Whitletts Vics News
BAILLIE REJOINS TROON
Whitletts Victoria Assistant Manager Jonny Baillie has left the club to resume a playing career with Premier Division new boys Troon.
Baillie joined the Dam Park side as No2 to Steph McMillan in January 2013 after being forced to quit the game with a recurring back problem but has always wanted get back to play the game and has worked hard on his fitness in recent months.
Baillie played for Whitletts, mainly putting himself on as a late substitute during the clubs’ Ardagh Cup sectional ties and played the full 90 minutes for Vics’ at Craigmark where he scored the opening goal in a 4-0 win.
Manager Steph McMillan stated that he was sad to lose Jonny and had tried to keep him at the club by offering him a playing role :
“Jonny is still a young man and was desperate to try his hand at playing the game again. He has worked hard on his fitness in recent months and there was no doubt that he still has the natural ability to play the game. I offered him the option to play for Whitletts if he decided to make a comeback as his talent would have been an undoubted boost to our promotion ambitions but when Troon spoke to him the lure of playing in the Premier Division with a club where he spent many happy years previously proved to be too much for him.”
“I am deeply disappointed to lose Jonny. He was a great help to me as an assistant and his experience is a huge loss to the club as a coach and as a player but I fully understand his reasons for wanting to move on and he goes with the best wishes of everyone at the Club for the future.”
29 year old Baillie thanked Steph for his understanding of his decision and admitted the lure of playing Premier Division football proved just too great.
“When I quit playing I was with Troon and I promised Jim Kirkwood at that time if I made a comeback it would be with them so I suppose I am honouring that pledge.”
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Whitletts and during my time here they have grown both on and off the park. But the lure of playing again proved too strong and I know I would regret it later if I didn’t take the opportunity to play in the Premier League but I wish Whitletts every success in the future.”
WHITLETTS VICTORIA 3 - LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 1
Whitletts Victoria came from behind to start their Ayrshire District League campaign with a victory over promotion rivals Lugar at Dam Park.
Lugar started the game well and in the 5th minute former Ayr United youngster Roddy Paterson skipped past a challenge inside the area but fired wide of the target.
In the 8th minute another ex-Ayr youngster Allan Paterson’s direct running at the home defence brought a free kick for the Jaggy Bunnets at the edge of the box from which Stuart Wark gave the visitors an early lead with a curling shot low past Ally McInnes.
Lugar were in control of the game. Until this point Whitletts had hardly crossed the halfway line but slowly the home side began to work their way back into the game and in the 20th minute they were back on level terms. Keeper Cammy Menzies pushed out Tony Balfour’s free kick but the ball rebounded off his full back Seamus McGeady who could do nothing as the ball rebounded off him into the net.
Vics’ began immediately to pose more of a threat going forward. Jim Wilson just failed to connect with a Balfour cross in front of goal and then Balfour himself brought a fine save out of Menzies at his near post.
But in the 26th minute, Whitletts took the lead. A cross from the left was met by the diving figure of Wilson. Menzies pushed his header onto the bar and O’Connor was first to react to head into the empty net.
The Ayr side were now in the ascendancy and Lugar suffered another cruel blow in the 34th minute when in attempting to clear the danger Craig Muir headed O’Connor’s cross into his own net.
Lugar were far from out of the game however and right on half time there was an almighty stramash in front of the Vics’ goal which the home side somehow survived to take their two goal advantage into the break.
Despite the interval lead it was never a comfortable advantage for the home side and Lugar believed they could force their way back into the game. Roddy Paterson went close with a 25 yard effort that curled just wide. Lugar were enjoying plenty of possession and Paterson again broke clear only to be denied by McInnes.
Lugar were having the greater share of possession but chances though were few and far between but midway through the half Lugar were given a lifeline when referee Drew Kirkland pointed to the spot for a foul on Allan Paterson by Raymond Buchanan just inside the box but former Jaggy Bunnets keeper Ally McInnes denied his former teammate Stuart Wark with a superb save a full stretch.
That save knocked the wind out of the sails of Lugar and Alan Love should have sealed the points for Whitletts when he latched onto a superb through ball but the midfielder elected to try and cross in front of goal and the chance was lost.
Over the piece Lugar will feel unlucky not to have taken something from the game while Whitletts be delighted to have overcome a difficult opening fixture to get their league campaign off to a winning start
Whitletts Victoria
1. McInnes 2. Longair 3. Lawrie 4. Holland 5. Buchanan 6. Kerr 7. Love (Wallace 77) 8. Hanvey (Nisbet 63) 9. O’Connor 10. Balfour (Ewart 63) 11. Wilson
Subs (not used) 14. Allan 17. Baillie
Lugar Boswell Thistle
1. Menzies 2. McGeady 3. Orr (Douglas 65)4. Muir 5. Mullen 6. Peacock 7. A.Paterson (Walker 71) 8. McCreadie 9. R.Paterson 10. Wark (Campbell 83)11. Boyle
Subs (not used) 12. Kelly 17. Todd
Referee: Drew Kirkland
Whitletts Victoria Assistant Manager Jonny Baillie has left the club to resume a playing career with Premier Division new boys Troon.
