2pm 27 April 2024
West of Scotland League, Division Four
Thorn Athletic 2 Glenvale 2 (att 220)
Apart from being one of the handful of grounds I had left to visit to complete the West of Scotland League, this was also one of the day's outstanding fixtures.
Not just a local derby, but a potential title decider with Glenvale needing three points to take the title away from second placed Thorn. In the end the champagne stayed on ice, but it's surely just delayed rather than cancelled.
Glenvale couldn't have wished for better start. They dominated from the off and were ahead in the second minute. But Thorn recovered well and, with just 15 minutes played, they scored for 1-1.
After that bright start the excitement, unsurprisingly, dipped. The teams were evenly matched and neither could create more than half-chances.
The scores remained level deep into the second half. But Glenvale and their supporters were celebrating just minutes from the end when a corner evaded everyone and went straight in.
Thorn weren't finished though, and in stoppage time a well struck half-volley earned them a deserved point.
Thorn Athletic are based in Johnstone, near Paisley. They were an established amateur team before joining the West of Scotland League, and are developing the facilities necessary for their new level.
They have an enclosed grass pitch. Most spectators stand on the one side that's railed off. The standing is mostly on grass but there's some banking to help give everyone a decent view.
There's no physical barrier to prevent people watching from behind the far goal or even from the opposite side, and the ground does feel like a work in progress.
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