Whitletts Vics - Match Report
CRAIGMARK BURNTONIANS 1 - WHITLETTS VICTORIA 1
An injury time goal from top scorer Tony Balfour earned Whitletts a vital league point at Station Park against managerless Craigmark.With the Dalmellington side clinging on and looking set for a surprise victory, Vics substitute Sean Ewart crossed deep into the box where Raymond Buchanan headed back across goal and Balfour fired his volley into the ground as it bounced high into the top corner of the net.
It was no more than Vics’ deserved for their incessant second half pressure but it was a cruel blow for the home side who had fought, harried and defended their goal so well over the 90 minutes.
Craigmark had taken an early lead when in the 11th minute Stewart Steel released Dillon Dunn down the right. The youngster left Lee Holland in his wake as he broke into the box to fire a low shot through the legs of Ally McInnes into the net. It was a shock for Whitletts and it almost got worse five minutes later when only an outstanding save from McInnes spared Raymond Buchanan’s blushes as his attempted clearance flew towards his own net!
It took Whitletts until midway through the first half to test ‘Mark keeper Stevie Douglas but the former Whitletts keeper was equal to Shaun Allan’s near post drive. At the other end, former Vics’ midfielder Dom Boyle curled an effort from 20 yards just wide but the Dam Park side began to build up momentum as they pressed the home side back.
Balfour tried his luck with an ambitious lob from the corner of the box that drifted wide but on the half hour mark the striker turned provider but Graham Longair failed to get enough contact on the ball in front of goal as it deflected wide.
Moments later Balfour turned provider again with another cross from the left but this time Jim Wilson’s close range effort was blocked by Douglas.
Manager Steph McMillan made a double change at half time to give his side more of a threat going forward but the Ayr side struggled to find a way past some resolute Craigmark defending. The home side had virtually ten men behind the ball at all times, giving Vics’ little space to find a way through and even when they did the ‘Mark defenders’ were very quick to close them down. At times the defending could be called desperate as the Craigmark players fought and harried Vics with the home players making some fine late challenges and blocks to deny the visitors.
Michael O’Connor just failed to connect with a diving header in front of goal as he flung himself at a Balfour cross but for all their pressure it was Craigmark who should have scored a second when Dunn latched onto a poor clearance from McInnes but the Vics’ keeper forced him wide and in the end the youngster shot off target.
The final half hour was incessant Vics’ pressure as they searched for the equaliser. Balfour set up Ewart in front of goal but the youngsters effort was blocked by the legs of Douglas. Moments later Douglas repeated the feat to deny O’Connor and Wilson’s follow up effort was blocked by Lewis Kirkwood who flung himself in front of the ball. Kirkwood made a couple of last ditch challenges as did Craig Barratt and the outstanding William Hall as ‘Mark battled bravely to hold onto their advantage.
Inside the final ten minutes Buchanan should have done better when he headed a Balfour corner wide from six yards and then when Douglas dropped an O’Connor cross, the keeper recovered to steal the ball from Balfour as he seemed set to score.
Then came the injury time heartbreak for Craigmark as Balfour’s late, late equaliser snatched a point for Whitletts.
Craigmark Burntonians
1. Douglas 2. Steel 3. Barrett 4. Henderson 5. Kirkwood 6. Hall 7. Mechan (McKay 65) 8. McCubbin 9. Dunn (Ewing 90)10. Boyle 11. DempsterSubs (not used) 14. Holland 16. Thirtle 17. Coughtrie
Whitletts Victoria
1.McInnes 2. Simpson 3. Longair 4. Holland 5. Buchanan 6. Kerr (Hanvey HT) 7. Love (Ewart 61) 8. Allan 9. Wilson 10. Balfour 11. Wallace (O’Connor HT)Subs (not used) 14. Lawrie 17. Reynolds
Referee: Craig Walker
An injury time goal from top scorer Tony Balfour earned Whitletts a vital league point at Station Park against managerless Craigmark.With the Dalmellington side clinging on and looking set for a surprise victory, Vics substitute Sean Ewart crossed deep into the box where Raymond Buchanan headed back across goal and Balfour fired his volley into the ground as it bounced high into the top corner of the net.
It was no more than Vics’ deserved for their incessant second half pressure but it was a cruel blow for the home side who had fought, harried and defended their goal so well over the 90 minutes.
Craigmark had taken an early lead when in the 11th minute Stewart Steel released Dillon Dunn down the right. The youngster left Lee Holland in his wake as he broke into the box to fire a low shot through the legs of Ally McInnes into the net. It was a shock for Whitletts and it almost got worse five minutes later when only an outstanding save from McInnes spared Raymond Buchanan’s blushes as his attempted clearance flew towards his own net!
It took Whitletts until midway through the first half to test ‘Mark keeper Stevie Douglas but the former Whitletts keeper was equal to Shaun Allan’s near post drive. At the other end, former Vics’ midfielder Dom Boyle curled an effort from 20 yards just wide but the Dam Park side began to build up momentum as they pressed the home side back.
Balfour tried his luck with an ambitious lob from the corner of the box that drifted wide but on the half hour mark the striker turned provider but Graham Longair failed to get enough contact on the ball in front of goal as it deflected wide.
Moments later Balfour turned provider again with another cross from the left but this time Jim Wilson’s close range effort was blocked by Douglas.
Manager Steph McMillan made a double change at half time to give his side more of a threat going forward but the Ayr side struggled to find a way past some resolute Craigmark defending. The home side had virtually ten men behind the ball at all times, giving Vics’ little space to find a way through and even when they did the ‘Mark defenders’ were very quick to close them down. At times the defending could be called desperate as the Craigmark players fought and harried Vics with the home players making some fine late challenges and blocks to deny the visitors.
Michael O’Connor just failed to connect with a diving header in front of goal as he flung himself at a Balfour cross but for all their pressure it was Craigmark who should have scored a second when Dunn latched onto a poor clearance from McInnes but the Vics’ keeper forced him wide and in the end the youngster shot off target.
The final half hour was incessant Vics’ pressure as they searched for the equaliser. Balfour set up Ewart in front of goal but the youngsters effort was blocked by the legs of Douglas. Moments later Douglas repeated the feat to deny O’Connor and Wilson’s follow up effort was blocked by Lewis Kirkwood who flung himself in front of the ball. Kirkwood made a couple of last ditch challenges as did Craig Barratt and the outstanding William Hall as ‘Mark battled bravely to hold onto their advantage.
Inside the final ten minutes Buchanan should have done better when he headed a Balfour corner wide from six yards and then when Douglas dropped an O’Connor cross, the keeper recovered to steal the ball from Balfour as he seemed set to score.
Then came the injury time heartbreak for Craigmark as Balfour’s late, late equaliser snatched a point for Whitletts.
Craigmark Burntonians
1. Douglas 2. Steel 3. Barrett 4. Henderson 5. Kirkwood 6. Hall 7. Mechan (McKay 65) 8. McCubbin 9. Dunn (Ewing 90)10. Boyle 11. DempsterSubs (not used) 14. Holland 16. Thirtle 17. Coughtrie
Whitletts Victoria
1.McInnes 2. Simpson 3. Longair 4. Holland 5. Buchanan 6. Kerr (Hanvey HT) 7. Love (Ewart 61) 8. Allan 9. Wilson 10. Balfour 11. Wallace (O’Connor HT)Subs (not used) 14. Lawrie 17. Reynolds
Referee: Craig Walker