Whitletts Vics : Match Reports
KELLO ROVERS 2 WHITLETTS VICTORIA 2
Kello Rovers won 4-2 on penalties
Whitletts jinx in this competition continued as they crashed out of the West of Scotland Cup at the first hurdle for the FIFTH consecutive season. The Dam Park sides last victory in this competition was a 2-1 first round win at St.Roch’s in October 2009.
But that jinx should have been ended at Nithside Park. This was a game in which Vics’ dominated for the vast majority of the game but failure to take their chances cost them dear in the end.
The Ayr side took the game to Rovers from the kick off and almost took the lead in the sixth minute when Jim Wilson’s diving header was blocked on the line and George Wallace’s follow up effort was blocked by Keiran Pagan.
That set the tone for the rest of the match, Wilson again just failed to connect in front of goal with a Michael O’Connor cross and then it was O’Connor’s turn to miss as his volley from a Tony Balfour cross flew across the face of the goal.
It was one way traffic. By this point all Kello had mustered was a David Jardine free kick that flew wide of Ally McInnes’ post and it seemed only a matter of time before the Ayr side would score.
Martin Lawrie broke down the left to the by-line and from his cut back O’Connor slipped and skied his shot over the bar. Ricky Hanvey then saw his 25 yard shot pushed out by the keeper where it struck Jim Wilson six yards from goal but the striker couldn’t react in time and the ball bounced off him and agonisingly past the post.
It was a similar story in the second half. From a Balfour cross, O’Connor’s volley struck the keeper as Vics’ started strongly but it was Kello who almost snatched the lead when Sean Ewart sliced Jardine’s corner kick and McInnes had to be alert to claw the ball off the line.
But still it was Whitletts in the ascendancy. Alan Love saw his shot from the edge of the box slip just wide and moments later O’Connor’s deflected shot was saved at full stretch by Ryan Dunsmuir.
But on the hour mark it was the home side who took the lead. Robert Hampson was tripped in the box by Lawrie. Stuart Bell stepped forward and although McInnes got a strong hand to the ball, he couldn’t prevent the spot kick crossing the line.
At the other end Dunsmuir raced from his line to block as Balfour raced clear but in the 74th minute, totally against the run of play, Kello doubled their advantage. A long angled cross into the vacant right back position saw Martin Reynolds challenge break kindly for Dougie Allardyce and as McInnes raced from his line the Kello striker lifted the ball over the advancing keeper into the net off the post.
Straight from the kick off Whitletts responded. Without a Rovers player touching the ball Whitletts attacked and Ewart neatly set up O’Connor who smashed the ball into the net.
Whitletts now went in search of the equaliser with Kello defending desperately at times, flinging bodies in the way of the ball to deny Ewart, Balfour and Shaun Allan while Connor Simpson saw his 20 yard drive saved by Dunsmuir.
But just as it seemed time had run out for the visitors, they won a corner kick. Balfour played the ball into the box where it was flicked on by O’Connor and Lee Holland rose to head past the flying figure of Ryan Dunsmuir.
That took the match into a penalty shoot out. First up for Whitletts was O’Connor who saw his penalty saved by Dunsmuir. Balfour netted for Vics’ second penalty, while Lawrie’s spot kick beat Dunsmuir only for it agonisingly to strike the inside of the post. Ewart then scored Whitletts’ fourth spot kick but Allardyce’s penalty then won it for the home side after the previous spot kicks from Regan Ross, Bell and Hampson had all found their target.
So for the second time this season Whitletts crash out of a cup competition on penalties after having previously gone out to eventual winners Glenafton in the Ardagh Cup by the same manner. Not the result the Ayr side would have been looking for ahead of next Saturday’s trip to Newlandsfield where they play Pollok in the Scottish Cup.
