This was a hard lesson for Dalry in their first game in the Super League 1st Division - and one they will learn from.

 

Dalry started poorly. Indeed in only 5 minutes Kilsyth had the ball in the net, rightly ruled out for offside.

But after a shaky 10 minutes, Dalry started to get on top.

 

Menzies made space at the edge of the box, but with the defender trying to cover he opted to cut inside rather than shoot, and the chance was cleared.

 

Dalry were now playing well and enjoying good possession. A dangerous corner was swung in, and came off the Kilsyth crossbar before being cleared.

On 25 minutes it took a good block by Henderson as Kilsyth broke forward.

 

Dalry replied with a Mason volley from the edge of the box which the keeper did well to turn round the post for a corner.

Sanderson was almost on the end of a long clearance but he keeper just got fingertips to the ball.

 

After enjoying a long spell in the ascendancy, Dalry were put under some pressure for the last 5 minutes of the half and paid the price in stoppage time.

The ball was played into the space between McKinnell and Ward, and neither dealt with it. The ball fell for Kilsyth and was fired home from an angle on the left to give the home side a one nil lead at half time.

 

Just as in the first half Kilsyth started the second half better and Dalry paid the price.

In 54 minutes a ball was played over the top of the defencive line and Kris Zok was the first to react to fire home from just inside the box.

 

Just after that Henderson was replaced by McCormack and it took the sub only 5 minutes to pick up what looked like a rather harsh booking.

Dalry were again pushing forward and Mason threatened with a shot.

 

Kilsyth were angry when the referee - who was being watched by Hugh Dallas and a delegation of supervisors - gave a free kick inside the box, right on the bye line, when the keeper picked up.

The free kick was low and hard across the face, but was cleared.

The 70th minute should have seen Kilsyth increase their lead when their sub had a simple tap in from 6 yards, but somehow he missed.

 

Any chance Dalry had got slimmer on 78 minutes when McCormack collected his second yellow card and was off.

It took Kilsyth only a further 4 minutes to make Dalry pay, and to seal the game.

Ward pulled off a fine save but the rebound was fired home with the help of a deflection off McKinnell.

 

Despite changes, using their subs, it was too late for Dalry and the game ended Kilsyth 3, Dalry 0