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Whitletts Vics - News

BUCHANAN JOINS CUMNOCK
 
Whitletts Victoria have agreed a deal that will see central defender Raymond Buchanan join Superleague Premier Division side Cumnock.

Buchanan, who re- joined Vics’ from East Stirling last season, joins the Townhead Park side on a season long loan deal with Cumnock having an option to buy the player at the end of the season. 
 
Buchanan is expected to go straight into their squad for today’s Scottish Junior Cup clash at home to Newmachers.
Everyone at Whitletts Victoria wishes Raymond well in his new challenge
 
 
POLLOK 4 - WHITLETTS VICTORIA 0
 
Whitletts crashed out of the Scottish Junior Cup as Pollok in the end ran out comfortable winners in this second round clash. Although the better team won on the day, Vics’ will feel that the margin of victory didn’t show a true picture of the game.
 
‘Lok made the early breakthrough with a goal in the 4th minute. A neat move down the right involving man of the match Kevin Bradley and former Glenafton midfielder Finlay Frye saw the latter get space in behind the Vics’ defence and from his cross former Clyde striker John Sweeney was left unmarked to head past Ally McInnes.
 
It was not the kind of start Whitletts were looking for but immediately they responded and a Michael O’Connor drive was deflected narrowly over the crossbar with the keeper beaten. From the resultant Ally Love corner kick, the ball was headed clear off the line before Shaun Allan could pounce.
 
Vics’ pressed hard every time Pollok got the ball but the Glasgow outfit were finding space down the right with the neat interchanging play of Bradley and Tom Hanlon creating the majority of their openings and it was from a move involving those two that gave former Shotts man Hanlon a great chance but his angled shot slipped just wide.
 
The Ayr side continued to press but although they forced a number of corner kicks, they couldn’t create a real opening and in the 33rd minute they paid the price as ‘Lok doubled their advantage. Again it came from down the right with a deep cross from Hanlon finding Kevin McAleenan unmarked at the back post to head home.
 
Still Whitletts pressed forward and Love saw his left foot drive deflected over. Allan then had his thumping 25 yard drive parried by Jordan Longmuir and right on half time the ‘Lok keeper broke Vics’ hearts with an outstanding save. O’Connor’s drive from 25 yards caught a deflection off Frye and looked to be loping into the net with Longmuir already committed but the big keeper stuck a hand into the air and got enough on the ball to knock it inches over the crossbar.
 
The next goal in the game was vital with Whitletts still very much in the game but early in the second half it was Pollok who should have increased their advantage when former Ayr striker David Winters skipped past a couple of challenges and cut the ball back for Guiseppi Capuano who fired over from eight yards.
 
Vics’ best chance came in the 57th minute when Tony Balfour broke past two defenders but the ball got stuck under his feet allowing the defender to clear the danger but as the game wore on Pollok took a grip of the game in the midfield area, leaving Vics to long balls to try and reach their forwards. McAleenan should have got a second midway through the half but was slow to react to Frye’s mishit shot while at the other end an O’Connor cross come shot was tipped over the bar by Longmuir.
 
Then with ten minutes remaining, a Winters cross picked out Sweeney at the back post and his header was handled on the line by young Sean Ewart. As Capuano’s netbound follow up effort was blocked by Lee Holland referee Steven Reid pointed to penalty spot. The referee was then involved in a case of mistaken identity when he showed a red card initially to Holland but to the credit of both the player and the referee, Ewart stepped forward and told the referee he was the guilty party and the referee changed his decision, sending Ewart for the early bath. Winters netted the resultant penalty and the game was over as a contest.
 
Pollok were dominating the proceedings and McInnes turned a Jamie Barclay shot round the post but could do nothing as McAleenan netted his second of the game with only two minutes remaining.
 
So now for Vics’ its’ only the league to concentrate on as they seek promotion from the Ayrshire District League and return to the Superleague next season.
 
Pollok
1. Longmuir 2. Hanlon 3. Darroch 4. Wild 5. Gallagher 6. Frye (Andreoni 86) 7. Bradley 8. Capuano (McGee 84) 9. Winters (Barclay 81) 10. Sweeney 11. McAleenan
Subs (not used) 14. MacBeth GK. Harkness
 
Whitletts Victoria
1. McInnes 2. Reynolds (Nimmo 86) 3. Lawrie 4. Wallace 5. Holland 6. Love 7. Allan (Longair 85) 8. Hanvey 9. Wilson (Ewart 65) 10. O’Connor 11. Balfour
Subs (not used) 15. Kerr 19. Simpson
 
Referee: Steven Reid
Assistants: Eddie Ferguson and Keiran Traynor