Match Report : Whitletts v Dalry Thistle
WHITLETTS VICTORIA 3 - DALRY THISTLE 2
A late winner from Raymond Buchanan gave Whitletts the points in a thrilling end of season encounter at Dam Park.
Whitletts should have taken an early lead when Stevie Kerr played in Tony Balfour but the strikers angled drive from 10 yards flew wide and they paid the penalty two minutes later when Dalry took the lead. As Vics’ failed to clear their lines from a corner, Jason Boyle’s header back across goal picked out the unmarked Ciaran Friel who headed home from six yards.
Balfour had a great chance to equalise in the 12th minute when his neat backheall took out two defenders to lave him clear in the box but keeper Brian Hewitt was alert to turn his shot round the post.
Vics continued to do most of the attacking but Dalry were quick to counter attack and in the 20th minute they had a great chance to add to their lead as they broke with a four on two advantage but instead of playing in one of his better placed team mates, Luke Crerrand tried to go it alone and the chance was lost.
Vics; were struggling to defend corner kicks and another chance went a begging for the visitors when the ball was returned to the danger zone and Martin Lawrie was on hand to block Crerrand netbound effort.
However Whitletts should have equalised in the 25th minute when Dalry keeper Hewitt brought down Michael O’Connor but the strikers’ resulting spot kick was easily saved by Hewit.
In the 27th minute Hewitt again denied Balfour with a fine one handed save but not to be denied, the home side were back on level terms in the 32nd minute. As Balfour broke into the box from the right, the striker forced the ball past keeper Hewitt and Cammy Barr followed up to ensure the ball crossed the line despite the attempted goal line clearance by a Thistle defender.
Whitletts started the second half pressing forward and almost took a 49th minute lead when Dom Boyle got on the end of an O’Connor pass but the slightest of touches from Hewitt saw the ball trundle wide. But Vics’ did take the lead in the 52 nd minute when O’Connor made amends for his earlier penalty miss as he ran onto a through ball to fire low past the keeper.
But back came Thistle and two minutes later they were back on level terms. The home defence failed to clear a long ball into the box and substitute Ross Loughlin was on hand to head home a Jamie Friels cross from close range.
Both sides went in search of the winner as play raged from end to end. Balfour went close for Whitletts with a shot from just inside the box while for Dalry Loughli was denied a second by a fine save from Callaghan.
As the floodlights came on, Balfour again went close with a low drive this time from outwith the area while Dalry’s Adam Calder squandered a great opportunity when he fired over from the corner of the six yard box.
A goal had to come but it was a matter of at which end and with three minutes remaining it fell for Whitletts. As the visitors failed to clear a corner kick, Barr dinked the ball back into the six yard box and Raymond Buchanan was on hand to turn the ball into the net from close range.
The home side finished the match with ten min as Martin Lawrie received a second yellow card for a minute later but despite pressure from the visitors Vics’ held onto claim the points.
Whitletts Victoria
1. Callaghan 2. Simpson 3. Lawrie 4. Longair 5. Buchanan 6. Holland (Nisbet 45) 7. Kerr (Allan 60) 8. Boyle (Duffy 75) 9. O’Connor 10. Balfour 11. Barr
Subs (not used) 12. Patterson 14. Duffy 15. Allan 16. Nisbet
Dalry Thistle
1. Hewitt 2. Calder 3. Guinea (Loughlin 45) 4. Halliday 5. Friel 6. Boyle 7. Friels 8. Gilmartin (Cumming 54) 9. Archdeacon (Pogollo 52) 10. Wallace 11. Crerrand
Referee: Derrick Barr
A late winner from Raymond Buchanan gave Whitletts the points in a thrilling end of season encounter at Dam Park.
Whitletts should have taken an early lead when Stevie Kerr played in Tony Balfour but the strikers angled drive from 10 yards flew wide and they paid the penalty two minutes later when Dalry took the lead. As Vics’ failed to clear their lines from a corner, Jason Boyle’s header back across goal picked out the unmarked Ciaran Friel who headed home from six yards.
Balfour had a great chance to equalise in the 12th minute when his neat backheall took out two defenders to lave him clear in the box but keeper Brian Hewitt was alert to turn his shot round the post.
Vics continued to do most of the attacking but Dalry were quick to counter attack and in the 20th minute they had a great chance to add to their lead as they broke with a four on two advantage but instead of playing in one of his better placed team mates, Luke Crerrand tried to go it alone and the chance was lost.
Vics; were struggling to defend corner kicks and another chance went a begging for the visitors when the ball was returned to the danger zone and Martin Lawrie was on hand to block Crerrand netbound effort.
However Whitletts should have equalised in the 25th minute when Dalry keeper Hewitt brought down Michael O’Connor but the strikers’ resulting spot kick was easily saved by Hewit.
In the 27th minute Hewitt again denied Balfour with a fine one handed save but not to be denied, the home side were back on level terms in the 32nd minute. As Balfour broke into the box from the right, the striker forced the ball past keeper Hewitt and Cammy Barr followed up to ensure the ball crossed the line despite the attempted goal line clearance by a Thistle defender.
Whitletts started the second half pressing forward and almost took a 49th minute lead when Dom Boyle got on the end of an O’Connor pass but the slightest of touches from Hewitt saw the ball trundle wide. But Vics’ did take the lead in the 52 nd minute when O’Connor made amends for his earlier penalty miss as he ran onto a through ball to fire low past the keeper.
But back came Thistle and two minutes later they were back on level terms. The home defence failed to clear a long ball into the box and substitute Ross Loughlin was on hand to head home a Jamie Friels cross from close range.
Both sides went in search of the winner as play raged from end to end. Balfour went close for Whitletts with a shot from just inside the box while for Dalry Loughli was denied a second by a fine save from Callaghan.
As the floodlights came on, Balfour again went close with a low drive this time from outwith the area while Dalry’s Adam Calder squandered a great opportunity when he fired over from the corner of the six yard box.
A goal had to come but it was a matter of at which end and with three minutes remaining it fell for Whitletts. As the visitors failed to clear a corner kick, Barr dinked the ball back into the six yard box and Raymond Buchanan was on hand to turn the ball into the net from close range.
The home side finished the match with ten min as Martin Lawrie received a second yellow card for a minute later but despite pressure from the visitors Vics’ held onto claim the points.
Whitletts Victoria
1. Callaghan 2. Simpson 3. Lawrie 4. Longair 5. Buchanan 6. Holland (Nisbet 45) 7. Kerr (Allan 60) 8. Boyle (Duffy 75) 9. O’Connor 10. Balfour 11. Barr
Subs (not used) 12. Patterson 14. Duffy 15. Allan 16. Nisbet
Dalry Thistle
1. Hewitt 2. Calder 3. Guinea (Loughlin 45) 4. Halliday 5. Friel 6. Boyle 7. Friels 8. Gilmartin (Cumming 54) 9. Archdeacon (Pogollo 52) 10. Wallace 11. Crerrand
Referee: Derrick Barr