Arthurlie’s eight game unbeaten run came to an abrupt end on Saturday. What can only be described as the worst display from ‘Lie since the arrival of Mark Cameron and Roland Fabiani saw Shotts take all three points in the league encounter at meeting at Hannah Park.

The Barrhead side had the first chance of the game after only two minutes. Sean Winter sent Stephen Gallacher racing down the right wing and his cross found Eddie Annand. Rather than shoot Annand elected to square the ball to Paddy Flannery but the ball was easily cleared. With the wind at their backs the home side upped the pressure. McGaldrican went on a mazy run after 16 minutes that saw him skip past first Winter then Brian Wardle before hitting a shot that James Evans did well to turn past the post.

Only two minutes later Shotts took the lead, a corner from McKeen was met by White whose glancing header gave Evans no chance. The home side had further chances to increase their lead, a shot from Barr went wide before John Johnston deflected a cross and almost conceded an own goal. Just before the break Annand showed good skill inside the box, there was contact by a Shotts defender but the calls for what would have been a soft penalty were waved away by the referee.

The wind didn’t have the same effect in the second half and it was Shotts who kept pushing. On 20 minutes Barr blazed over when it looked easier to score and a minute later McGaldrican saw his claims for a penalty waved away after what was fantastic Stephen Gallacher tackle.

Just before the half hour Arthurlie upped the tempo as they went in search of the equaliser. Paddy Flannery looked as if he had been caught from behind inside the box but once again the ref was having none of it. A minute later ‘Lies best chance of the mach arrived but Alan McFadden’s goal bound effort was cleared by a last ditch clearance by Herriot.

Right on full time McLintock saw red for Shotts after two yellow cards but the game was over by then.

Arthurlie:- James Evans, Stephen Gallacher, Lee Sharp, Frank McKeown, Brian Wardle, John Johnston, Steven Aitken, Sean Winter, Eddie Annand, Paddy Flannery, Alan McFadden
Subs: - Ross Ballantyne, John Bradford, Gary McPhee, Alan Shields, Peter Shaw.

Thanks to Robert Burns for the report