Saltcoats Vics 3–1 Girvan FC — SJFA West Region Ayrshire District League, 24 Jan 2015

Report by keano

Saltcoats made it 8 games undefeated in this game and had to work every inch of the way to get passed a stuffy Girvan side that would just never give up the ghost and chassed every ball right up to the 90th min.

Saltcoats took the lead in only the second min of the game when Joe Young showed a great turn of foot to get passed the Girvan rear guard after a pin point accurat pass from Sean Quinn and chip the ball over the advancing Purdie in the Girvan goal to give the seasiders a dream start, and Saltcoats continued to keep the pressure and Paul Weaver tried his luck from the edge of the area on 11mins and went only inches wide of the upright. On 14mins Girvan pulled things level when Daniel Cunningham was given all the room in the world at the rear post to head home from a corner kick to make it 1-1, but things were only level for 4mins when Adam Easdon volleyed home at the near post from a corner to put Saltcoats back in front. As the game continued to go from end to end both defences were having to earn thier corn with McGeady and Easdon showing up for the home side and O'Donnell and Cunningham doing just as well in the Girvan rear line as both teams were being restricted to shots from outside the area, with ex Saltcoats man Kyle Russell going closest for the visitors from the edge of the area and Alan Weaver hitting the side netting for the Vics as the first half drew to a close. 

Saltcoats started the second half with a little more determination as they tried to put this game to bed,and although they were the better of the teams they were not getting things all their own way as this young Girvan side ran all afternoon and chased every cause, Chris Black was first to have a go but his shot went over the top, and some good passing between Liam Curran and Joe Young saw Paul Weaver shoot into the side netting. with the slight wind advantage in Saltcoats favour Sean Quinn was unlucky not to score direct from a corner kick when he saw his effort come back of the upright. Girvan gradually made their way up feild and won a free kick on the edge of the box but David McVittie wasted the chance, as Nicolas Wilde went off with a head injury and as Girvan struggled to get Connor Davidson onto the feild, Joe Young played a great ball into the box along the 6yd line but it was missed by both Black and Quinn, but the 3rd goal came from the very next corner when Adam Easdon headed home his second and a third for Saltcoats to give the seasiders breathing room. Saltcoats made substitutions to slow up the pattern of the game bringing on Thomas McLelland for Mark Ferris and shortly afterwards James Moan and Jason Kean came on for McGeady and Black, while Girvan brought on Jamie McAvoy and Allan Robertson looking for a way back into the game but all to no avail as Saltcoats ran out 3-1 winners.