KELLO ROVERS
1. Dunsmuir 2. Weir (Orr 87) 3. Pagan 4. Bell 5. Kilpatrick 6. Ross 7. Hampson 8. Waite 9. Aitken (Bennie 73) 10. Jardine 11. Allardyce
Subs (not used) 12. Hyslop 15. Houston 17. Gall
WHITLETTS VICTORIA
1. McInnes 2. Reynolds 3. Wallace 4. Holand 5. Love (Simpson 63) 6. Hanvey (Allan 73) 7. Ewart 8. Wilson (Kerr 63) 9. O’Connor 10. Balfour 11. Lawrie
Subs (not used) 12. Longair 16. Nimmo
Referee: Sean Welsh
WHITLETTS VICTORIA 1 AYR UNITED XI 6
A young Ayr United side cruised to victory against Whitletts in the testimonial match for Vics’ skipper Graham Longair.
Playing their second game in consecutive days, Vics’ boss Steph MacMillan took the opportunity to mix his team around a bit that saw Raymond Buchanan return to the starting line up after a few weeks absence and central defender Lee Holland play the entire second half in goal!
And once again Whitletts penalty jinx struck. Having lost on penalties in the West of Scotland Cup the previous day, Vics’ were awarded a spot kick in the dying moments which gave the Man of the Moment the opportunity to get his name on the scoresheet on his big day but unfortunately Graham’s spot kick came back off the post.
United’s talented young side made an instant impact and Steven Maguire opened the scoring with a superb angled shot that beat Ally McInnes at the keeper’s far post. Whitletts response was immediate and Longair saw his header tipped over the bar by Shaun Newman.
Ayr were playing some neat flowing football going forward but Whitletts were also pushing forward at every opportunity and Tony Balfour had a chance to level the score when he raced past a defender but fired over the bar. Almost immediately Vics’ were punished as United broke upfield and Shaun McKenzie doubled their advantage firing low past McInnes.
It was an open game and Jim Wilson went agonisingly close to reducing the leeway but he couldn’t quite get on the end of Shun Allan’s cross.
Just before the break an Allan shot broke for Longair inside the box but the skippers angled shot slipped inches past.
Just before the break Shaun McKenzie made to 3-0 with his second goal of the game.
The hat trick came early in the second half with a header that beat Holland at the post and the United youngster grabbed a fourth when a deep cross into the box and the striker controlled the ball on his chest before firing home from close range.
Peter McGill almost got his name on the scoresheet but Lee Holland came off his line to make a fine save but Vics’ had their chances as well. Michael O’Connor saw his shot saved by Shaun Newman and then Shaun Allan saw his shot blocked before Vics’ finally got their goal. From a corner kick, Allan rose above the defence to head past Newman.
On a breakaway Jarod Keifer raced in on goal but again Holland came off his line to block while at the other end Alan Love’s shot was saved by Newman.
With 15 minutes remaining the scoring was completed when Steven Maguire broke clear and his neat chip caught Holland in no man’s land as the ball settled in the corner of the net.
Sean Ewart drive then saw his drive parried behind by Newman and from the resulting corner Allan heads inches wide.
United assistant boss Davie White then tried to get in on the with a blistering drive from the edge of the box that Holland superbly tipped over the bar.
As the game was drawing to a close O’Connor had two efforts well saved by Newman before that obligatory penalty after Longair himself went down under a challenge at a corner kick.
Despite the wintery conditions it was a great fun day to allow the players and fans to pay their tribute to Graham Longair for his service to Whitlets Victoria
WHITLETTS VICTORIA
1. McInnes 2. Longair 3. Lawrie 4. Reynolds 5. Buchanan 6. Kerr 7. Simpson (Nimmo 32) 8. Allan 9. Wilson 10. Balfour 11. Ewart
Subs 12. O’Conner 14. Holland 15. Love 16. Blair 17. Nimmo 18. Paterson
AYR UNITED
1. Newman 2. Lavery 3. Ballantyne 4. McCreadie 5. Muir 6. Richardson 7. McGill 8. Waite 9. McKenzie 10. Wardrope 11.Nisbet
Subs 12. Mossie 14. Lapham 15. Keifer 16. McGuigan 17. White 18. Maguire
Referee: Drew Kirkland
Kello Rovers won 4-2 on penalties
Whitletts jinx in this competition continued as they crashed out of the West of Scotland Cup at the first hurdle for the FIFTH consecutive season. The Dam Park sides last victory in this competition was a 2-1 first round win at St.Roch’s in October 2009.
