Scorer(s) – Garden pen

Hardgate began this match with optimism knowing a victory would allow them to get back into the title race. However, it was ultimately Kelvinbank who took the points with a gritty performance which was full of the desire you would expect to see from a team looking to keep the pressure on league leaders Riverside. As a spectacle the game will not live forever in the memory with the heavy pitch making good football difficult for both teams. That said, both sides put everything they had into the game ensuring a gripping match to the end.

The first chance came as early as the first minute when a good run from Garden allowed him a shot on goal but the finish did not match the run. As the match progressed Hardgate pushed forward themselves and launched a number of high balls deep into the Kelvinbank box. This created an opportunity for them after 24 minutes but their header went over the crossbar. Kelvinbank stood firm though thanks to a combination of solid defending and the confident goalkeeping of Shanks who claimed several high balls under great pressure.

It was Kelvinbank who created the next clear goal scoring chance when a perfect ball into the box by Greener was met by Garden who somehow managed to direct his header wide from 6 yards. Garden had a further chance before half-time when he dispossessed the Hardgate centre half but his effort whistled wide of the upright.

In the second half chances were at a premium although as the half wore on Hardgate were finding themselves more and more pinned back in their own half. Kelvinbank forced a series of corners but could not get the decisive touch they needed. The best chance fell to Mark McGraw but his volley from the edge of the box went wide.

Kelvinbank then made 2 changes with a view to shaking things up; Verrecchia was introduced for McAreavey and Docharty came on for Harvey. The breakthrough finally came on 80 minutes when Kelvinbank were awarded a penalty. The award was given after Greener turned well in a packed penalty area before a rash challenge brought him tumbling down, albeit in instalments. Garden then stepped up to calmly slot home the penalty.

From then on Hardgate seized the initiative and on 85 minutes they squandered a golden chance after a stramash in the box. Their initial shot was charged down but the ball fell again to Hardgate but this time they did not get a proper connection on the shot allowing Gillespie to hook the ball off the line. They continued to press and on 87 minutes possession was relinquished to allow Hardgate a 3 v 3 situation. However, Kelvinbank defended it well to clear the danger. Kelvinbank had to survive one final scare when Hardgate managed to get another header at goal but the ball drifted over.

At the final whistle co-manager McGraw could not help but praise his team: "We fought brilliantly from first to last today. All the players knew they had a job to do and they stuck to it. We couldn't have asked them to give any more and that's the attitude we'll need in every game between now and the end of the season"

Team: Shanks; Sheerin; McGraw, N; Bowman; McGuire; Greener; McGraw, M; Gillespie; Garden; Harvey; McAreavey, W.
Subs: Verrecchia; Docharty; Savage, P (not used); Cullen