Tarbert AFC 4
Kilbarchan Thistle AFC 4
Greater Glasgow Premier AFL Division 3
Tarbert welcomed unbeaten Kilbarchan Thistle to Cil Andreis last Saturday on a perfect autumnal day for football.
Beforehand, the team received its new strips courtesy of J&C Prentice Shellfish and hoped for a positive start.
And they got off to the perfect start when David Ronald, returning from injury, fired the home side ahead.
The Dookers were playing some terrific stuff, their best football of the season, and it was no surprise when they went 2-0 ahead with a sublime finish from James Prentice.
The ball was lobbed over the top of the defence and the veteran striker beat the offside trap to volley past the keeper.
Tarbert could have been further ahead but some poor finishing and lack of composure kept the score to 2-0 at the break.
In the second half Tarbert went 3-0 ahead with a controlled finish from Rhys Casci following an incredible pass from young Woody Hoad.
Kilbarchan got a goal back before the game changed when Tarbert full back Hoad was sent off after some unsavoury language directed to the referee.
This put the team under pressure and Kilbarchan took full advantage, scoring firstly from a corner and then equalising from the penalty spot to get the game back level.
The game changed again though when the Kilbarchan goalkeeper was sent off after pushing Lewis McNaughton to the ground.
Coach Bill MacFarlane made full use of his strong bench in an attempt to freshen up the team and was rewarded when Casci was tripped in the box with only a few minutes left on the clock.
David Ronald took responsibility and made no mistake, smashing the ball past the helpless keeper.
Tarbert then had a chance to put the game to bed when Ryan Caskie slipped the ball through for Andy Weir, who seemed to rush his shot and hit the post.
Kilbarchan then gained a free kick deep in the Tarbert half which they took quickly. A couple of swift passes later and a midfielder hit a cracker into the Tarbert net, giving keeper Finn Scott no chance.
While Tarbert were rightly disappointed with the draw, they have come a long way this season and coach Bill MacFarlane can be pleased with the team’s efforts.
Tarbert now sit in sixth place in the league.
This Saturday, Tarbert are on Scottish Cup duty when they head to Shotts to take on Salsburgh Athletic.