But that jinx should have been ended at Nithside Park. This was a game in which Vics’ dominated for the vast majority of the game but failure to take their chances cost them dear in the end.
The Ayr side took the game to Rovers from the kick off and almost took the lead in the sixth minute when Jim Wilson’s diving header was blocked on the line and George Wallace’s follow up effort was blocked by Keiran Pagan.
That set the tone for the rest of the match, Wilson again just failed to connect in front of goal with a Michael O’Connor cross and then it was O’Connor’s turn to miss as his volley from a Tony Balfour cross flew across the face of the goal.
It was one way traffic. By this point all Kello had mustered was a David Jardine free kick that flew wide of Ally McInnes’ post and it seemed only a matter of time before the Ayr side would score.
Martin Lawrie broke down the left to the by-line and from his cut back O’Connor slipped and skied his shot over the bar. Ricky Hanvey then saw his 25 yard shot pushed out by the keeper where it struck Jim Wilson six yards from goal but the striker couldn’t react in time and the ball bounced off him and agonisingly past the post.
It was a similar story in the second half. From a Balfour cross, O’Connor’s volley struck the keeper as Vics’ started strongly but it was Kello who almost snatched the lead when Sean Ewart sliced Jardine’s corner kick and McInnes had to be alert to claw the ball off the line.
But still it was Whitletts in the ascendancy. Alan Love saw his shot from the edge of the box slip just wide and moments later O’Connor’s deflected shot was saved at full stretch by Ryan Dunsmuir.
But on the hour mark it was the home side who took the lead. Robert Hampson was tripped in the box by Lawrie. Stuart Bell stepped forward and although McInnes got a strong hand to the ball, he couldn’t prevent the spot kick crossing the line.
At the other end Dunsmuir raced from his line to block as Balfour raced clear but in the 74th minute, totally against the run of play, Kello doubled their advantage. A long angled cross into the vacant right back position saw Martin Reynolds challenge break kindly for Dougie Allardyce and as McInnes raced from his line the Kello striker lifted the ball over the advancing keeper into the net off the post.
Straight from the kick off Whitletts responded. Without a Rovers player touching the ball Whitletts attacked and Ewart neatly set up O’Connor who smashed the ball into the net.
Whitletts now went in search of the equaliser with Kello defending desperately at times, flinging bodies in the way of the ball to deny Ewart, Balfour and Shaun Allan while Connor Simpson saw his 20 yard drive saved by Dunsmuir.
But just as it seemed time had run out for the visitors, they won a corner kick. Balfour played the ball into the box where it was flicked on by O’Connor and Lee Holland rose to head past the flying figure of Ryan Dunsmuir.
That took the match into a penalty shoot out. First up for Whitletts was O’Connor who saw his penalty saved by Dunsmuir. Balfour netted for Vics’ second penalty, while Lawrie’s spot kick beat Dunsmuir only for it agonisingly to strike the inside of the post. Ewart then scored Whitletts’ fourth spot kick but Allardyce’s penalty then won it for the home side after the previous spot kicks from Regan Ross, Bell and Hampson had all found their target.
So for the second time this season Whitletts crash out of a cup competition on penalties after having previously gone out to eventual winners Glenafton in the Ardagh Cup by the same manner. Not the result the Ayr side would have been looking for ahead of next Saturday’s trip to Newlandsfield where they play Pollok in the Scottish Cup.
