Match Report : Whitletts v Annbank
WHITLETTS VICTORIA 7 - ANNBANK UNITED 2
Whitletts stretched their unbeaten run to 11 games with this comprehensive victory over local rival Annbank as the Dam Park side moved above Ardeer Thistle to the top of the Ayrshire District League.
In heavy conditions, Vics made the early breakthrough they were looking for when a deep Tony Balfour cross from the left picked out strike partner Michael O’Connor inside the penalty box and the Vics man had the time to control the ball on his chest before volleying past Marc Fisher from 12 yards.
It should have been two a minute later. Again a cross from the left, this time from James Davidson saw the Bankies keeper only able to parry the ball under pressure from Shaun Allan but Elliot Duffy fired the loose ball wide from six yards.
Vics looked to have a grip on the game at this stage but Annbank weren’t here just to Make up the numbers and in the 19th minute they were back on level terms. As Duffy failed to cut out a through ball, Ryan Hill was left in the clear to fire high past Jordan Callaghan.
The Ayr sides’ response was immediate. Martin Lawrie went close with a drive from 25 yards while at the other end, Annbank striker Adam Forsyth broke free but Callaghan saved his attempted lob.
But midway through the half, Whitletts restored their lead when Shaun Allan picked the ball up 25 yards from goal and advanced before curling a left foot shot past Fisher.
In the 25th minute a deep O’Connor cross into the box saw Balfour just fail to connect at the back post.
Annbank almost snatched an equaliser from a well worked free kick that ended with Jamie Donnelly getting a toe onto a Martin McColgan cross but the ball slipped wide.
Whitletts were always carrying a threat going forward and in the 31st minute that man Tony Balfour increased the home sides advantage when he latched onto an O’Connor pass to race clear and fire past Fisher.
Four minutes later Balfour made it 4-1. A long ball forward was flicked on by Allan and Balfour scored his second of the game as he fired low into the net from 15 yards.
The home side were commanding the match and just before the interval only a headed goal line clearance from Jamie Donnelly prevented Shaun Allan from adding a fifth.
The second half started in a similar vein to the first with O’Connor scoring an early goal. This time it came from the penalty spot in the 50th minute after a soft award by referee Derrick Park who adjudged that Jamie Donnelly had fouled Duffy inside the area.
In the heavy conditions, both sides continued to press forward. Annbank’s Scott Johnstone was denied by Callaghan while a Forsyth shot from the edge of the box slipped just past while for Vics James Davidson just failed to connect to a Balfour corner with the goal at his mercy.
There were clearly more goals in this game and in the 65th minute Bankies keeper Fisher failed to connect with an attempted clearance and Balfour capitalised to complete his FIFTH hat trick in Vics current unbeaten 11 match run in which the little striker has averaged 2 goals a game!
But still Annbank won’t give up and Ryan Hill scored his second of the day with a cheeky by-line cross that floated over the head of Callaghan before dropping into the net at the back post.
Forsyth was then again denied by Callaghan when through on a one on one but in the 80th minute it was Whitletts who restored their five goal lead when substitute Bryan Patterson latched onto a through ball and he kept his cool to round Fisher and roll the ball into the empty net to complete the scoring.
This result should prove a huge confidence booster for the Ayr side as they turn their attention now to next Saturday’s trip to Benburb in the Scottish Junior Cup.
Whitletts Victoria :
1.Callaghan 2. Kerr (Simpson 61) 3. Lawrie 4. McCulloch 5. Longair 6. Cameron 7. Duffy 8. Allan (Barr 71) 9. O’Connor 10. Balfour (Patterson 75) 11. Davidson
Subs (not used) 15 Boyle
Annbank United :
1 Fisher 2. Uphall (Nairn HT) 3. Currie (Tait 76) 4. Donnelly 5. McColgan 6. Anderson 7. Johnstone (McNamara 65) 8. Logan 9. Forsyth 10. McEwan 11. Hill
Subs (not used) 14. Ferry 17.Kirkland
Referee: Derrick Park
Whitletts stretched their unbeaten run to 11 games with this comprehensive victory over local rival Annbank as the Dam Park side moved above Ardeer Thistle to the top of the Ayrshire District League.
