Match report : Whitletts v Girvan
WHITLETTS VICTORIA 1 GIRVAN 0
A 13th minute header from former Girvan striker Mick O’Connor gave Whitletts the points in a crucial South Ayrshire derby at Dam Park. With both sides beginning to show a run of form this was always going to be a key fixture in the Ayrshire District League and with the expectations high, the two sides did not disappoint.
Both sides came out the traps like greyhounds, creating early chances. Raymond Buchanan went close for Vics with a header from a corner kick and then Tony Balfour lofted the ball over David Markey from 20 yards but the ball drifted just over the bar.
At the other end Jordan Callaghan got a hand to a Marc Dyer shot that dropped behind the Vics No1 who recovered in time to save at the second attempt.
There appeared no prospect that this game was going to remain goalless and in the 13th minute that proved to be the caseas the home side who opened the scoring. A Mick O’Connor free kick cannoned off the Girvan defensive wall and fell to Raymond Buchanan just inside the box. The big defender lofted the ball into the danger zone and O’Connor was on hand to head the ball home from 6 yards
Girvan responded and Dyer went close with a free kick and moments later a counter attack set up Craig Harvey who fired into the side netting.
Buchanan and then Derek McCulloch couldn’t direct their headers on goal from set pieces but the home side almost got a second in the 40th minute when an overhit passback by former Vics midfielder Darren McMahon was miskicked by Markey but Balfour couldn’t get to the ball to capitalise before it ran behind for a corner.
Dom Boyle then was thwarted by Markey while Balfour had a great chance at the corner of the six yard box but the Girvan keeper got enough on the ball to force it wide.
The pace of the Girvan attack meant that they carried a real threat going forward and when Harvey worked his way to the byline, his cutback fell behind Dyer and the chance was lost.
Vics posed a threat from set pieces and early in the second period Lee Holland headed just over the crossbar.
O’Connor almost snatched a second in the 52nd minute when he raced into the box but although his effort across the goal beat Markey, it slipped narrowly past the far post.
Girvan immediately broke upfield and from a free kick Harvey headed narrowly past.
The visitors showed their intention to take something from the game when they brought on Andrew Hyslop and he added a fresh impetus for Girvan as they pressed Vics hard, forcing the home side to defend in depth. The Vics defending was resolute, restricting the Seasiders to but Darren Mitchell had a great opportunity to equalise but from a tight angle, he lifted the ball over the bar.
Girvan continued to press but couldn’t find a way to get past a superb Vics backline of Buchanan, McCulloch and Holland and it was the home side who finished the game the stronger as they took the points to thrust themselves back into the promotion race.
An entertaining match and one that come the end of the season could prove vital in both clubs’ aspirations to return to the Superleague.
Whitletts Victoria
1. Callaghan 2. Kerr 3. Holland 4. McCulloch 5. Buchanan 6. Boyle (Davidson 61) 7. Simpson 8. Allan 9. O’Connor 10. Balfour 11. Lawrie
Subs (not used) 14. Patterson 15. Longair 16. Cameron 17. Barr
Girvan
1. Markey 2. Doolan 3. Orr 4.McMillan 5. Maitland 6. Cunningham 7. Harvey 8. McMahon 9. Mitchell 10. Dyer 11. Ryan
Subs (not used) 14. Gallagher 16. Morrison 17. Young
Referee: Colin McDonald
A 13th minute header from former Girvan striker Mick O’Connor gave Whitletts the points in a crucial South Ayrshire derby at Dam Park. With both sides beginning to show a run of form this was always going to be a key fixture in the Ayrshire District League and with the expectations high, the two sides did not disappoint.
Both sides came out the traps like greyhounds, creating early chances. Raymond Buchanan went close for Vics with a header from a corner kick and then Tony Balfour lofted the ball over David Markey from 20 yards but the ball drifted just over the bar.
At the other end Jordan Callaghan got a hand to a Marc Dyer shot that dropped behind the Vics No1 who recovered in time to save at the second attempt.
There appeared no prospect that this game was going to remain goalless and in the 13th minute that proved to be the caseas the home side who opened the scoring. A Mick O’Connor free kick cannoned off the Girvan defensive wall and fell to Raymond Buchanan just inside the box. The big defender lofted the ball into the danger zone and O’Connor was on hand to head the ball home from 6 yards
Girvan responded and Dyer went close with a free kick and moments later a counter attack set up Craig Harvey who fired into the side netting.
Buchanan and then Derek McCulloch couldn’t direct their headers on goal from set pieces but the home side almost got a second in the 40th minute when an overhit passback by former Vics midfielder Darren McMahon was miskicked by Markey but Balfour couldn’t get to the ball to capitalise before it ran behind for a corner.
Dom Boyle then was thwarted by Markey while Balfour had a great chance at the corner of the six yard box but the Girvan keeper got enough on the ball to force it wide.
The pace of the Girvan attack meant that they carried a real threat going forward and when Harvey worked his way to the byline, his cutback fell behind Dyer and the chance was lost.
Vics posed a threat from set pieces and early in the second period Lee Holland headed just over the crossbar.
O’Connor almost snatched a second in the 52nd minute when he raced into the box but although his effort across the goal beat Markey, it slipped narrowly past the far post.
Girvan immediately broke upfield and from a free kick Harvey headed narrowly past.
The visitors showed their intention to take something from the game when they brought on Andrew Hyslop and he added a fresh impetus for Girvan as they pressed Vics hard, forcing the home side to defend in depth. The Vics defending was resolute, restricting the Seasiders to but Darren Mitchell had a great opportunity to equalise but from a tight angle, he lifted the ball over the bar.
Girvan continued to press but couldn’t find a way to get past a superb Vics backline of Buchanan, McCulloch and Holland and it was the home side who finished the game the stronger as they took the points to thrust themselves back into the promotion race.
An entertaining match and one that come the end of the season could prove vital in both clubs’ aspirations to return to the Superleague.
Whitletts Victoria
1. Callaghan 2. Kerr 3. Holland 4. McCulloch 5. Buchanan 6. Boyle (Davidson 61) 7. Simpson 8. Allan 9. O’Connor 10. Balfour 11. Lawrie
Subs (not used) 14. Patterson 15. Longair 16. Cameron 17. Barr
Girvan
1. Markey 2. Doolan 3. Orr 4.McMillan 5. Maitland 6. Cunningham 7. Harvey 8. McMahon 9. Mitchell 10. Dyer 11. Ryan
Subs (not used) 14. Gallagher 16. Morrison 17. Young
Referee: Colin McDonald