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Match Report : Banchory v Whitletts

BANCHORY ST.TERNAN 1 - WHITLETTS VICTORIA 6

Whitletts Victoria marched into the last 32 of the Scottish Junior Cup with an impressive display against North Superleague outfit Banchory at Milton Park.

For the second successive week the Ayr side fought back from losing an early goal to blow their opponents away as twin strikers Tony Balfour and Michael O'Connor both grabbed a hat trick.

It was the North top flight outfit who started the match strongly and in the first minute Jordan Callaghan had to be alert to deny a home striker.

The breakthrough for Banchory came in the 10th minute with a well worked goal when Jack Henderson beat off the challenges of two Vics’ defenders to slot past Callaghan but the Ayr side’s response was almost immediate and within four minutes, they were back on level terms. Tony Balfour broke down the right and his cross was met by the head of Michael O’Connor to net the equaliser.

The visitors began to take a grip on the game and in the 29th minute they took the lead with a brilliant goal from Balfour. This time it was role reversal for the Vics’ strikers as Balfour got on the end of an O’Connor cross to fire Vics’ in front.

Banchory fought to get back into the game and there were chances at both ends but at the break the visitors had done just about enough to deserve their interval lead.

Whitletts came out at the start of the second period in determined fashion, looking for that goal to give them some breathing space and it came in the 54th minute. Shaun Allan set up Balfour with a superb through ball and the little striker gave the keeper no chance with a sublime finish.

It was all Vics’ now and the North Superleague side had no response to what Whitletts had to offer and the game was all but ended as a contest in the 63rd minute when Balfour completed his third hat trick in five matches to put the Dam Park side 4-1 ahead. It was also Balfour’s second hat trick in the Cup this season following his treble against Bathgate in the last round.

Shaun Allan was pulling the strings in midfield for Whitletts and it was from his pass that the visitors increased their advantage in the 71st minute with Michael O’Connor supplying the finish this time and eight minutes later the Vics’ frontman completed his own hat trick. Substitute Bryan Patterson broke down the left and from his cross O’Connor fired low into the corner of the net.

So its’ Vics name that will go into the hat for the fourth round draw but for now its’ back to the bread and butter of gaining league points in the clubs’ drive for promotion from the Ayrshire District League

Whitletts Victoria 
1. Callaghan 2. Kerr  3 Holland 4. McCulloch 5. Buchanan 6. Boyle (Barr 75) 7. Simpson (Davidson 64) 8. Allan 9. O’Connor 10. Balfour (Patterson 75) 11. Lawrie

Referee: Fraser Wallace