Saltcoats Vics 2–0 Irvine Vics — Ayrshire League Cup, 13 Aug 2014

Report by Keano

Saltcoats Vics were never under any real pressure from last season's Ayrshire league winners Irvine Vics and defeated them by 2goals to nil. Saltcoats first goal came on 14mins after some good work from Monan and Quinn on the wing worked well together and when Quinn turned inside he was upended and the ref had no option to award the free kick and when Quinn dusted himself down he swerved a delightful free kick passed McIllroy in the blasties goal to put the seasiders one up. As the game wore on the ref started to get card happy and made one or two unnessesary bookings and it was to cost Irvine dear later.

On 35mins the ref gave Irvine a lifeline by awarding them a penalty when Catterson in the Saltcoats goal was judged to have impeeded Ablorh and he recieved a booking, but he broke Irvine hearts when he brilliantly turned the penalty round the post to keep Saltcoats ahead. And only 5mins later at the other end the ref evened up the penalty count by awarding Saltcoats a penalty when Monan beat McIllroy to the ball and was brought down but this time the ref gave the Irvine keeper a straight red, ex-Saltcoats keeper Lamb came on to face the penalty but Quinn sent him the wrong way to put Saltcoats 2 up.

The second half was a game of kick and chase from an Irvine side fast running out of ideas, and they were easily delt with by Hercus and Easdon in the Saltcoats defence and when they made a slip Catterson was there to mop up any danger. Mid way through the half the yellow cards were to catch up on Irvine when they lost one of there defence to a second yellow and going down to 9, and from then on in it was easy street for an ever more confident Saltcoats side who ran out easy winners.