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Maryhill fielded an experimental side with several trialists on view, and turned in a very poor performance, going down to an Ashfield side that almost couldn't help winning.

A fairly uneventful opening thirty five minutes passed before the visitors took the lead, sub Jim Smith out jumping the home defence to head powerfully past Hill's trialist keeper. Seven minutes later Michael Tolland had a chance to equalise, but chose to pass instead of shoot when in a good position. Right on half time Ashfield increased their lead when William Ferguson tapped home a cross from Tony Chalmers.

Half Time - Maryhill 0 Ashfield 2

It may have been a fairly disjointed display from Maryhill in the first period, but nothing could have prepared the supporters for the farce that was about to unfold in the second half. The visitors scored four goals in fourteen minutes from Alistair Martin, Gary McCann and two from Ferguson to complete his hat trick. The Maryhill defence appeared to be almost non existent, as the visitors strolled through at will, and a defeat of record breaking proportions looked on the cards. As often happens, however, the game calmed at this point with the only other goal coming from Maryhill two minutes from the end when sub Brian McAndie scored from close range.

Even allowing for the fact that Maryhill are now two divisions below Ashfield, and that this was far from their strongest line up, this was not a display to inspire. Although only on the field for thirty minutes, Craig Ferguson was easily Maryhill's best player. Hopefully with him in the starting line up, and the return of Eddie Lambert, John Cunningham and Robert Tiropoulos, Maryhill can find some consistency for the forthcoming league programme.

MARYHILL -: Watson, McWhirter (Ferguson 60), McGivern, Soutar, A. Banks, Stanley, Callender, Barr, Scobie (McAndie 45), Tolland (Maxwell 64), Ritchie.

SUBS ( not used) - S.Banks, Russell, Trialist.

SCORER - McAndie (88)

YELLOW CARDS - Callender (43), Scobie (44)

RED CARDS - None

ASHFIELD -: McLenaghan, Passmore, Mangan, Reilly, McShane (Smith 6), Gault, McCann, Thomson, Woods (Chalmers 44), Ferguson (Mackie 70), Martin.

SUBS (not used) - Cairley, Coll, Prior.

SCORERS - Smith (35), Ferguson (44, 62, 69), Martin (58), McCann (72)

YELLOW CARDS - None

RED CARDS - None

Referee - Howard Wilkin

Man of the match - Craig Ferguson

Opponents' man of the match - William Ferguson

by John Hinshelwood