Saltcoats Vics 2–0 Murikirk Juniors — SJFA West Region Ayrshire District League, 4 Oct 2014

Report by keano

Saltcoats made hard work of a Muirkirk side that took the feild with both manager Jose Quitongo and assistant manager Billy Arthur in the starting line-up and no one on the bench, but credit must be given to Saltcoats as they did eventually get the job done and pick up the three points.

 Saltcoats started strong and Chris Black hit the bar within the first 3mins, and was followed shortly afterwards with a shot from distance from Kyle Rafferty but it failed to test Smith in the Muirkirk goal. on 10mins Saltcoats were awarded a free kick on the right hand side and it was well delivered by Liam Curran and this time Rafferty did test Smith, but the keeper held on well. On 16mins Saltcoats did have the ball in the net but Paul Monan was judged to be offside, but you scenced it was only a matter of time as it was all one way traffic at this point, it took Muirkirk 20mins to have a notable effort on the Saltcoats goal as Easdon and Hercus were in full control of anything that came thier way, and when they did was defender James McAllister that had a shot from distance that had Catterson scrambling across his goal. On the half hour Hercus went close with a header from a corner kick, after some good work by Steven Gibson and James Moan had the Muirkirk defence covering well to cut out the cross. Muirkirk was findind it hard to break through the Saltcoats rear guard and Raymond Milligan, Easdon ,Hercus and Curran were looking a usefull unit, giving Catterson in goal the easiest game he has had in weeks. As the first half grew to a close Saltcoats were becoming a little frustrated at having so much of the ball and nothing on the score board to show for it and Manager Ryland was glad to get them in for the break if only to calm them down as to give them some new ideas. Half Time Saltcoats Vics 0 Muirkirk 0

  The second half started the way the first had ended with Saltcoats on the front foot, and with in 5 mins of the restart they were ahead, a corner was put in by Monan to the back post, and was headed back across goal by Hercus, and when both efforts to clear from Arthur and Shaw were charged down by Saltcoats attackers Adam Easdon took control and fired a shot in full pelt that none of the defence was stopping without ending up in the back of the net with it 1-0 Vics. The goal made Muirkirk spark into life and they were unlucky not to bring the game back level on 50mins when Shaun Gallagher ran on to a through ball from Quitongo and was unfortuate to see his chip over Catterson also clear the bar but only by inches. With the close escape Saltcoats then went on the attack, and as the hour approched Kyle Rafferty had a shot shave the post when he was played in by Moan, Calum Hercus then went close when after some good foot work by the big defender saw him pass two or three defenders and be left in the clear but he could only play a week shot back to Smith, and when Gibson put a cross on his head his header went well over. Next to have a go was Chris Black but his shot from the edge of the area was palmed over by the keeper. On 82 mins Saltcoats did increase there lead when Gibson was upended 30yds from goal and the ref awarded a free kick, and after 2 false starts Moan tapped the ball to his left for Sean Forde to fire home from distance some how managing to avoid the defence on the way through it trundled over the line 2-0 game over, But Muirkirk did have one last go and Arthur went close just before the full time whistle.