Murikirk Juniors 1–5 Saltcoats Vics — SJFA West Region Ayrshire District League, 6 Dec 2014

Report by Keano

Saltcoats hit 5 goals against Muirkirk but had this been a boxing match the ref would have stopped it long before the end, as Saltcoats had 27 corners in the first half alone, there was some Muirkirk attacks but they were few and far between.

Saltcoats started the game and almost from the kick off had Muirkirk pinned in their own 18yd area, and between McLelland and Young the Muirkirk defence were having a torrid time and Kirkland in goal was having a busy day, but between him and Eion Watt,Mark Hamilton,Robert Reid and Gary Robertson they were keeping Saltcoats out as almost all the attacks were ending up being cleared or knocked out for a corner. Joe Young had the first shot on target in 6mins when he went close with a header, followed shortly by a good attack by the improving Liam Curren as he beat 3 defenders to fire a shot at Kirkland from 12yds only to see the keeper knock it wide for a corner, and Chris Black went close with a shot from the resulting corner. Joe Young again went close with a header which Kirkland punched clear but his clearance fell to Mark Ferris on the edge of the area and he controlled the ball and picked his spot to make it 1-0 Saltcoats. Muirkirk had their first real attack on the half hour mark when Diarmid Turnbill shot well wide, and Mark Eadie was no closer from a cross ball from McNicol, Saltcoats kept the Muirkirk defence under pressure and Adam Easdon went close with a header from a corner and Mark Ferris went close with a chip as Saltcoats tried to vairy things from the corners. Thomas McLelland then went close with a shot from inside the area but it was well held and by Kirkland. When Muirkirk did have an attack it was being delt with by the defence and ex Muirkirk man Billy Aurthur was controlling things well. Young Kevin Ingram in the Saltcoats goal was called upon just before the break when Shaun Gallagher shot from distance and he was up to the task. HT Muirkirk 0 Saltcoats 1.

Muirkirk must have had some stern words at the break as at the start of the second half they were playing far better football, and Turnbill went close with a shot from the edge of the area, with the next attack Saltcoats were awarded a free kick inside the box but Sean Quinn knocked the ball into the wall and Muirkirk broke up the park and levelled things up with a bullet header from McNicol. this seemed to fire up the Seasider as they went up the park and when Quinn was up ended in the area ref Pllu had no option to point to the spot, and Quinn picked himself up and dusted himself down and stuck the spot kick away to put Saltcoats back in front, on the hour mark Saltcoats replaced James Moan with Paul Monan and the quality of cross seemed to improve and McLelland went close with a header striking the foot of the post but he was not to be denied with his next attack when Monan put over a peach of a cross for him to head home and make it 3-1 Saltcoats and two minets later Monan himself was to be delivered a great cross from Quinn and head home in almost identical fasion to make it 4-1 Saltcoats and the points was safe, Joe Young was still causing Muirkirk all sorts of trouble and twice went close as well as setting up Quinn to hit the bar, but the striker was not to be denied his goal and with 10mins remaining he skipped round Kirkland to fire home number 5, just before the final whistle Muirkirk day got worse when Mark Eadie was dismissed as he began to lose the plot. Final Score Muirkirk 1 Saltcoats Vics 5