McBookie Ayrshire District League

DALRY THISTLE 2

CRAIGMARK BURNTONIANS 3

CRAIGMARK defeated a below-par Dalry team for the second time in the league this season

After an opening spell where Dalry pressed and won a few corners, the visitors took the lead in eight minutes. A long ball out of defence found Mitchell Ewing, who looked a couple of yards offside, but despite protests, he ran on to drill the ball past Watson and into the net. Dalry protests were in vain.

Dalry responded and Kieran McLaughlin sent a 25-yard shot wide.

Dalry had the chance to level in 18 minutes when Mark Archdeacon was pulled down in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. The kick was taken by McLaughlin and although well hit it was just the right height for the keeper who turned the shot round the post for a corner.

Dalry still continued pressing and first a Zach Hood shot went wide and then Archdeacon squandered a great chance in front of goal and somehow missed the target.

A free-kick from Archdeacon was blocked before Greg Morrison had a shot blocked and when the loose ball came to Jordan Stuart and his attempt to chip the keeper only sent the ball into his hands.

However in 42 minutes Dalry equalised. They won a corner and Chris McGowan snr powered a header into the net.

Craigmark had a very rare chance right on the 45 minutes when Ewing sent a header wide.

Into the second half and a free-kick to Craigmark saw a powerful Kirkwood shot bring out a good save.

Craigmark then hit Dalry with two quick goals. In 55 minutes, again from a quick break Scott Dempster found the net and just two minutes later it was the same player who made it 3-1 when a long punt from the keeper got behind McGowan and Dempster touched the ball past Scott Watson.

It could have been worse on the hour when a Kirkwood free-kick was touched over the bar by Watson.

However Dalry had not given up and firstly a Stuart shot went over, then an Archdeacon free-kick was well saved. Dalry replaced Morrison with McLintock and pushed three up front.

With 67 minutes gone Craigmark were reduced to 10 men. Willie Hall reacted to a challenge to get up and head butt Stuart, the referee showing him the red card.

This gave Dalry hope that they could salvage something from the game.

A McLintock shot went narrowly over, then Hood saw a shot saved. Dalry had now pushed McGowan upfront.

The big defender nearly got a reward when from a corner the ball fell but he put his shot over.

Dalry got their second in 83 minutes on the clock. Jordan Stuart did well to get his head onto a cross and there was not only power in the header, but accuracy to put it out of reach of the keeper.

Craigmark simply packed their defence and Dalry were restricted in chances. A Hood header was saved.

A corner count of 16-4 in favour of Dalry tells you something about the pressure, but it was Craigmark, who were quite content to sit in a hit on the break and won the three points.

For too many of the Dalry players this looked like an end-of-season game.

DALRY THISTLE: Watson; Lavery, Hunter, Brown, McGowan Senior, Boyd, Morrison, Stuart, Archdeacon, Hood, McLaughlin. Subs. McLintock, Friels.