Kilwinning Rangers 3–2 Saltcoats Vics — SJFA West Region Ayrshire District League, 13 Sep 2014

Report by Keano

Saltcoats took this game to Kilwinning and in the end were unlucky to come away empty handed as The Buffs held on to take the points.

 The game was only 2mins old when Saltcoats went in front, when Hercus rose above Maitland to fire a superb header passed Stewart, after some good work by Monan on the wing 1-0, and they should have made it 2 moments later when Monan again broke free and put in a good cross but Easdon was off target with his headed with only Stewart to beat. This seemed to wake Kilwinning up and they were level with thier next attack, when Owen Quigley beat Easdon on the wing and crossed a good ball for Ben Lewis to fire home and make it 1-1. With there next attack Catterson in the Saltcoats Goal was called upon to save from Hart, but that only delayed Kilwinning taking the lead as on 10mins Saltcoats were again caught out by a very similar move when a cross came in and was again headed home by Dean Agnew to make it 2-1. Saltcoats to their credit continued to compete in this game, and Monan was getting all the time in the world down the wing and kept puting in some good crosses and both Gibson and Moan had chances to level things up, but the best chance fell to Chris Black and his shot was saved by Stewart who released Quigley down the wing and his pace took him past Hood and he crossed for the on rushing Hart to make it 3-1 from a classic counter attack. On 38mins the Ref Barcley dismissed McGowan for kicking out in a callenge and although there was no contact was dismissed for the intent. Saltcoats were lifted by this and from the freekick  from Ferris, James Moan's shot was well blocked for a corner by Robbie Weir. Striker Michael Hart was then replaced by Calvin Kemp to restore the defence to its full complement as Saltcoats tried to get back into the game before the break.

The second half started the way the first had ended with Saltcoats on the attack, with both Gibson and Black going close but niether could find the opening, the numerical numbers were to become even greater on the hour mark when Robbie Wier was dismissed for a second yellow card and from then on Kilwinning were backs to the wall as Saltcoats pushed forward looking to get back into this game. First to have a go was Calum Hercus but his shot was blocked and when it fell to James Moan he also went close, Chris Black was next up but a week shot was easily delt with by the under pressure Stewart in The Buffs goal. For all Saltcoats were doing all the pressing Kilwinning did have some releaf as thier mid-field and forwrd line did creat chances on the break and Catterson had to be alert in goal to stop his side going further behind from a Jamie Anderson header and also at saving at the feet of Agnew. On the 75th min Saltcoats did get back into the game when Paul Monan slammed home a header after some good work from Liam Curran fed Moan and his pin point cross for Monan to make it 3-2. Liam Curran was very unlucky not to level things up 5min later when his curling cross took the paint of the post on the way past. And Chris Mitchell deflected a Chris Black shot for a corner but shortly afterwards ex-Kilwinning player Mark Ferris was dismissed for Saltcoats to make it 10 v 9 and for the remainder of the game Kilwinning held out quiet easily to take the victory and the three points