Whitletts Vics : Match Report
IRVINE MEADOW 1 - WHITLETTS VICTORIA 4
Vics produced a stunning performance at Meadow Park to send their Premiership opponents spinning out of the League Cup to set up a quarter final clash with Auchinleck Talbot.
The Dam Park side made the short journey to Irvine in confident mood after their win at Arthurlie on Saturday but surely not even the most ardent Vics fan could have predicted what they witnessed over the 90 minutes.
From the kick off Whitletts dominated the match. In the opening seconds Adam Forsyth just failed to latch onto a through ball with the keeper to beat and then Thomas Donovan saw his shot from 22 yards come back off the post.
Whitletts had all the play and Isaac Kerr incredibly missed an open goal when a Callum Ogston cross came back off his instep and as Meadow struggled to clear the danger, Donovan’s lob landed on top of the net.
Graeme Barbour found the net for Vics in the 19th minute after Meadow keeper Shaun Newman spilled a Louis Kerr shot but the Vics striker was ruled to be in an offside position. Louis Kerr then fired wide as Whitletts continued to press forward. Ryan Begley then cleared the danger from inside his six yard box as Donovan tried to set up Forsyth for a tap in.
For all Whitletts domination, it looked as if they couldn’t find the way to goal and they were almost punished in the 39th minute when Darren Miller’s diving header went wide after Reece Pearson had refused to give up what looked to be a lost cause to keep the ball in play.
However two minutes before half time, Whitletts finally made the breakthrough. As Donovan set up Forsyth, the Vics striker had his feet taken from him by Meadow skipper Ben Carson inside the box. No doubt about the award of a penalty which Forsyth calmly dusted himself down to fire past Newman.
Right on the half time whistle Isaac Kerr headed narrowly over from a Louis Kerr corner as Vics had to settle for a one goal advantage at the break.
Meadow upped the play at the start of the second half looking to get back into the game but failed to trouble the Vics backline. The visitors were still in control of the proceedings and in the 58th minute they deservedly doubled their advantage. As Forsyth tusseled with a defender at the edge of the box, the ball broke for Donovan who fire a low angled shot past Newman into the corner of the net.
It was no more than Whitletts deserved. Sean Ewart went close with a free kick but the young defender was not to be denied and in the 67th minute he increased Vics lead with a stunning strike. Forsyth’s byeline cross just evaded Donovan but Ewart met the ball perfectly to send a thumping left foot drive high into the net from 15 yards.
Whitletts continued to look the more likely to add to their tally. Forsyth saw his drive parried by Newman and when the ball was returned to the danger zone it found no takers. Forsyth then failed to direct a near post header from a Donovan cross on target but in the 78th minute it was Meadow’s turn to have some hope. It looked a soft award as Carson went down in a crowded box at a corner but there was certainly no denying the resulting spot kick from former Ayr striker Aaron Connolly that smashed into the net off the underside of the bar.
However any hope of a late rally by the home side didn’t materialise. Donovan’s curling effort again tested Newman but with two minutes remaining Whitletts rounded off a fantastic night with a fourth goal. Forsyth left a defender for dead a he took the ball past him right on the byeline and he set up Paul Millar who fired low into the net for his first goal for the club.
An outstanding display by Vics and a margin of victory that was not unworthy against Premiership opposition but the bread and butter returns this Saturday when Darvel are the visitors to Dam Park.
Irvine Meadow
1. Newman 2. Anderson 3. MacKay 4. Devlin 5. Begley 6. Carnwrath (Connolly 63) 7. Carson 8. Spence (Gemmell 83) 9. Miller 10. Pearson (McGinty 67) 11. Willet
Whitletts Victoria
1. Fraser 2. Ogston 3. Ewart 4. Mullen 5. I.Kerr 6. Buchanan 7. L.Kerr (Dempsey 89) 8. Millar 9. Forsyth (Milligan 90) 10. Barbour (Boyd 70) 11. Donovan
Referee: David Milton
Vics produced a stunning performance at Meadow Park to send their Premiership opponents spinning out of the League Cup to set up a quarter final clash with Auchinleck Talbot.