Baillie joined the Dam Park side as No2 to Steph McMillan in January 2013 after being forced to quit the game with a recurring back problem but has always wanted get back to play the game and has worked hard on his fitness in recent months.
Baillie played for Whitletts, mainly putting himself on as a late substitute during the clubs’ Ardagh Cup sectional ties and played the full 90 minutes for Vics’ at Craigmark where he scored the opening goal in a 4-0 win.
Manager Steph McMillan stated that he was sad to lose Jonny and had tried to keep him at the club by offering him a playing role :
“Jonny is still a young man and was desperate to try his hand at playing the game again. He has worked hard on his fitness in recent months and there was no doubt that he still has the natural ability to play the game. I offered him the option to play for Whitletts if he decided to make a comeback as his talent would have been an undoubted boost to our promotion ambitions but when Troon spoke to him the lure of playing in the Premier Division with a club where he spent many happy years previously proved to be too much for him.”
“I am deeply disappointed to lose Jonny. He was a great help to me as an assistant and his experience is a huge loss to the club as a coach and as a player but I fully understand his reasons for wanting to move on and he goes with the best wishes of everyone at the Club for the future.”
29 year old Baillie thanked Steph for his understanding of his decision and admitted the lure of playing Premier Division football proved just too great.
“When I quit playing I was with Troon and I promised Jim Kirkwood at that time if I made a comeback it would be with them so I suppose I am honouring that pledge.”
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Whitletts and during my time here they have grown both on and off the park. But the lure of playing again proved too strong and I know I would regret it later if I didn’t take the opportunity to play in the Premier League but I wish Whitletts every success in the future.”
WHITLETTS VICTORIA 3 - LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 1
Whitletts Victoria came from behind to start their Ayrshire District League campaign with a victory over promotion rivals Lugar at Dam Park.
Lugar started the game well and in the 5th minute former Ayr United youngster Roddy Paterson skipped past a challenge inside the area but fired wide of the target.
In the 8th minute another ex-Ayr youngster Allan Paterson’s direct running at the home defence brought a free kick for the Jaggy Bunnets at the edge of the box from which Stuart Wark gave the visitors an early lead with a curling shot low past Ally McInnes.
Lugar were in control of the game. Until this point Whitletts had hardly crossed the halfway line but slowly the home side began to work their way back into the game and in the 20th minute they were back on level terms. Keeper Cammy Menzies pushed out Tony Balfour’s free kick but the ball rebounded off his full back Seamus McGeady who could do nothing as the ball rebounded off him into the net.
Vics’ began immediately to pose more of a threat going forward. Jim Wilson just failed to connect with a Balfour cross in front of goal and then Balfour himself brought a fine save out of Menzies at his near post.
But in the 26th minute, Whitletts took the lead. A cross from the left was met by the diving figure of Wilson. Menzies pushed his header onto the bar and O’Connor was first to react to head into the empty net.
The Ayr side were now in the ascendancy and Lugar suffered another cruel blow in the 34th minute when in attempting to clear the danger Craig Muir headed O’Connor’s cross into his own net.
Lugar were far from out of the game however and right on half time there was an almighty stramash in front of the Vics’ goal which the home side somehow survived to take their two goal advantage into the break.
Despite the interval lead it was never a comfortable advantage for the home side and Lugar believed they could force their way back into the game. Roddy Paterson went close with a 25 yard effort that curled just wide. Lugar were enjoying plenty of possession and Paterson again broke clear only to be denied by McInnes.
Lugar were having the greater share of possession but chances though were few and far between but midway through the half Lugar were given a lifeline when referee Drew Kirkland pointed to the spot for a foul on Allan Paterson by Raymond Buchanan just inside the box but former Jaggy Bunnets keeper Ally McInnes denied his former teammate Stuart Wark with a superb save a full stretch.
That save knocked the wind out of the sails of Lugar and Alan Love should have sealed the points for Whitletts when he latched onto a superb through ball but the midfielder elected to try and cross in front of goal and the chance was lost.
Over the piece Lugar will feel unlucky not to have taken something from the game while Whitletts be delighted to have overcome a difficult opening fixture to get their league campaign off to a winning start
Whitletts Victoria
1. McInnes 2. Longair 3. Lawrie 4. Holland 5. Buchanan 6. Kerr 7. Love (Wallace 77) 8. Hanvey (Nisbet 63) 9. O’Connor 10. Balfour (Ewart 63) 11. Wilson
Subs (not used) 14. Allan 17. Baillie
Lugar Boswell Thistle
1. Menzies 2. McGeady 3. Orr (Douglas 65)4. Muir 5. Mullen 6. Peacock 7. A.Paterson (Walker 71) 8. McCreadie 9. R.Paterson 10. Wark (Campbell 83)11. Boyle
Subs (not used) 12. Kelly 17. Todd
Referee: Drew Kirkland