Match Report : Muirkirk v Whitletts
MUIRKIRK 1 - WHITLETTS VICTORIA 3
Whitletts ran out comfortable winners in this encounter against a Muirkirk side that has shown a marked improvement since the clubs last met at the end of December.
The Ayr side should have been in front inside 30 seconds when Tony Balfour raced past three defenders on his way into the box but his shot was blocked by the legs of ‘Kirk keeper Allan Muir.
In the fourth minute Jordan Callaghan had to be alert as he raced from his goal to deny Kris Stewart but it was Vics’ doing most of the pressing and Michael O’Connor saw his shot parried behind by Muir.
Cammy Barr then headed a Stevie Kerr cross just wide while at the other end a thunderous drive from Jason McCuaig was headed off the line by Connor Simpson.
However despite having the vast majority of the play, Whitletts struggled to turn their superiority into goals and when chances did come their way they came up against the impressive Muir. In the 26th minute Balfour raced clear but as he tried to round the ‘Kirk No1, Muir dived to touch the ball away from the strikers feet.
A goal had to come and it finally arrived in the 29th minute when O’Connor was left unmarked to head home a Balfour cross.
It should have been two five minutes later when substitute Mark Hamilton handled a Balfour shot inside the box but Muir again came to his sides rescue as he dived to his right to save O’Connors’ spot kick.
Muir then denied Balfour again when the striker fired into his midrift and moments later from a Balfour corner, Raymond Buchanan just failed to connect with a flick from Barr with the goal at his mercy.
The pace of Balfour was causing Muirkirk all kinds of problems and Vics’ should have went in two ahead at the break but after leaving three defenders in his wake the striker saw his shot blocked at the near post by Muir when a better option would have been to square the ball to the two unmarked Whitletts players in front of goal.
The second half continue where the first left off with Dom Boyle firing inches wide and another shot from Balfour superbly turned over the bar by Muir.
The second goal for the visitors finally arrived in the 57th minute when a clever ball over the defence by Stevie Kerr released Balfour who lofted the ball over the advancing keeper into the net.
Muirirk went straight upfield and full back Jason Boyle saw his thumping 25 yards drive headed over by Barr but still it was the Ayr side who were in the ascendancy. A Boyle shot from the edge of the box flew just over while a quick free kick released Balfour in the box but this time the little striker was denied by an outstretch leg from Muir.
As the game entered the final ten minutes Muirkirk began to press Vics’ back into defence an Stewart went very close with an angled drive from outside the box but in the final minute Whitletts ensured their would be no comeback from the home side with a third goal. A deep corner from Boyle was met by a Simpson volley that was blocked by the keeper but this time Elliot Duffy was on hand to head home the rebound.
In injury time Muirkirk got their consolation when Stewart netted from the penalty spot after Lee Holland was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box but Vics’ completed their on the road travels for the season as they returned to Ayr with all three points.
MUIRIRK
1. Muir 2. Boyle 3. Peck 4. McCuaig 5. Meechan (Hamilton 31) 6. Arthur 7. McCann 9. Stewart 10. Gallagher 11. McAllister 14. Campbell
Subs (not used) 12. Bryson 16. McLelland 17. Hughes
WHITLETTS VICTORIA
1. Callaghan 2. Simpson 3. Patterson 4. Longair 5. Buchanan 6. Holland 7. Barr (McGinn 65) 8. Kerr 9. O’Connor (Duffy HT) 10. Balfour 11. Boyle
Sub (not used) 15. Baillie
Referee: Paul O’Neill
Whitletts ran out comfortable winners in this encounter against a Muirkirk side that has shown a marked improvement since the clubs last met at the end of December.
The Ayr side should have been in front inside 30 seconds when Tony Balfour raced past three defenders on his way into the box but his shot was blocked by the legs of ‘Kirk keeper Allan Muir.
In the fourth minute Jordan Callaghan had to be alert as he raced from his goal to deny Kris Stewart but it was Vics’ doing most of the pressing and Michael O’Connor saw his shot parried behind by Muir.
Cammy Barr then headed a Stevie Kerr cross just wide while at the other end a thunderous drive from Jason McCuaig was headed off the line by Connor Simpson.
However despite having the vast majority of the play, Whitletts struggled to turn their superiority into goals and when chances did come their way they came up against the impressive Muir. In the 26th minute Balfour raced clear but as he tried to round the ‘Kirk No1, Muir dived to touch the ball away from the strikers feet.
A goal had to come and it finally arrived in the 29th minute when O’Connor was left unmarked to head home a Balfour cross.
It should have been two five minutes later when substitute Mark Hamilton handled a Balfour shot inside the box but Muir again came to his sides rescue as he dived to his right to save O’Connors’ spot kick.
Muir then denied Balfour again when the striker fired into his midrift and moments later from a Balfour corner, Raymond Buchanan just failed to connect with a flick from Barr with the goal at his mercy.
The pace of Balfour was causing Muirkirk all kinds of problems and Vics’ should have went in two ahead at the break but after leaving three defenders in his wake the striker saw his shot blocked at the near post by Muir when a better option would have been to square the ball to the two unmarked Whitletts players in front of goal.
The second half continue where the first left off with Dom Boyle firing inches wide and another shot from Balfour superbly turned over the bar by Muir.
The second goal for the visitors finally arrived in the 57th minute when a clever ball over the defence by Stevie Kerr released Balfour who lofted the ball over the advancing keeper into the net.
Muirirk went straight upfield and full back Jason Boyle saw his thumping 25 yards drive headed over by Barr but still it was the Ayr side who were in the ascendancy. A Boyle shot from the edge of the box flew just over while a quick free kick released Balfour in the box but this time the little striker was denied by an outstretch leg from Muir.
As the game entered the final ten minutes Muirkirk began to press Vics’ back into defence an Stewart went very close with an angled drive from outside the box but in the final minute Whitletts ensured their would be no comeback from the home side with a third goal. A deep corner from Boyle was met by a Simpson volley that was blocked by the keeper but this time Elliot Duffy was on hand to head home the rebound.
In injury time Muirkirk got their consolation when Stewart netted from the penalty spot after Lee Holland was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box but Vics’ completed their on the road travels for the season as they returned to Ayr with all three points.
MUIRIRK
1. Muir 2. Boyle 3. Peck 4. McCuaig 5. Meechan (Hamilton 31) 6. Arthur 7. McCann 9. Stewart 10. Gallagher 11. McAllister 14. Campbell
Subs (not used) 12. Bryson 16. McLelland 17. Hughes
WHITLETTS VICTORIA
1. Callaghan 2. Simpson 3. Patterson 4. Longair 5. Buchanan 6. Holland 7. Barr (McGinn 65) 8. Kerr 9. O’Connor (Duffy HT) 10. Balfour 11. Boyle
Sub (not used) 15. Baillie
Referee: Paul O’Neill