ARTHURLIE went down 1-0 to reigning league champions Auchinleck Talbot at a drenched Beechwood Park.

The Barrhead side were missing Gavin Rushford, Gary Carroll, Ryan McGregor, Jordon Chisholm, and Ryan Deas on Saturday through a mix of injuries and suspensions.

But given the depth of the current squad, manager Steve Kerrigan was still able to field a strong side that will feel aggrieved to have left Beechwood empty-handed.

The game started fairly evenly, with both sides probing without any real goalmouth action of note.

The first real action in either goalmouth came when Talbot’s Milliken flicked the ball up and it caught Scott Gair on the hand but the referee waved away the home appeals.

Just after the 20-minute mark an Auchinleck attack down the left saw Gair slide out and clear the ball but the referee awarded a free-kick.

Pope swung the ball into six yard box and McCracken rose between the Arthurlie defence to head past Grant Hay.

Young saw an effort come back off the posts as the hosts tried to turn the screw, but with 10 minutes of the first half remaining Arthurlie should have been awarded a penalty.

Jorden Leyden gathered just outside the Talbot area and, although fouled by Young, he managed to keep his feet and as the referee waved advantage he burst into the home penalty area where he was hauled down by White.

The far side linesman flagged immediately for a spot-kick but to the bemusement of the Arthurlie players and support the referee called the action back and awarded the original free-kick outside the box. Mark Blakey took it but his effort went straight to Leishman.

Before the break Ian Nimmo took a knock to the head when challenging for a high ball and looked to be out cold when he landed, but after treatment he was deemed ok to continue.

However during the interval the decision was made to withdraw him and he was sent to the local hospital where it was discovered he had mild concussion.

He was allowed home and, barring a sore head, he is fine.

Daryl Convery emerged for the second half in place of Nimmo while Gair took over the captaincy.

Early on Blakey took the ball from Hay on the edge of his own area and sent a great ball the full length of the pitch which Curran ran on to but just as he was about to pull the trigger Lyle got across and cleared the danger.

Chris Mackie was introduced for Curran midway through the half.

Although both teams had the ball in the net the referee had blown for infringements before both and there was no further scoring with hosts Auchinleck winning by the narrowest of margins.

Arthurlie: Hay, Girvan, Blakey, Gair, Nimmo, Curran, Morrison, Smith, Leyden, and Gribben.

Subs: Convery, Macklin, Mackie.