Ryan, McGarvey, McKenzie (Brolly 80), Rae (Ross 28), Downs (Hobbs 70) subs Martin, Smith

Team- Marshall, McAninch, Campbell (McQuade), Stirrat (O’Brien), Gardiner, McKeever, Main, Watret, Black, Morgan (Melvin) .
Not Used- Graham, Smith