Darvel Juniors 5–2 Saltcoats Vics — SJFA West Region Ayrshire District League, 11 Oct 2014

Report by Keano

Saltcoats were soundly beaten by 5 goals to 2 by a Darvel side who on the day were the better side, and deserved thier victory.

Darvel started quick and had Saltcoats on the back foot from kick off and in only 2mins went close when  Alister Gaw was unlucky with a header that went just over the bar. Saltcoats did take the lead on thier first attack when a Quinn shot struck Wilson on the arm and the ref awarded a penalty which was dispatched by Quinn himself and booked Wilson and Markey. Darvel were not behind for long and evened things up on 10mins when Saltcoats failed to clear a corner and the ball fell to Murray Johnston who made no mistake when placing the ball beyond Catterson. Saltcoats found themselves behind two mins later when Johnston rounded Catterson and scored from what looked like an offside position, but the stricker played the whistle 2-1 Darvel. And Saltcoats went further behind on 18mins when Alan Moodie scored from a goal mouth scramble to make it 3-1. Before the half hour Saltcoats had to replace the injured Easdon with McNullty after a bad tackle, Saltcoats were unlucky not to come back into the game when Darvel cleared off the line twice before the break firstly from a James Moan header, followed by a shot from Quinn. Darvel did have the ball in the Saltcoats net before the break but it was correctly disallowed for an infringement on Hercus. Half-time Darvel3 Saltcoats 1.

Saltcoats continued to try and get back into the game at the start of the second half, when after Quinn put in a good cross Chris Black header came back off the underside of the bar, and as luck would have it Darvel went up the park and increased thier lead when Johnston scored his own third and Darvel's forth from 20yds giving Catterson no chance. Gilmour then went close for Darvel when his shot from distance was tipped on to the bar by Catterson. That only delayed Darvel killing the game when on 63 mins Darvel made it 5 when a looping heander from Vernon ended up in the net. Saltcoats pulled a goal back on 75mins when a Quinn cross was headed back across goal by Hercus and Black was there to fire home 5-2, and shortly after Monan went close the reducing the defisit even furhter only to be denied by Markey in the Darvel goal. But at the end of the Day Saltcoats were beaten by a better side and can have no complaints.