Glens could have had more
Peter Ferguson at Celsius Stadium
Glencairn moved up two places in the league table but the home players and fans headed home disappointed they had not secured all three points.
Jack Baker replacing KP McAllister in goal was the only change from last week’s demolition of Glentanar and The Glens wasted no time in imposing themselves on the match.
Just like last week, they took the lead with their first attempt on goal, in the second minute. Stewart Hall swung over a cross from the right and Gary Smith rose at the near post to glance a fine header into the far corner.
Troon tried to respond quickly and Glencairn keeper Baker did well to dive out to cut out a dangerous cross by Scott McLean in the seventh minute.
The warning was not heeded, however and the Ayrshire side were level only a minute later. A deep cross from the right came to McLean at the back post and his effort was deflected out to Dean Fulton who could not miss.
The all-action start to the game continued as Smith fizzed a shot narrowly wide before skimming one off the crossbar from a free-kick.
McLean was clearly the main danger in a Troon jersey and he went close with a skidding diagonal shot from 20 yards which flashed past the left-hand post.
He went even closer in the 26th minute as his whipped free-kick rebounded off the woodwork.
Glencairn re-established their lead on the half-hour mark as Ryan McArdle’s corner from the left picked out the head of Jordan Leyden.
Having hit the bar with his earlier effort, Smith went even closer with another free-kick in the 49th minute as he forced McGowan into a great save.
Baker produced a quite brilliant stop from Scott Chatham’s near-post header, tipping the ball on to the post, and McCreadie pulled the rebound wide.
The 76th minute saw Jay McKay denied by the left hand of McGowan as he ran through on goal.
This was to prove to be a highly significant moment as only two minutes later Troon were back on level terms when Glens were caught short and Alex Grier’s excellent block fell to McLean to fire past Baker.