Saltcoats Vics 2–2 Kilwinning Rangers — SJFA West Region Ayrshire District League, 3 Jan 2015

Report by Keano

Both teams kept their unbeaten records going but only just as Kilwinning equalized two mins from time to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat to keep their unbeaten record in the league intacked, and it must be said a draw was a fair result although a few in the Saltcoats camp will dissagree.

The game was always going to be a tight affair with both teams playing to form, Kilwinning started the better without really testing Catterson in the Saltcoats goal, but Bryan Boylan and John Bradford were keeping the Saltcoats rear guard on their toes. Saltcoats gradually fought their way up the park and were the first to have a shot at goal on 12 mins when Paul Weaver had a shot from the edge of the area, but Marc Fisher held on well.  Kilwinning had their first real shot at goal on 14mins and were unlucky not to take the lead when Lewis Hunter's shot came back of the upright, as both teams settle down into some sort of rythm the game was going from end to end with both looking for the break through, first of all Mark Ferris had a good shot charged down and cleared by Fisher before Boylan had two quick efforts at goal the first going high an the second wide. On 20 mins the Buffs had a penalty claim correctly denied by ref Sean Welsh as a Owen Quigley shot came of the arm of Liam Curren much to the annoyance of the large travelling support. As Saltcoats came more of a attacking force Liam Curren was making some good inroads up the left wing and was unlucky as his cross ball just evaded the back post, followed shortly afterwards by an excellent cross from Chris Black that was met by Ferris but Fisher in the Kilwinning goal was up for the task. On the half hour mark Kilwinning really should have taken the lead when front man Bryan Boylan drifted past Catterson with some great footwork but when he saw the empty goal he fire the ball high over the crossbar and the game remained even, but with the very next attack Saltcoats took the lead, as Alan Weaver and Liam Curren worked the ball up field Alan played a defence splitting pass to his elder sibling Paul to fire Saltcoats into a 35min lead from the edge of the area, 1-0 Saltcoats. The goal seemed to inspire Saltcoats and Joe Young and Paul Weaver began to have a real go at Isaac Kerr and Chris Strain in the heart of the Kilwinning defence, and Weaver again went close from the edge of the area on  38mins, but Saltcoats could not see the game to the break as when Chris Black was disspossessed on the half way line Kilwinning pushed forward and when Jamie Anderson put over what looked like a harmless cross a mix up between Catterson and his defence saw the ball roll through to Owen Quigley and the winger said thank you as he fired the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-1 at the turn. 

 In the early stages of the second half both Joe Young and Liam Curren saw efforts go wide, before Catterson was called into action at the other end to save from both Boyland and Bradford. Chris Strain was then replaced by Calvin Kemp on the hour mark and he had 3 good chances in the space of 5mins of coming on to the field, his first saw Catterson save at his feet, the second went high and wide but his third and best shot came thundering back off the crossbar much to the relief of the Saltcoats followers. This seemed to spark Saltcoats into life and as Alan Weaver worked the ball forward to Chris Black who in turn found Joe Young just outside the area, and when the little striker got passed Weir he chipped the ball over the on rushing Fisher there was Sean Quinn to lash the ball into the net 2-1 Saltcoats, Vics then replaced Chris Black with Simon Johnston and with his very first attack pulled the save of the match out of Marc Fisher in the Kilwinning goal when the keeper dived to his left to knock his volley away after he met a pin point cross from Seamus McGeady. Saltcoats at this stage could smell blood and pushed for a third goal that would have sealed the points, and Johnston again tested the fingertips of Fisher this time with a header. Saltcoats then brought on Paul Monan and Thomas McLelland for Ferris and Quinn for the last 7mins and both linked up to set up Young but again Fisher kept the game alive, as the game moved into injury time Fisher's energy seemed to go through the Kilwinning side as they pushed forward looking for a leveler, and their efforts were rewarded in the dying min when the ball was knocked over the line by Bradford but it could have been any one of three as Kilwinning piled into a back line of 7 Saltcoats defenders as they tried in vain to save the game and the three points, and sent the Kilwinning fans home in boyant mood. Full time Saltcoats Vics 2 Kilwinning Rangers 2