The Dam Park side made the short journey to Irvine in confident mood after their win at Arthurlie on Saturday but surely not even the most ardent Vics fan could have predicted what they witnessed over the 90 minutes.
From the kick off Whitletts dominated the match. In the opening seconds Adam Forsyth just failed to latch onto a through ball with the keeper to beat and then Thomas Donovan saw his shot from 22 yards come back off the post.
Whitletts had all the play and Isaac Kerr incredibly missed an open goal when a Callum Ogston cross came back off his instep and as Meadow struggled to clear the danger, Donovan’s lob landed on top of the net.
Graeme Barbour found the net for Vics in the 19th minute after Meadow keeper Shaun Newman spilled a Louis Kerr shot but the Vics striker was ruled to be in an offside position. Louis Kerr then fired wide as Whitletts continued to press forward. Ryan Begley then cleared the danger from inside his six yard box as Donovan tried to set up Forsyth for a tap in.
For all Whitletts domination, it looked as if they couldn’t find the way to goal and they were almost punished in the 39th minute when Darren Miller’s diving header went wide after Reece Pearson had refused to give up what looked to be a lost cause to keep the ball in play.
However two minutes before half time, Whitletts finally made the breakthrough. As Donovan set up Forsyth, the Vics striker had his feet taken from him by Meadow skipper Ben Carson inside the box. No doubt about the award of a penalty which Forsyth calmly dusted himself down to fire past Newman.
Right on the half time whistle Isaac Kerr headed narrowly over from a Louis Kerr corner as Vics had to settle for a one goal advantage at the break.
Meadow upped the play at the start of the second half looking to get back into the game but failed to trouble the Vics backline. The visitors were still in control of the proceedings and in the 58th minute they deservedly doubled their advantage. As Forsyth tusseled with a defender at the edge of the box, the ball broke for Donovan who fire a low angled shot past Newman into the corner of the net.
It was no more than Whitletts deserved. Sean Ewart went close with a free kick but the young defender was not to be denied and in the 67th minute he increased Vics lead with a stunning strike. Forsyth’s byeline cross just evaded Donovan but Ewart met the ball perfectly to send a thumping left foot drive high into the net from 15 yards.
Whitletts continued to look the more likely to add to their tally. Forsyth saw his drive parried by Newman and when the ball was returned to the danger zone it found no takers. Forsyth then failed to direct a near post header from a Donovan cross on target but in the 78th minute it was Meadow’s turn to have some hope. It looked a soft award as Carson went down in a crowded box at a corner but there was certainly no denying the resulting spot kick from former Ayr striker Aaron Connolly that smashed into the net off the underside of the bar.
However any hope of a late rally by the home side didn’t materialise. Donovan’s curling effort again tested Newman but with two minutes remaining Whitletts rounded off a fantastic night with a fourth goal. Forsyth left a defender for dead a he took the ball past him right on the byeline and he set up Paul Millar who fired low into the net for his first goal for the club.
An outstanding display by Vics and a margin of victory that was not unworthy against Premiership opposition but the bread and butter returns this Saturday when Darvel are the visitors to Dam Park.
Irvine Meadow
1. Newman 2. Anderson 3. MacKay 4. Devlin 5. Begley 6. Carnwrath (Connolly 63) 7. Carson 8. Spence (Gemmell 83) 9. Miller 10. Pearson (McGinty 67) 11. Willet
Whitletts Victoria
1. Fraser 2. Ogston 3. Ewart 4. Mullen 5. I.Kerr 6. Buchanan 7. L.Kerr (Dempsey 89) 8. Millar 9. Forsyth (Milligan 90) 10. Barbour (Boyd 70) 11. Donovan
Referee: David Milton