Match Report : Whitletts v Kello
WHITLETTS VICTORIA 7 KELLO ROVERS 1
Whitletts warmed up for next Saturday’s road trip to Banchory with an emphatic victory over Kello Rovers at Dam Park.
The Kirkconnel club came into the game with a fair bit of form behind them recently having won three and drawn one of their last five league matches and started this match strongly as they took an early lead. Rovers striker Liam Fleming was allowed to waltz his way through the home defence and slot the ball into the corner of the net from 10 yards.
But that was as good as it got for the Dumfriesshire outfit. Within seven minutes, Vics were back on level terms. Striker Tony Balfour ran onto a through ball to race clear and fire past the advancing keeper.
Two minutes later it was 2-1. Mick O’Connor scoring from the penalty spot after Derek MacDonald had handled inside the area.
Dom Boyle was then denied by a save from Jonathan Lopez from the corner of the six yard box as Vics began to turn the screw and in the 24th minute they increased their lead. As Shaun Allan broke from defence he released a superb ball for Balfour who raced clear off the Rovers defence to calmly slot the ball past the advancing keeper.
Within three minutes Balfour completed his hat trick with a goal of sheer perseverance as he brushed off the challenges of two Kello defenders before Lopez dived at his feet and as the ball broke clear Balfour was first to react to sweep the ball into the net.
Even this early in the game, the match was over as a contest as rampant Vics went in search of more. A neat move involving Allan and O’Connor saw Balfour head the latters cross just past the post but in the 41st minute the home side netted number five. O’Connor again scoring from the penalty spot after Darren Gall had hauled Balfour to the ground.
Kello still had their moments and right on half time Martin Shaw fired a free kick just wide of Jordan Callaghan’s goal from 35 yards.
The second period started in a more tepid fashion but Vics’ gopt back into their stride after the hour mark when O’Connor shot just wide of the target. The Vics’ front man then had the ball in the net but was denied by a narrow offside decision.
Clearly with an eye on next weeks Scottish Cup tie, manager Steph McMillan replaced the in form Balfour with Bryan Patterson to keep the little hitman fresh for next weeks big cup clash.
Kello were dealt a blow when keeper Lopez picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Derek Gall. The visitors were striving to bring some respectability back into the scoreline but it was Vics who were carrying the goal threat and substitute Bryan Patterson was denied by a near post save from Gall.
Kello had their moments. Darren Gall had a long range strike saved by Callaghan while Fleming fired into the side netting.
O’Connor was desperate to match the feat of his strike partner Balfour and complete his own hat trick but Gall denied him, turning his close range effort round the post. Gall denied the Vics frontman again at his near post, this time saving a header while at the other end Kello came close to reducing the leeway with only the combined efforts of Martin Lawrie and Derek McCulloch clearling the ball off the line.
But just when it looked as if there would be no more goals in the match, Vics got their sixth thanks to a strange og from Stuart Bell. Bryan Patterson never gave up what looked to be a lost cause and chased the big defender down out on the touch line but Bell lofted his pass back high over the head of Gall into the net.
Shaw then forced Callaghan into a fine save at the other end but Whitletts got their seventh in the 85th minute. Patterson setting up Lawrie who drilled the ball high past Gall from 20 yards.
And it could have been even more for the Ayr side. After a superb break, Allan raced clear and chipped the ball over the advancing keeper only to see hi shot come back off the post and then with the final kick off the game, O’Connor was denied his hat trick by the crossbar after hitting a thumping 25 yard free kick.
Whitletts are growing in confidence with every game they play right now and this is a result that will set them up nicely for the trip North next Saturday when they take on North Premier Division side Banchory in the Scottish Cup.
Whitletts Victoria
1.Callaghan 2. Kerr 3. Holland 4. McCulloch 5. Buchanan (Longair 69) 6. Boyle 7. Simpson (Davidson 72) 8. Allan 9. O’Connor 10. Balfour (Patterson 61) 11. Lawrie
Subs (not used) 16. Barr 17. Cameron
Kello Rovers
1. J. Lopez (Derek Gall 70) 2. MacDonald 3. Orr 4. Hall (Bell 39) 5. Hyslop 6. Darren Gall 7. S.Lopez 8. Shaw 9. Fleming 10. Jardine 11. Pagan
Subs (not used) 14. S.Fleming 15. Hampson 16. McGinley
Referee: Gerard Pilu
Whitletts warmed up for next Saturday’s road trip to Banchory with an emphatic victory over Kello Rovers at Dam Park.
