McBookie Ayrshire District League

DARVEL 6

SALTCOATS VICTORIA 0

STRUGGLING Saltcoats were put to the sword by Darvel in a one-sided contest at Recreation Park.

It was the first game at Darvel since the start of February.

However the hosts looked as if they had never been away as they coasted to victory.

The home side sprung into action in just three minutes when Mark Armour nodded home from close range after a floated delivery from Murray Johnston.

The pair were at it again moments later when Armour volleyed home his second from Johnston’s cross, albeit with the aid of some poor defending from the visitors. There were calls for offside from the visiting touchline but the referee refused to entertain them.

After some impressive goalkeeping from visiting number one Jim Catterson to deny Johnston and forward Jordan Ryan, Darvel strengthened their advantage five minutes from the interval. Former Kilwinning Rangers midfielder Kenny Parris forced a visiting defender into making a risky back-pass. Johnston then snatched the ball and netted from inside the box.

Darvel continued to battle, made crucial interceptions and looked sharp in the final third.

Any hopes of a revival from Vics were dashed when Armour notched his hat-trick after the visitors failed to clear their lines.

The gap further widened when Johnston beat the offside trap and chipped the onrushing Catterson with the help of a deflection to make it 5-0.

Saltcoats player-boss Tam McClelland then brought himself on in an attempt to prevent the flow of goals his side had already conceded. He then had a re-think moments later and moved himself up front.

Johnston completed the rout on the hour through a perfectly-timed diving header from Stewart Davidson’s cross.

With a minute to remaining, visiting player Paul Weaver was shown a second yellow card for needlessly kicking the ball away in frustration.