McBookie Ayrshire District League

ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS 0

CRAIGMARK BURNTONIANS 1

WINTON went into their last home league game of the season and their first league match for more than a month against surprise promotion challengers Craigmark Burntonians with a strengthened team that included new signings Andrew Thompson and Nicky Wilde on the bench while Alan Jamieson and Lee and Marc Davidson returned to the squad.

Having beaten ‘Mark at Station Park earlier in the season Rovers were hoping to get a good result.

Winton got off to a good start but some good play between Jamie McKenna and Thomas Donovan in the second minute came to nothing. The visitors’ first chance came a minute later when Bryan Tucker saved a Jordan Barr header.

In 10 minutes visiting striker Murray Johnstone ran on to a through ball and was one-on-one with Tucker who dived at his feet to first block the ball then grabbed it before Johnstone could get in a shot.

Winton were playing well and creating chances and they had another opportunity when Thomas Donovan got on the end of a long throw from Lee Davidson on the left but his shot from inside the box was deflected in 13 minutes.

In 21 minutes there was a good chance for Craigmark when a free-kick was headed down to Barr but he shot well wide.

Winton then had another good chance in 25 minutes when a poor clearance from McClymont went straight to Jamie McKenna but with the keeper out of his goal the striker took too long to shoot and although the ball eventually came to Ross Laughlin his shot was deflected.

'Mark had a chance in 44 minutes when they won a free-kick just outside the box but Marc Dyer’s effort deflected off the wall. Winton were looking the more dangerous, although poor finishing was letting them down.

In 56 minutes Larry McMahon played a good ball to Davidson on the edge of the box but the winger shot high and wide.

Rovers were putting pressure on Craigmark without really threatening the goal.

McKenna had another good chance in 77 minutes when he chased a ball to the edge of the box. His initial shot was blocked but the ball rebounded to him and unfortunately his follow-up shot was wide.

Disaster struck for Winton in 82 minutes when a corner from the left wasn’t cleared and it dropped to Declan Dunlop at the back post and although Tucker did well to block his effort with his feet the ball broke to Ally Gaw.

Winton almost grabbed a point on 90 minutes when a Ross Laughlin header from a Larry McMahon corner was cleared off the line.

ARDROSSAN WR: Tucker; Davidson, Jamieson, Ashe, McGregor, McMahon, Donovan, Tan, McKenna, Laughlin, Davidson. Subs: Jamieson, McVey, Wilde, Thompson.