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Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Ex-Northern Ireland and Rangers hero scores winning penalty in Scottish Junior final: ‘It was put on my shoulders'
The man who scored 20 goals for his country was a second half substitute in the Scottish non-league final. The Fermanagh man made his mark on the match, however, scoring the winning spot kick in a dramatic shootout at the Broadwood Stadium. Lafferty said: 'It's brilliant for myself to score a winning goal, to win the penalty shoot-out. For all that to be put on my shoulders was massive for me. 'And I knew how much it meant to the club. The first thing the club said to me was 'we need to win the Scottish Junior Cup in the two years you're here', and we've done it.' We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Tranent held the advantage at half time thanks to a Harry Girdwood header only for Lafferty's Johnstone Burgh to level through Ciaran Diver with 16 minutes left on the clock. The game would go to penalties, with Lafferty scoring the decisive kick in a 4-2 shootout win. The 37 year-old joined the West of Scotland Premier Division side in 2023 after he was released by Linfield. Lafferty had previously played for Burnley, Rangers, Sion, Palermo, Norwich City, Hearts, Sarpsborg, Sunderland, Reggina, Kilmarnock and Anorthosis Famagusta.
Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Former Northern Ireland and Rangers hero scores winning penalty in Scottish Junior Cup Final
The man who scored 20 goals for his country was a second half substitute in the Scottish non-league final. The Fermanagh man made his mark on the match, however, scoring the winning spot kick in a dramatic shootout at the Broadwood Stadium. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Tranent held the advantage at half time thanks to a Harry Girdwood header only for Lafferty's Johnstone Burgh to level through Ciaran Diver with 16 minutes left on the clock. The game would go to penalties, with Lafferty scoring the decisive kick in a 4-2 shootout win. The 37 year-old joined the West of Scotland Premier Division side in 2023 after he was released by Linfield. Lafferty had previously played for Burnley, Rangers, Sion, Palermo, Norwich City, Hearts, Sarpsborg, Sunderland, Reggina, Kilmarnock and Anorthosis Famagusta.
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Rutherglen Glencairn co-boss already planning for Premier Division after sealing promotion
Joe Pryce says he needs to strengthen one key area for life in the top flight Rutherglen Glencairn co-boss Joe Pryce was delighted to seal promotion on Saturday, but is already rebuilding for life in the West of Scotland Premier Division. A 1-0 win at Blantyre Vics sealed second spot in the First Division, and Glens make the step-up as league top-scorers on 81, but also having conceded more than either of their fellow promoted teams Renfrew and Arthurlie, with 47. It's that back-line that will be the focus of player searches, and Pryce is certainly not resting on any laurels. He said: 'You're in with the big guns and we're just going to enjoy the moment just now. 'But we'll get in this week and we'll be working hard on recruiting. 'There will be a few players at our club moving on, it happens every year, so we've got to try and recruit in the right areas of the team. 'Last season we knew that goal-scoring was the Achilles heel for us, because we didn't score enough – Ryan McManus was the only player to reach double figures. 'We knew we had to address that, which we did, bringing in Jack McIlveen and Scott Jarvie, who both managed to hit double figures as well. 'We're the league's top goal-scorers, but we perhaps need to look at the other end, because we did concede too many. 'We know we're not going to score that amount of goals in the top division, so we need to keep the back door shut, and that's probably where we're going to be looking to recruit for.' Pryce says promotion was a reward for the whole club, and praised the team's consistency. He said: 'Even in the times when we maybe weren't winning, we were still picking up a point, it wasn't as if we were losing all the time, and it keeps that scoreboard ticking over – and in the end, those points that we picked up ended up being really crucial. 'It has been a tough season, but it was always going to be, and I'm really pleased and proud of my whole club because they've been fantastic. 'We have a small but loyal group of fans who follow us everywhere, so it's reward for them. 'Our hard-working committee were rewarded as well, I've got the best general manager in Willie Harvey that anybody could ask for, he has been so supportive, rock-solid behind the management team since day one. Anything we want he's there for us, and he has been absolutely brilliant. 'Last but not least, my management team – my co-boss Billy Ogilvie, Tam Miller, Stevie Hutchison – I'm really fortunate to be working with them, and for such a good club. 'We were absolutely delighted on Saturday to get it over the line, though it was a wee bit nervy. 'The players stood strong, and that was the most important thing. Their concentration levels were fantastic, and that got us over the line. 'I'm so pleased for them. I'm delighted for Glencairn, because I know how hard everybody at the club works, and they've got their reward.'