KELLO ROVERS
1. Dunsmuir 2. Weir (Orr 87) 3. Pagan 4. Bell 5. Kilpatrick 6. Ross 7. Hampson 8. Waite 9. Aitken (Bennie 73) 10. Jardine 11. Allardyce
Subs (not used) 12. Hyslop 15. Houston 17. Gall
WHITLETTS VICTORIA
1. McInnes 2. Reynolds 3. Wallace 4. Holand 5. Love (Simpson 63) 6. Hanvey (Allan 73) 7. Ewart 8. Wilson (Kerr 63) 9. O’Connor 10. Balfour 11. Lawrie
Subs (not used) 12. Longair 16. Nimmo
Referee: Sean Welsh
WHITLETTS VICTORIA 1 AYR UNITED XI 6
A young Ayr United side cruised to victory against Whitletts in the testimonial match for Vics’ skipper Graham Longair.
Playing their second game in consecutive days, Vics’ boss Steph MacMillan took the opportunity to mix his team around a bit that saw Raymond Buchanan return to the starting line up after a few weeks absence and central defender Lee Holland play the entire second half in goal!
And once again Whitletts penalty jinx struck. Having lost on penalties in the West of Scotland Cup the previous day, Vics’ were awarded a spot kick in the dying moments which gave the Man of the Moment the opportunity to get his name on the scoresheet on his big day but unfortunately Graham’s spot kick came back off the post.
United’s talented young side made an instant impact and Steven Maguire opened the scoring with a superb angled shot that beat Ally McInnes at the keeper’s far post. Whitletts response was immediate and Longair saw his header tipped over the bar by Shaun Newman.
Ayr were playing some neat flowing football going forward but Whitletts were also pushing forward at every opportunity and Tony Balfour had a chance to level the score when he raced past a defender but fired over the bar. Almost immediately Vics’ were punished as United broke upfield and Shaun McKenzie doubled their advantage firing low past McInnes.
It was an open game and Jim Wilson went agonisingly close to reducing the leeway but he couldn’t quite get on the end of Shun Allan’s cross.
Just before the break an Allan shot broke for Longair inside the box but the skippers angled shot slipped inches past.
Just before the break Shaun McKenzie made to 3-0 with his second goal of the game.
The hat trick came early in the second half with a header that beat Holland at the post and the United youngster grabbed a fourth when a deep cross into the box and the striker controlled the ball on his chest before firing home from close range.
Peter McGill almost got his name on the scoresheet but Lee Holland came off his line to make a fine save but Vics’ had their chances as well. Michael O’Connor saw his shot saved by Shaun Newman and then Shaun Allan saw his shot blocked before Vics’ finally got their goal. From a corner kick, Allan rose above the defence to head past Newman.
On a breakaway Jarod Keifer raced in on goal but again Holland came off his line to block while at the other end Alan Love’s shot was saved by Newman.
With 15 minutes remaining the scoring was completed when Steven Maguire broke clear and his neat chip caught Holland in no man’s land as the ball settled in the corner of the net.
Sean Ewart drive then saw his drive parried behind by Newman and from the resulting corner Allan heads inches wide.
United assistant boss Davie White then tried to get in on the with a blistering drive from the edge of the box that Holland superbly tipped over the bar.
As the game was drawing to a close O’Connor had two efforts well saved by Newman before that obligatory penalty after Longair himself went down under a challenge at a corner kick.
Despite the wintery conditions it was a great fun day to allow the players and fans to pay their tribute to Graham Longair for his service to Whitlets Victoria
WHITLETTS VICTORIA
1. McInnes 2. Longair 3. Lawrie 4. Reynolds 5. Buchanan 6. Kerr 7. Simpson (Nimmo 32) 8. Allan 9. Wilson 10. Balfour 11. Ewart
Subs 12. O’Conner 14. Holland 15. Love 16. Blair 17. Nimmo 18. Paterson
AYR UNITED
1. Newman 2. Lavery 3. Ballantyne 4. McCreadie 5. Muir 6. Richardson 7. McGill 8. Waite 9. McKenzie 10. Wardrope 11.Nisbet
Subs 12. Mossie 14. Lapham 15. Keifer 16. McGuigan 17. White 18. Maguire
Referee: Drew Kirkland