WOS Challenge Shield semi-final

Helensburgh 3 Third Lanark 2

Helensburgh AFC made it it to their second final of the season with a win over First Division Third Lanark.

The game, played at junior side Johnstone Burgh’s Keanie Park, started with Thirds pressing the Burgh team all over the park.

This tactic and the poor playing surface stopped Burgh’s usual passing game. The first decent attempt on goal came from the boot of Kyle Sharkey whose shot from 25 yards beat the keeper only to crash off the post. and bounce clear of danger.

After 30 minutes Burgh took the lead. Sinclair rose highest at the back post to head the ball into the net.

It was the First Division team who struck first in the second half after some hesitation between keeper and defence.

Third Lanark, buoyed by this stroke of good luck, upped their game although defensively the back four were keeping them at bay.and took the lead when Burgh keeper Cavanna came for a high cross, missed it and the striker gratefully poked the ball into the empty net.

The loss of this goal gave Burgh the jolt they needed and all of a sudden the game changed.

The equaliser came from a corner.

The keeper flapped at the cross, only succeeding in pushing it off his own defender and into the net.

It was all Helensburgh now as they pushed forward looking for the winner, and when it came it was the best move of the game.

Good work on the right between Petro and Sinclair saw the former cross the ball into the box where Kyle Sharkey had timed his run to perfection to slide the ball home. past the keeper.

The more experienced Burgh team then kept control of the ball and ran the clock down to full time.

Manager Sam Gemmell was full of praise for his team, he said: “It wasn’t a good surface and to be honest we weren’t at our best but what they did show was honest determination and hard work which can go a long way.

"They deserve to go through to our second final for the way they have battled away in this particular competition. It certainly sets up an exciting end to the season for everyone.”

Squad: Cavanna, Campbell, MacDonald, Johns, Meader, Gemmell, Sinclair, Conner, Black, K. Sharkey, Petro, Tadlock, Birnie, A. Sharkey, Angus.