The Kirkconnel club came into the game with a fair bit of form behind them recently having won three and drawn one of their last five league matches and started this match strongly as they took an early lead. Rovers striker Liam Fleming was allowed to waltz his way through the home defence and slot the ball into the corner of the net from 10 yards.
But that was as good as it got for the Dumfriesshire outfit. Within seven minutes, Vics were back on level terms. Striker Tony Balfour ran onto a through ball to race clear and fire past the advancing keeper.
Two minutes later it was 2-1. Mick O’Connor scoring from the penalty spot after Derek MacDonald had handled inside the area.
Dom Boyle was then denied by a save from Jonathan Lopez from the corner of the six yard box as Vics began to turn the screw and in the 24th minute they increased their lead. As Shaun Allan broke from defence he released a superb ball for Balfour who raced clear off the Rovers defence to calmly slot the ball past the advancing keeper.
Within three minutes Balfour completed his hat trick with a goal of sheer perseverance as he brushed off the challenges of two Kello defenders before Lopez dived at his feet and as the ball broke clear Balfour was first to react to sweep the ball into the net.
Even this early in the game, the match was over as a contest as rampant Vics went in search of more. A neat move involving Allan and O’Connor saw Balfour head the latters cross just past the post but in the 41st minute the home side netted number five. O’Connor again scoring from the penalty spot after Darren Gall had hauled Balfour to the ground.
Kello still had their moments and right on half time Martin Shaw fired a free kick just wide of Jordan Callaghan’s goal from 35 yards.
The second period started in a more tepid fashion but Vics’ gopt back into their stride after the hour mark when O’Connor shot just wide of the target. The Vics’ front man then had the ball in the net but was denied by a narrow offside decision.
Clearly with an eye on next weeks Scottish Cup tie, manager Steph McMillan replaced the in form Balfour with Bryan Patterson to keep the little hitman fresh for next weeks big cup clash.
Kello were dealt a blow when keeper Lopez picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Derek Gall. The visitors were striving to bring some respectability back into the scoreline but it was Vics who were carrying the goal threat and substitute Bryan Patterson was denied by a near post save from Gall.
Kello had their moments. Darren Gall had a long range strike saved by Callaghan while Fleming fired into the side netting.
O’Connor was desperate to match the feat of his strike partner Balfour and complete his own hat trick but Gall denied him, turning his close range effort round the post. Gall denied the Vics frontman again at his near post, this time saving a header while at the other end Kello came close to reducing the leeway with only the combined efforts of Martin Lawrie and Derek McCulloch clearling the ball off the line.
But just when it looked as if there would be no more goals in the match, Vics got their sixth thanks to a strange og from Stuart Bell. Bryan Patterson never gave up what looked to be a lost cause and chased the big defender down out on the touch line but Bell lofted his pass back high over the head of Gall into the net.
Shaw then forced Callaghan into a fine save at the other end but Whitletts got their seventh in the 85th minute. Patterson setting up Lawrie who drilled the ball high past Gall from 20 yards.
And it could have been even more for the Ayr side. After a superb break, Allan raced clear and chipped the ball over the advancing keeper only to see hi shot come back off the post and then with the final kick off the game, O’Connor was denied his hat trick by the crossbar after hitting a thumping 25 yard free kick.
Whitletts are growing in confidence with every game they play right now and this is a result that will set them up nicely for the trip North next Saturday when they take on North Premier Division side Banchory in the Scottish Cup.
Whitletts Victoria
1.Callaghan 2. Kerr 3. Holland 4. McCulloch 5. Buchanan (Longair 69) 6. Boyle 7. Simpson (Davidson 72) 8. Allan 9. O’Connor 10. Balfour (Patterson 61) 11. Lawrie
Subs (not used) 16. Barr 17. Cameron
Kello Rovers
1. J. Lopez (Derek Gall 70) 2. MacDonald 3. Orr 4. Hall (Bell 39) 5. Hyslop 6. Darren Gall 7. S.Lopez 8. Shaw 9. Fleming 10. Jardine 11. Pagan
Subs (not used) 14. S.Fleming 15. Hampson 16. McGinley
Referee: Gerard Pilu