Lugar Bothwell Thistle 3–1 Saltcoats Vics — SJFA West Region Ayrshire District League, 21 Feb 2015

Report by keano

 Saltcoats went down 3-1 at Lugar in a game of 2 halves, in the first half Saltcoats played some of the best football they have played all season but in the second half they just did not turn up, but credit must go to Lugar who fought and rushed Saltcoats into submission in the second half.

The game was only 5 mins in when Jordan Mullen came off second best in a mid-field tussle with James Moan and recieved a trip to the physio, as Saltcoats gradually came into the game they were playing some really good football and spraying passes all thoughout the feild, and mention must go to Tam McLelland for his hold up play up front as Cuthbertson was having his work cut out every time the ball came up feild. McLelland and Moan linked up well on 23mins and Moan put over a good cross for Mark Ferris to test Mather in the Lugar goal but the big goalie proved he was up to the task. When the goal come on 27mins it involved half the team with some very good play in the middle of the park from Liam Curren and Jamie Whyte, and when Curren played the ball to Chris Black he attacked the Lugar rear guard played a delightful one two with McLelland before laying it on a plate for Sean Quinn to curl round the big goalie into the net and put Saltcoats in front. On the half hour McLelland and Moan again linked up well and Moan crossed to the back post to Joe Young who's shot went the wrong side of the post, next it was Chris Black's chance for a shot and he really should have made it 2 when he strolled past Whittaker in the Lugar defence but fired straight at the keeper when any sort of angle would have increased the Saltcoats lead. Sean Quinn had the last effort of the fist half but shot wide just before the break. Lugar in the first half were restricted to set pieces and shots from distance with little effect, but after a half time team talk from manager Grierson they came out for the second half a totally different side.

  It took them only 5mins to even things up in the second half and it came from a set piece, when Alan Orr sent in a corner Jordan Mullen was left unmarked and the big defender made no mistake with his header to make it 1-1. And only 2mins later Lugar should have been ahead when Orr sent in a cross ball along the 6yard line but there was no takes and the chance was gone, and on 58mins when Lugar were again awarded a corner Saltcoats proved they had learned nothing from the previous corner as the exact same move again found the unmarked Mullen but this time the big defender rattled the crossbar with his header. On the hour mark McLelland went close for Saltcoats with thier first attack of the second half, but back at the other end Jamie Whyte slid into a tackle with Ian McCreadie and the ref Ingram blew for a penalty much to the annoyance of the Saltcoats players, up stepped Allan Patterson but his kick was saved by Catterson in the Saltcoats goal but the ref again incenced the Saltcoats players by ordering a retake step forward Alan Orr but his kick was also saved by Catterson. Saltcoats were begining to creek under the pressure being insertred by Lugar but the defence did get a little break on 70mins when Joe Young tested Mather after he got away from Cuthbertson, but it was only delaying things as back came Lugar and within 2mins this game was over and done as Lugar hit Saltcoats twice, first from Allan Patterson and then Stuart Wark headed home a third for Lugar and the points were safe, the game finished badly when both Simon Johnston and James Cuthbertson were dismissed for what can only be discribed as powder puff behaviour.