Match Report : Whitletts
SALTCOATS VICTORIA 2 WHITLETTS VICTORIA 1
Former Whitletts striker Mathew Santos scored two second half goals to bring his former sides unbeaten 13 match run to an end and put a dent in the Ayr sides promotion ambitions.
Whitletts went into this game with a couple of players missing but a mixture of some good goalkeeping by Saltcoats' Jim Catterson and some poor finishing resulted in Whitletts first defeat in any competition since October.
This was always going to be a tough match against a good well organised Saltcoats side, managed by former Whitletts assistant boss Rikki Ryeland.
On a heavy and bumpy Campbell Park surface, both sides took a while to settle and the first piece of real goalmouth action came in the 17th minute when Michael O'Connor picked the ball up out on the left and skinned the defender before firing a shot to the near post which Catterson got a hand to to turn the ball onto the top of the crossbar.
A few minutes later at the other end Jordan Callaghan had to be at full stretch to parry away a Michael Hart drive and the Whitletts keeper then had to be alert to save a Calum Hercus header.
But it was Whitletts who were to make the breakthrough and it came in the 24th minute when Raymond Buchanan rose above the home defence to head a Tony Balfour corner past Catterson.
Moments later Whitletts were dealt a blow when young Keiran Nisbet had to go off with an ankle injury to be replaced by James Davidson.
Whitletts were creating the better chances and in the 38th minute Catterson again denied O'Connor, this time saving his back post header from a Balfour cross.
Saltcoats were working hard in midfield to try and prevent any service to Whitletts twin strikers but it was the pitch that came to their rescue in the 50th minute after Shaun Allan released Balfour but the ball took a nasty bobble just as the little striker was about to strike and the ball flew high and wide of the target.
Moments later a poor defensive pass allowed Elliot Duffy to send O'Connor clear but Catterson raced from his goal to deny the Whitletts striker and the danger was cleared by David Gregory who put the ball behind for a corner.
But Saltcoats were not out of the match and in the 65th minute they were back on level terms. A long ball forward caught out Buchanan and Santos raced in behind the big defender to slip the ball past the advancing Callaghan into the net.
Whitletts response was swift and Lee Holland beat Catterson only for Hercus to clear the netbound shot off the line. From the resulting corner Buchanan headed just over.
In the 72nd minute, Allan capitalised on some slack play to release Balfour but again Catterson was quick off his line to deny the Whitletts forward. Michael O'Connor then got in behind the home defence but his shot hit the side netting before Allan again released Balfour in the clear but again the pitch came to the home sides aid as the Vics top marksman appeared to kick into the ground and the ball trundled towards the keeper.
It was a miss that Whitletts were to rue as within a minute they fell behind. Again a defensive lapse allowed Michael Hart to get in behind the visitors defence and as Callaghan raced off his line he brought down the Saltcoats striker giving referee Drew Kirkland no option but to point to the spot.
Hercus then headed wide again for the home side but although Whitletts fought hard for the equaliser they couldn't find a way through the home defence.
Not the best day at the office for Whitletts and now the players must regroup for the tough trip to Lugar in the Ayrshire Cup next Saturday
Saltcoats Victoria
1. Catterson 2. Smith 3. Dixon 4. Hercus 5. Gregory (Patrick 75)6. Stewart 7. Ferris 8. Davidson 9. Moran (Allison 59) 10. Santos 11. Hart (Easdon 80)
Subs (not used) 12. Cunningham 14. Forde
Whitletts Victoria
1. Callaghan 2. Simpson 3. Lawrie 4. McCulloch 5. Buchanan 6. Holland (Kerr 75) 7. Duffy (Cameron 70) 8. Allan 9. O'Connor 10. Balfour 11. Nisbet (Davidson 27)
Subs (not used) 12. Longair
Referee: Drew Kirkland
Former Whitletts striker Mathew Santos scored two second half goals to bring his former sides unbeaten 13 match run to an end and put a dent in the Ayr sides promotion ambitions.
Whitletts went into this game with a couple of players missing but a mixture of some good goalkeeping by Saltcoats' Jim Catterson and some poor finishing resulted in Whitletts first defeat in any competition since October.
This was always going to be a tough match against a good well organised Saltcoats side, managed by former Whitletts assistant boss Rikki Ryeland.
On a heavy and bumpy Campbell Park surface, both sides took a while to settle and the first piece of real goalmouth action came in the 17th minute when Michael O'Connor picked the ball up out on the left and skinned the defender before firing a shot to the near post which Catterson got a hand to to turn the ball onto the top of the crossbar.
A few minutes later at the other end Jordan Callaghan had to be at full stretch to parry away a Michael Hart drive and the Whitletts keeper then had to be alert to save a Calum Hercus header.
But it was Whitletts who were to make the breakthrough and it came in the 24th minute when Raymond Buchanan rose above the home defence to head a Tony Balfour corner past Catterson.
Moments later Whitletts were dealt a blow when young Keiran Nisbet had to go off with an ankle injury to be replaced by James Davidson.
Whitletts were creating the better chances and in the 38th minute Catterson again denied O'Connor, this time saving his back post header from a Balfour cross.
Saltcoats were working hard in midfield to try and prevent any service to Whitletts twin strikers but it was the pitch that came to their rescue in the 50th minute after Shaun Allan released Balfour but the ball took a nasty bobble just as the little striker was about to strike and the ball flew high and wide of the target.
Moments later a poor defensive pass allowed Elliot Duffy to send O'Connor clear but Catterson raced from his goal to deny the Whitletts striker and the danger was cleared by David Gregory who put the ball behind for a corner.
But Saltcoats were not out of the match and in the 65th minute they were back on level terms. A long ball forward caught out Buchanan and Santos raced in behind the big defender to slip the ball past the advancing Callaghan into the net.
Whitletts response was swift and Lee Holland beat Catterson only for Hercus to clear the netbound shot off the line. From the resulting corner Buchanan headed just over.
In the 72nd minute, Allan capitalised on some slack play to release Balfour but again Catterson was quick off his line to deny the Whitletts forward. Michael O'Connor then got in behind the home defence but his shot hit the side netting before Allan again released Balfour in the clear but again the pitch came to the home sides aid as the Vics top marksman appeared to kick into the ground and the ball trundled towards the keeper.
It was a miss that Whitletts were to rue as within a minute they fell behind. Again a defensive lapse allowed Michael Hart to get in behind the visitors defence and as Callaghan raced off his line he brought down the Saltcoats striker giving referee Drew Kirkland no option but to point to the spot.
Hercus then headed wide again for the home side but although Whitletts fought hard for the equaliser they couldn't find a way through the home defence.
Not the best day at the office for Whitletts and now the players must regroup for the tough trip to Lugar in the Ayrshire Cup next Saturday
Saltcoats Victoria
1. Catterson 2. Smith 3. Dixon 4. Hercus 5. Gregory (Patrick 75)6. Stewart 7. Ferris 8. Davidson 9. Moran (Allison 59) 10. Santos 11. Hart (Easdon 80)
Subs (not used) 12. Cunningham 14. Forde
Whitletts Victoria
1. Callaghan 2. Simpson 3. Lawrie 4. McCulloch 5. Buchanan 6. Holland (Kerr 75) 7. Duffy (Cameron 70) 8. Allan 9. O'Connor 10. Balfour 11. Nisbet (Davidson 27)
Subs (not used) 12. Longair
Referee: Drew Kirkland