In heavy conditions, Vics made the early breakthrough they were looking for when a deep Tony Balfour cross from the left picked out strike partner Michael O’Connor inside the penalty box and the Vics man had the time to control the ball on his chest before volleying past Marc Fisher from 12 yards.
It should have been two a minute later. Again a cross from the left, this time from James Davidson saw the Bankies keeper only able to parry the ball under pressure from Shaun Allan but Elliot Duffy fired the loose ball wide from six yards.
Vics looked to have a grip on the game at this stage but Annbank weren’t here just to Make up the numbers and in the 19th minute they were back on level terms. As Duffy failed to cut out a through ball, Ryan Hill was left in the clear to fire high past Jordan Callaghan.
The Ayr sides’ response was immediate. Martin Lawrie went close with a drive from 25 yards while at the other end, Annbank striker Adam Forsyth broke free but Callaghan saved his attempted lob.
But midway through the half, Whitletts restored their lead when Shaun Allan picked the ball up 25 yards from goal and advanced before curling a left foot shot past Fisher.
In the 25th minute a deep O’Connor cross into the box saw Balfour just fail to connect at the back post.
Annbank almost snatched an equaliser from a well worked free kick that ended with Jamie Donnelly getting a toe onto a Martin McColgan cross but the ball slipped wide.
Whitletts were always carrying a threat going forward and in the 31st minute that man Tony Balfour increased the home sides advantage when he latched onto an O’Connor pass to race clear and fire past Fisher.
Four minutes later Balfour made it 4-1. A long ball forward was flicked on by Allan and Balfour scored his second of the game as he fired low into the net from 15 yards.
The home side were commanding the match and just before the interval only a headed goal line clearance from Jamie Donnelly prevented Shaun Allan from adding a fifth.
The second half started in a similar vein to the first with O’Connor scoring an early goal. This time it came from the penalty spot in the 50th minute after a soft award by referee Derrick Park who adjudged that Jamie Donnelly had fouled Duffy inside the area.
In the heavy conditions, both sides continued to press forward. Annbank’s Scott Johnstone was denied by Callaghan while a Forsyth shot from the edge of the box slipped just past while for Vics James Davidson just failed to connect to a Balfour corner with the goal at his mercy.
There were clearly more goals in this game and in the 65th minute Bankies keeper Fisher failed to connect with an attempted clearance and Balfour capitalised to complete his FIFTH hat trick in Vics current unbeaten 11 match run in which the little striker has averaged 2 goals a game!
But still Annbank won’t give up and Ryan Hill scored his second of the day with a cheeky by-line cross that floated over the head of Callaghan before dropping into the net at the back post.
Forsyth was then again denied by Callaghan when through on a one on one but in the 80th minute it was Whitletts who restored their five goal lead when substitute Bryan Patterson latched onto a through ball and he kept his cool to round Fisher and roll the ball into the empty net to complete the scoring.
This result should prove a huge confidence booster for the Ayr side as they turn their attention now to next Saturday’s trip to Benburb in the Scottish Junior Cup.
Whitletts Victoria :
1.Callaghan 2. Kerr (Simpson 61) 3. Lawrie 4. McCulloch 5. Longair 6. Cameron 7. Duffy 8. Allan (Barr 71) 9. O’Connor 10. Balfour (Patterson 75) 11. Davidson
Subs (not used) 15 Boyle
Annbank United :
1 Fisher 2. Uphall (Nairn HT) 3. Currie (Tait 76) 4. Donnelly 5. McColgan 6. Anderson 7. Johnstone (McNamara 65) 8. Logan 9. Forsyth 10. McEwan 11. Hill
Subs (not used) 14. Ferry 17.Kirkland
Referee: Derrick Park