McBookie Super League Premier Division

AUCHINLECK TALBOT 0

KILBIRNIE LADESIDE 1

LADESIDE got the New Year off to the best possible start with a hard-fought victory away to league leaders Talbot.

Kilbirnie were first to threaten in the blustery conditions when a Darren Miller free-kick from the left was punched away by Andy Leishman under pressure from Mick O’Byrne.

Two minutes later Gordon swung a free kick into the box but visiting goalie Kieran Hughes made good clearing punch away from Dwayne Hyslop.

Ladeside were awarded a penalty in 10 minutes. Miller made a cross field pass towards Kevin Turner but Bryan Young intercepted and his pass back to Leishman was mis-controlled by keeper before Adam Forde pounced on the loose ball, and played it beyond the on-rushing keeper but with his effort going wide Leishman collided with the Ladeside man. The referee pointed to the penalty spot. and Miller kept a cool head to send Leishman the wrong way to put his side in front.

Auchinleck tried to respond but a Hyslop header was comfortably held by Hughes.

In 20 minutes, a long ball from Hughes fell for Ian Gold but his shot from the left corner of the box went wide. Keir Milliken then picked the ball up in midfield before driving forward and firing a 25-yards shot which Hughes did well to push away.

With half an hour played, Gold was brought down on the edge of the box and Miller fired in a free kick which fell to David Anderson but his shot was blocked. A long ball by Willie Lyle into the Ladeside box saw Milliken feed the ball back to Hyslop but he pulled his effort wide. Willie Boyd had the last effort of the half, firing in a long range effort from 30 yards out, but Hughes saved comfortably.

As expected, Auchinleck came out fired up for the second half and created a chance in 47 minutes when Lyle crossed for Graham Wilson but his header was straight at Hughes.

Milliken combined with Young but pulled his effort across goal. Hyslop had the ball in the net in 52 minutes but was adjudged offside.

On the hour a Young corner-kick was punched clear by Hughes but the ball fell to James Latta on the edge of the box and he fired in a shot towards the right hand corner. However Anderson headed clear. Three minutes later a Pope free -kick from 30 yards crashed off the bar. At the other end, Gold's 20-yard free-kick round the wall was easily saved by Leishman.

Two minutes into stoppage time a superb through ball from Kyle Rafferty picked out Turner going in on goal and, although the striker appeared to be clipped when he was shooting, his effort was saved by Leishman.

It was a well-deserved three points for Ladeside.

KILBIRNIE LADESIDE: Hughes; Haxton. McKeown, Gray, O’Byrne, Anderson, Miller, Rafferty, Forde, Turner, Gold. Subs: Bennett,. Gallacher, Duncan, Gemmell, Fahey.