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Rutherglen Glencairn seal promotion as boss praises squad
Glens will be playing in the Premier Division next season Joe Pryce praised goal hero Boris Melingui for the strike that sealed promotion to the West of Scotland Premier Division on Saturday – but says it was a whole-squad effort. Melingui deflected a Scott Jarvie cross into the net in first-half stoppage time to earn a vital three points that saw them finish second, following winners Arthurlie into the top flight, with Renfrew going up in third place. Pryce reckons striker Melingui provided a much-needed spark, but says everybody at the club has been rewarded for a long, hard season. Glencairn ended with five successive wins, and nine from their last 11 games, and Pryce was also delighted with a clean sheet in Blantyre. He said: 'It was a nervy game, and we knew it was always going to be. 'Boris scored right on half-time, we came in and settled everybody down, and though there weren't many scares in the second half, it was still nervy times, because one goal could change everything. 'We always had to keep it tight at the back. In the final game, to get a clean sheet away from home was just brilliant. 'If anybody thought that the three teams that were going for promotion were just going to sail through, that was never going to happen in our league. 'We were the only one of the three that actually won, with Renfrew and Kilwinning both dropping points. 'Boris came in just at the right time, as were going into the run-in, and were looking for a wee spark just to give us that extra edge. He has been absolutely brilliant. 'He fits into the team, he's a great lad, very popular with the players and the fans as well, and he has been brilliant. 'But it has been a full team, full squad performance. Everybody in the squad has contributed through the season, every single one of them. 'I thought the players were fantastic. In the last five games, where everything has been on the line, they've come up trumps in all five, and that's great credit to them. 'It's nine wins in 11 and I can't speak highly enough of them. After back-to-back defeats against Renfrew and Vale of Clyde, only five wins out of five was going to be enough for us. 'We put everything on the line in those five games, the players were absolutely fantastic, and I'm so happy and so proud of them.' Roan Fitzpatrick was a big winner as Rutherglen Glencairn held their Player of the Year awards on Saturday, shortly after sealing promotion to the West of Scotland Premier Division. Attacking midfielder Fitzpatrick won Committee Player of the Year, Players' Player of the Year and Supporters' Player of the Year. Striker Ryan McManus won Management Player of the Year and Top Goalscorer, while fellow hit man Boris Melingui was Website Player of the Year and Martin McBride picked up a Special Appreciation Award. Alex Forbes won 'Grumpiest Old Git of the Year'.
Daily Record
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Shotts boss on why he'll be a Clydebank fan for next fortnight as side face relegation sweat
John McKeown's side have finished outside the relegation zone in the West of Scotland Premier Division but could still go down Shotts boss John McKeown admits they face a nervy waiting game to avoid relegation - despite victory on the final day of the season keeping them out of the drop zone in the West of Scotland Premier Division. McKeown's men came from behind at home to Gartcairn on Saturday with Liam Craig's double cancelling out Adam McGowan's opener for the visitors. That was enough to keep Bonny out of the relegation zone in the top flight, as they finished five points clear of nearest rivals Benburb. However, Premier champions Clydebank's potential promotion to the Lowland League means Shotts can't celebrate survival just yet. The Bankies play East of Scotland Premier champions Musselburgh Athletic in a two-legged play-off over the next fortnight to determine who comes up to the Lowland League and if Clydebank fail, it will be bad news for Shotts. McKeown explained: 'It is all up in the air and a strange situation. There is this situation with Clydebank being promoted that is making it awkward. 'They have got to play Musselburgh in a play-off to go up to the Lowland League, but if they don't win it would mean they stay down. Broomhill, who finished bottom of the Lowland League, are getting relegated into our league, so if Clydebank don't go up it means that four teams would need to go down. 'It means it is a bit of a waiting game for us, which is really annoying. For me, that's not the way it should be but, unfortunately, that is the way the leagues have worked it. 'It is something the leagues need to look at, things like that need to be decided by your last game of the season, rather than sitting about waiting for a couple of weeks. 'Last season when Beith won the league, they didn't have the SFA licence to go up so there was no change, it was a lot more straightforward. 'Saturday should have been a big day of celebration after retaining our league status, so it does put a bit of a dampener on it, although we are hopeful Clydebank can do the job and go into the Lowland League. 'We will need to keep the champagne on ice and sit tight.' Clydebank travel to Musselburgh this Saturday, followed by the return leg at Holm Park on Sunday, May 25. And McKeown admits he will be cheering them on He added: 'I'm getting my Bankies top on as we speak! I'm just hoping they can go and do us a wee turn now. 'I don't want to curse it, but Clydebank will be the bookies' favourites. They are an excellent side and it is over two legs, so you would hope they have enough to get through. We'll certainly be supporting them.' Shotts have pulled off quite the turnaround to finish 13th in the 16-team division, having been rock bottom at the turn of the year. So McKeown is proud of his players, no matter what unfolds. He said: 'Our boys have done all they can do, which is massive. I am delighted for them and their form since the turn of the year has been magnificent. 'It was a bit subdued and we weren't getting carried away because they know it isn't completely 'job done' yet. 'We were dead and buried at Christmas. We had a good chat with them at that time, changed our shape and worked really hard. 'They have really stuck together. It would have been easy to chuck the towel in, but they've shown a real steely mentality and put themselves in a great position. We're really proud of them.'
