Match Report : Whitletts Vics
WHITLETS VICTORIA 2 - ARDEER THISTLE 1
After the postponement of last weeks fixture at Muirkirk, Vics got their new league campaign off to a winning start in a hard fought encounter against Ardeer at Dam Park.
This was the proverbial game of two halves. At half time Whitletts looked to be assured of the points as they led 2-0 with plenty of missed opportunities to have an even greater advantage but in the second half it was a complete role reversal with Thistle probably ruing their missed chances that could have at least earned them a point.
Whitletts took the lead in the 11th minute. A run and shot by Jordan Boyd was blocked by Thistle keeper Paul McCann and striker Craig Harvey was on hand to roll home from six yards.
Vics upped the ante and took the game to their oppponents. Harvey sclaffed a shot wide across goal and then both Boyd and Mbanje Munyaradzi saw their efforts slip wide.
Josh Sloan then went close with a header from Munyaradzi as Vics continued to have the better of the exchanges but they had keeper Stevie Douglas to thank for keeping that lead in tact when he kept out a Matthew Stevenson drive from 12 yards.
Vics were always the more likely to add to their tally but when the second goal did arrive three minutes before the break, it was a moment their normally reliable keeper McCann will want to forget. From the corner of the penalty area, Louis Kerr crossed deep into the goalmouth. It was the big keepers’ ball all day long but he uncharacteristically let the ball slip through his hands and it dropped over the line.
If the first half had been comfortable for Vics they were rocked in the opening minute of the second when Ardeer reduced the leeway. A ball into the box found Stevenson who set up Derek Kennedy who from six yards managed to dig the ball out from under his feet to fire past Douglas.
It was Ardeer who carried the greater threat and midway through the half they should have equalised when Kennedy picked up the ball inside the box from a throw and from inside the six yards Douglas did enough to block his effort for it to go over the bar. And with 15 minutes remaining it was the big keeper who again came to his sides rescue pushing away a thumping drive from 22 yards by Archie Sewell.
Vics immediately broke upfield and should have wrapped up the points when first Harvey’s shot was parried out by Mcann, Boyd’s follow up was blocked on the line and then with the goal at his mercy inside the six yard box Munyaradzi somehow scooped his shot wide of the post.
Gareth Turner had a great chance for the visitors but his netbound shot was blocked by Isaac Kerr and then Douglas again saved his side keeping out a back post header from Jamie Donnelly. Ardeer were pressing hard for the equaliser and the Vics goal had another let escape nine minutes from time after Douglas could only parry a cross ball into the path of Kennedy but with the goal at his mercy from eight yards out he blasted the ball over the crossbar.
The Vics goal had led a charmed life in the second period but in injury time they were given the deal opportunity to secure all three points when Harvey was barged inside the area leaving referee McAlpine no option but to point to the spot. Harvey took the kick himself but McCann redeemed himself diving to his right to save Harvey’s weak effort.
A winning start to their league campaign for Whitletts but a warning for thatbthey would get away with second half display’s like this one in other ADL fixtures in the weeks ahead.
Whitletts Victoria
1. Douglas 2. Boyle 3. Lawrie 4. I. Kerr 5. Buchanan 6. Sloan 7. Munyaradzi (Ogston 85) 8. Boyd 9. Harvey 10. L. Kerr 11. Ewart (Milligan 72) Subs (not used) 14. Ogston 15. McClung
Ardeer Thistle
1. McCann 2. McKay (Wilson 59) 3. Thomson 4. Donnelly 5. Holden 6. Stevenson 7. Kennedy 8. Scarramuzza 9. Sewell (Bruce 83) 10. Turner 11. Gillies (Kean 76) Subs (not used) 12. Robertson 17. Dorigo
Referee: Colin McAlpine
After the postponement of last weeks fixture at Muirkirk, Vics got their new league campaign off to a winning start in a hard fought encounter against Ardeer at Dam Park.
This was the proverbial game of two halves. At half time Whitletts looked to be assured of the points as they led 2-0 with plenty of missed opportunities to have an even greater advantage but in the second half it was a complete role reversal with Thistle probably ruing their missed chances that could have at least earned them a point.
Whitletts took the lead in the 11th minute. A run and shot by Jordan Boyd was blocked by Thistle keeper Paul McCann and striker Craig Harvey was on hand to roll home from six yards.
Vics upped the ante and took the game to their oppponents. Harvey sclaffed a shot wide across goal and then both Boyd and Mbanje Munyaradzi saw their efforts slip wide.
Josh Sloan then went close with a header from Munyaradzi as Vics continued to have the better of the exchanges but they had keeper Stevie Douglas to thank for keeping that lead in tact when he kept out a Matthew Stevenson drive from 12 yards.
Vics were always the more likely to add to their tally but when the second goal did arrive three minutes before the break, it was a moment their normally reliable keeper McCann will want to forget. From the corner of the penalty area, Louis Kerr crossed deep into the goalmouth. It was the big keepers’ ball all day long but he uncharacteristically let the ball slip through his hands and it dropped over the line.
If the first half had been comfortable for Vics they were rocked in the opening minute of the second when Ardeer reduced the leeway. A ball into the box found Stevenson who set up Derek Kennedy who from six yards managed to dig the ball out from under his feet to fire past Douglas.
It was Ardeer who carried the greater threat and midway through the half they should have equalised when Kennedy picked up the ball inside the box from a throw and from inside the six yards Douglas did enough to block his effort for it to go over the bar. And with 15 minutes remaining it was the big keeper who again came to his sides rescue pushing away a thumping drive from 22 yards by Archie Sewell.
Vics immediately broke upfield and should have wrapped up the points when first Harvey’s shot was parried out by Mcann, Boyd’s follow up was blocked on the line and then with the goal at his mercy inside the six yard box Munyaradzi somehow scooped his shot wide of the post.
Gareth Turner had a great chance for the visitors but his netbound shot was blocked by Isaac Kerr and then Douglas again saved his side keeping out a back post header from Jamie Donnelly. Ardeer were pressing hard for the equaliser and the Vics goal had another let escape nine minutes from time after Douglas could only parry a cross ball into the path of Kennedy but with the goal at his mercy from eight yards out he blasted the ball over the crossbar.
The Vics goal had led a charmed life in the second period but in injury time they were given the deal opportunity to secure all three points when Harvey was barged inside the area leaving referee McAlpine no option but to point to the spot. Harvey took the kick himself but McCann redeemed himself diving to his right to save Harvey’s weak effort.
A winning start to their league campaign for Whitletts but a warning for thatbthey would get away with second half display’s like this one in other ADL fixtures in the weeks ahead.
Whitletts Victoria
1. Douglas 2. Boyle 3. Lawrie 4. I. Kerr 5. Buchanan 6. Sloan 7. Munyaradzi (Ogston 85) 8. Boyd 9. Harvey 10. L. Kerr 11. Ewart (Milligan 72) Subs (not used) 14. Ogston 15. McClung
Ardeer Thistle
1. McCann 2. McKay (Wilson 59) 3. Thomson 4. Donnelly 5. Holden 6. Stevenson 7. Kennedy 8. Scarramuzza 9. Sewell (Bruce 83) 10. Turner 11. Gillies (Kean 76) Subs (not used) 12. Robertson 17. Dorigo
Referee: Colin McAlpine