Match Report - Whitletts v Arthurlie
WHITLETTS VICTORIA 0 ARTHURLIE 3
Arthurlie put their league woes behind them to march into the second round of the New Coin Holdings Cup with this victory over their Ayrshire District League opponents.
Vics went into the game minus the services of three key players with skipper Graham Longair on wedding duty and Raymond Buchanan (suspended) and Marc Cameron (injured) sitting on the sidelines.
The early play was open with both sides looking for the early initiative and the first real chance fell to Vics when Tony Balfour saw his effort from outside the area slip just wide.
However it was the visitors who made the early breakthrough. Del McCulloch conceded a free kick in a central position just outside the box and ‘Lie’s Mark Blaikie took full advantage to curl a free kick round the wall and beat Fraser Stewart at his near post.
Five minutes later the Premier Division outfit doubled their advantage when Connor Ramsay rose at the back post to head home a Ryan McArdle cross.
The Dunterlie Park outfit were in control of the tie and had chances to increase their advantage. Vics battled hard to get back into the game and Balfour had a couple of efforts on goal but the visitors remained dominant and always carried a threat going forward. However it was Vics who again came closest to reducing the leeway right on half time when an angled drive from 10 yards from Balfour crashed back off the post.
The second period started in a similar fashion with ‘Lie’s Kevin Green going close with a header that was held by Stewart. But Vics were striving to get back into the game with the main threat being carried by Tony Balfour and the diminutive striker was desperately unlucky to see his 25 yards shot crash back off the bar but strike partner Michael O’Connor couldn’t capitalise on the rebound.
Whitletts were growing in confidence and O’Connor tested keeper Patrick Docherty with an angled drive from inside the box to which the big keeper made a fine save at full stretch. However Arthurlie also had their chances with Ramsay and Paul Stewart going close with long range efforts.
The next goal was always going to be vital in the tie and when it did it come, it was for the visitors and killed the tie as a contest. A long ball from defence caught out Lee Holland and Paul Stewart was left with the simplest of tasks to take the ball round Stewart and roll it into the empty net.
Balfour remained dangerous for Vics and in the 76th minute he broke clear of the defender who in making a desperate challenge clipped the striker inside the box. Many others would have hit the ground and claimed a penalty but Balfour’s honesty saw him remain on his feet and fire in a shot that clipped the top of the bar.
So it was the Premier side who progressed into the draw for the next round and while few would doubt that Arthurlie were the better side on the day progress , Vics will feel hard done by at the extent of the winning margin as they gear up for next weeks Scottish Cup clash with Bathgate.
Whitletts Victoria
1. Stewart 2. Kerr 3. Lawrie 4. McCulloch 5. Holland 6. Boyle 7. Simpson (Barr 65) 8. Allan (Duffy 79) 9. O’Connor 10. Balfour 11. Patterson (Davidson 60)
Subs (not used) 21. Callaghan
Arthurlie
1. Docherty 2. Lydon 3. Blaikie 4. Jordan 5. Green 6. Millar 7. McArdle (Murray 64)8. Bonar (Rafferty 72) 9. Ramsay 10. Stewart (Dymock 76)11. McGregor
Subs (not used) 12.McSorely 14 21. Kevin Macklin
Referee: Garry Doherty
Arthurlie put their league woes behind them to march into the second round of the New Coin Holdings Cup with this victory over their Ayrshire District League opponents.
Vics went into the game minus the services of three key players with skipper Graham Longair on wedding duty and Raymond Buchanan (suspended) and Marc Cameron (injured) sitting on the sidelines.
The early play was open with both sides looking for the early initiative and the first real chance fell to Vics when Tony Balfour saw his effort from outside the area slip just wide.
However it was the visitors who made the early breakthrough. Del McCulloch conceded a free kick in a central position just outside the box and ‘Lie’s Mark Blaikie took full advantage to curl a free kick round the wall and beat Fraser Stewart at his near post.
Five minutes later the Premier Division outfit doubled their advantage when Connor Ramsay rose at the back post to head home a Ryan McArdle cross.
The Dunterlie Park outfit were in control of the tie and had chances to increase their advantage. Vics battled hard to get back into the game and Balfour had a couple of efforts on goal but the visitors remained dominant and always carried a threat going forward. However it was Vics who again came closest to reducing the leeway right on half time when an angled drive from 10 yards from Balfour crashed back off the post.
The second period started in a similar fashion with ‘Lie’s Kevin Green going close with a header that was held by Stewart. But Vics were striving to get back into the game with the main threat being carried by Tony Balfour and the diminutive striker was desperately unlucky to see his 25 yards shot crash back off the bar but strike partner Michael O’Connor couldn’t capitalise on the rebound.
Whitletts were growing in confidence and O’Connor tested keeper Patrick Docherty with an angled drive from inside the box to which the big keeper made a fine save at full stretch. However Arthurlie also had their chances with Ramsay and Paul Stewart going close with long range efforts.
The next goal was always going to be vital in the tie and when it did it come, it was for the visitors and killed the tie as a contest. A long ball from defence caught out Lee Holland and Paul Stewart was left with the simplest of tasks to take the ball round Stewart and roll it into the empty net.
Balfour remained dangerous for Vics and in the 76th minute he broke clear of the defender who in making a desperate challenge clipped the striker inside the box. Many others would have hit the ground and claimed a penalty but Balfour’s honesty saw him remain on his feet and fire in a shot that clipped the top of the bar.
So it was the Premier side who progressed into the draw for the next round and while few would doubt that Arthurlie were the better side on the day progress , Vics will feel hard done by at the extent of the winning margin as they gear up for next weeks Scottish Cup clash with Bathgate.
Whitletts Victoria
1. Stewart 2. Kerr 3. Lawrie 4. McCulloch 5. Holland 6. Boyle 7. Simpson (Barr 65) 8. Allan (Duffy 79) 9. O’Connor 10. Balfour 11. Patterson (Davidson 60)
Subs (not used) 21. Callaghan
Arthurlie
1. Docherty 2. Lydon 3. Blaikie 4. Jordan 5. Green 6. Millar 7. McArdle (Murray 64)8. Bonar (Rafferty 72) 9. Ramsay 10. Stewart (Dymock 76)11. McGregor
Subs (not used) 12.McSorely 14 21. Kevin Macklin
Referee: Garry Doherty