Whitletts Vics : Match Report
WHITLETTS VICTORIA 2 - LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 2
The points were shared in this entertaining fixture at Dam Park in what was manager Neil Duffy’s first home match in charge of Whitletts.
But it was the visitors who made the perfect start when a Tommy Sloan error in midfield allowed James Hilton to race clear, he played a neat one two with Steven McCreadie and Hilton was left in acre of space to slot the ball past Ally McInnes.
But within a minute the home side were back on level terms. From a corner kick, the ball struck Lugar defender Grant Kirkwood, under pressure from Graham Longair and bounced into the net from close range.
It was end to end play and Hilton forced McInnes into a fine save from distance, with the Vics’ keeper pushing the ball onto the post. At the other end David Waite cleared a Lee McCrea cross off the line with young debutant Kris Kerr set to pounce. Then Lugar keeper Lyle Avci did well to blocked a Sam McFall shot from just inside the box.
Hilton was causing the home defence all kinds of problems and in the 20th minute the Ayr United youngster tried an ambitious effort from the corner of the area that just flew over the crossbar.
Just after the half hour it was Whitletts turn to threaten when a delightful cross from young Kris Kerr picked out McFall whose header from six yards slipped inches wide. Avci was then forced to save at full stretch to deny Tony Balfour as both sides went in level at the break.
Early in the second half Balfour was sent clear down the left but Avci parried his shot behind for a corner. Balfour created another chance moments later battling his way through two challenges but his final shot flew over the bar.
Lugar’s trialist centre was denied when his back post header strike the back of Buchanan’s head while for Vics’ Lee McCrea’s angled drive was turned round the post by Avci.
Chances were being created at both ends and Hilton almost grabbed a second after capitalising on some poor defensive play by Vics but his shot slipped inches wide of the post but with 13 minutes remaining Lugar regained the lead. From a byeline cutback McInnes got his hand on the ball but from only a couple of yards out Young forced the ball over the line.
Dougie McMaster then fired just wide from 20 yards as the Jaggy Bunnets looked to press home their advantage. Jai Holland then fired into the side netting on a Lugar counter while Andy Johnstone fired wide from 20 yards.
However with 4 minutes remaining Whitletts equalised for the second time with a first goal for the club for young Louis Kerr. A Balfour shot was deflected and the 19 year striker latched onto the ball to beat Avci with a low drive from the edge of the box.
Vics nearly secured all three points in the final minute when from a Balfour corner Buchanan rose at the back post but couldn’t direct the ball into the net. Then with the final piece of action in the game Balfour was released through the middle only to be blocked by Avci but as the Vics striker turned on the rebound, his netbound drive was blocked by a Lugar defender.
Whitletts Victoria
1. McInnes 2. Lee Anderson 3. Ewart 4. Longair 5. Buchanan 6. Sloan (McCarrison 70) 7. McCrea (Liam Anderson 80) 8. Black 9. Balfour 10. McFall 11. Kris Kerr (Louis Kerr 60)
Subs (not used) 14. Liam Anderson 15. Davidson 17. Mullen
Lugar Boswell Thistle
1. Avci 2. Waite 3. Ballantyne 4. Kirkwood 5. Muir 6. McCreadie 7. Johnstone 8. Young 9. McMaster 10. Hilton 11. McCowan (Holland HT )
Subs (not used) 14. Faulds 15. White
Referee: Martin McCarthy
The points were shared in this entertaining fixture at Dam Park in what was manager Neil Duffy’s first home match in charge of Whitletts.
But it was the visitors who made the perfect start when a Tommy Sloan error in midfield allowed James Hilton to race clear, he played a neat one two with Steven McCreadie and Hilton was left in acre of space to slot the ball past Ally McInnes.
But within a minute the home side were back on level terms. From a corner kick, the ball struck Lugar defender Grant Kirkwood, under pressure from Graham Longair and bounced into the net from close range.
It was end to end play and Hilton forced McInnes into a fine save from distance, with the Vics’ keeper pushing the ball onto the post. At the other end David Waite cleared a Lee McCrea cross off the line with young debutant Kris Kerr set to pounce. Then Lugar keeper Lyle Avci did well to blocked a Sam McFall shot from just inside the box.
Hilton was causing the home defence all kinds of problems and in the 20th minute the Ayr United youngster tried an ambitious effort from the corner of the area that just flew over the crossbar.
Just after the half hour it was Whitletts turn to threaten when a delightful cross from young Kris Kerr picked out McFall whose header from six yards slipped inches wide. Avci was then forced to save at full stretch to deny Tony Balfour as both sides went in level at the break.
Early in the second half Balfour was sent clear down the left but Avci parried his shot behind for a corner. Balfour created another chance moments later battling his way through two challenges but his final shot flew over the bar.
Lugar’s trialist centre was denied when his back post header strike the back of Buchanan’s head while for Vics’ Lee McCrea’s angled drive was turned round the post by Avci.
Chances were being created at both ends and Hilton almost grabbed a second after capitalising on some poor defensive play by Vics but his shot slipped inches wide of the post but with 13 minutes remaining Lugar regained the lead. From a byeline cutback McInnes got his hand on the ball but from only a couple of yards out Young forced the ball over the line.
Dougie McMaster then fired just wide from 20 yards as the Jaggy Bunnets looked to press home their advantage. Jai Holland then fired into the side netting on a Lugar counter while Andy Johnstone fired wide from 20 yards.
However with 4 minutes remaining Whitletts equalised for the second time with a first goal for the club for young Louis Kerr. A Balfour shot was deflected and the 19 year striker latched onto the ball to beat Avci with a low drive from the edge of the box.
Vics nearly secured all three points in the final minute when from a Balfour corner Buchanan rose at the back post but couldn’t direct the ball into the net. Then with the final piece of action in the game Balfour was released through the middle only to be blocked by Avci but as the Vics striker turned on the rebound, his netbound drive was blocked by a Lugar defender.
Whitletts Victoria
1. McInnes 2. Lee Anderson 3. Ewart 4. Longair 5. Buchanan 6. Sloan (McCarrison 70) 7. McCrea (Liam Anderson 80) 8. Black 9. Balfour 10. McFall 11. Kris Kerr (Louis Kerr 60)
Subs (not used) 14. Liam Anderson 15. Davidson 17. Mullen
Lugar Boswell Thistle
1. Avci 2. Waite 3. Ballantyne 4. Kirkwood 5. Muir 6. McCreadie 7. Johnstone 8. Young 9. McMaster 10. Hilton 11. McCowan (Holland HT )
Subs (not used) 14. Faulds 15. White
Referee: Martin McCarthy