McBookie League Two

MUIRKIRK 2

ARDEER THISTLE 1

By Boyd Miller

ARDEER suffered another loss on the road as they went down to Muirkirk at Burnside Park.

It didn’t look as though it would finish that way earlier on when Thistle went in front in three minutes when Jack Ewing's head flick found Nathan Wieringa in space in the box and the winger calmly slotted the ball home from 12 yards. Muirkirk had a chance in 15 minutes when a long throw-in sailed across the Ardeer box with no takers.

Visiting skipper Jamie Donnelly pushed forward and combined well with Ewing and Frank Nyame to set up a chance on the edge of the box but Nyame's effort was blocked by a Muirkirk defender.

Both teams were cancelling each other out in midfield and Muirkirk’s most dangerous moves were coming via the long throw ins from Andrew Murray.

On the half hour Scott Steedman saw his header hit the bar from Murray's throw in then Donnelly sent a long ball though to Ewing as he raced in on goals but the striker was marginally offside. A Mark Beveridge cross into the box found Alex Scotchfield in space but his header was inches over the Muirkirk bar as the visitors pushed for a second goal.

As the first half drew to a finish, Murray's long throws set up chances for first Derek McGrory then Jordan Conlan but stout defending by the Thistle defence meant their headers flew off target.

Muirkirk had the first chance of the second half when Murray found himself in space but his header from the corner kick flew over the bar. Ardeer broke upfield and good play by Ewing, Nyame and Paddy Frey was halt by a tight offside call from referee Henderson. A Wieringa cross field pass sent Johnny Smith free to advance to the edge of the penalty area but his 18 yard drive was well saved by Nathan Bogle.

Muirkirk equalised on the hour when Aron Dorigo palmed away a 10 yard shot by Edwards but it fell to Jordan Conlon who shot home from 12 yards.

Jamie Donnelly shot past from a Ewing corner and a deep Smith cross into the area saw Wieringa's header saved by Bogle as Ardeer pressed to go back in front.

Muirkirk went in front in 73 minutes when a corner from the right found Conlon, his 10 yard mis-hit shot found Scott Steedman unmarked at the far post and he had easiest job to tap home from six yards.

Ardeer battled strongly to get back on even terms the Muirkirk defence held them out and they forced another opening near the end but a fine save by Dorigo from a Stephen Campbell effort, and substitute Kian Murdoch blocked a follow up effort from Steedman. There was an altercation at the halfway line as the match drew to a close and the referee booked a Muirkirk player and two from Ardeer before the game finished.

MUIRKIRK: Bogle; Baxter, Peck, Howie, McGrory, Campbell, Steedman, Edwards, Conlon, Burns, Murray. Subs: Marshall, Carslaw, Mee, Neossi, Cunningham.

ARDEER THISTLE: Dorigo; Smith, Beveridge, Donnelly, McCarthy, Ewing, Frey, Nyame, Scotchfield, Wieringa. Subs: Farrell, Murdoch, Johnston, Reilly, Colligan.