Winton go fourth

Rovers were without Billy Gilmour, Gareth Turner, Ian Cashmore and Jordan Cairnie and could only name two outfield substitutes while Thistle only had one outfield substitute.

In 20 minutes Lee McCrea laid the ball off to Calvin Smith but his cross-cumshot was cleared. A minute later Calvin Smith had another shot saved by Kelly in the visiting goal.

Rovers were playing well and took the lead in 28 minutes when Darren Miller swung over a pinpoint cross from the right to Ben Carson at the back post who headed home from 10 yards, Five minutes from half-time Thistle were awarded a free-kick 30 yards out which was played into the box where an unmarked Steven Shankland rose to head home.

Worse was to follow on the stroke of the interval after Ryan Caddis had had an effort blocked and cleared, when Lugar were awarded another free -kick well outside the penalty area. This time Robbie Cochrane got his head to the ball but only directed it backwards and Chris Todd headed home.

Winton were on the attack from kick off after the break, creating a couple of chances before equalising in 49 minutes, Conor Browning ran on to a good ball down the left before reaching the line and hitting the ball low and hard into the goalmouth where Craig Breen forced it home from six yards.

Roddy Paterson then went close for Lugar with a dipping volley after Caddis had lost the ball out on the right in 54 minutes.

Caddis went close with a similar effort which went over the bar. Smith then had a shot blocked for a corner on 59 minutes and from this there was another chance when a poor punch by Kelly saw the ball only reach a Winton player and his shot was blocked and cleared by a defender almost on the line.

Winton took the lead in 70 minutes when Willet was fouled inside the box. Caddis stepped up and although Kelly got to the ball it went in off the post. In 77 minutes Thistle had a great chance when Matt Bennett lost the ball to Paterson who ran into the box but his shot was blocked by Michael Wardrope and the loose ball was cleared by Robbie Cochrane before Pateron could follow up.

After that it was almost all Winton but Cochrane and Breen failed to capitalise on some good play down the flanks by Browning, Willet and Caddis. Rovers seemed to have made the tie safe on 85 minutes when they won a second penalty when Steven Shankland handled a McCrea corner. Caddis hit his spot kick into the same corner, giving Kelly no chance The drama was not over as Lugar pulled a goal back in 89 minute. Again it was from another free-kick, this time 25 yards out on the left. The ball was played in low towards the near post where Craig Muir was on hand to get enough of a touch to knock it past Wardrope.

The match ended in an unfortunate manner for Rovers who were looking to see the game out in the corner on the stand side as Caddis was sent off almost on the final whistle.

ARDROSSAN WR: Wardrope; Miller, Bennett, Carson, Cochrane, McCrea, Breen, Johnston, Smith, Caddis, Subs: Browning, Willet, McMahon, Pollock.

For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.

WINTON chalked up a third victory of the season against Lugar in a closely contested cup tie which was played in awful conditions.

Rovers were without Billy Gilmour, Gareth Turner, Ian Cashmore and Jordan Cairnie and could only name two outfield substitutes while Thistle only had one outfield substitute.

In 20 minutes Lee McCrea laid the ball off to Calvin Smith but his cross-cumshot was cleared. A minute later Calvin Smith had another shot saved by Kelly in the visiting goal.

Rovers were playing well and took the lead in 28 minutes when Darren Miller swung over a pinpoint cross from the right to Ben Carson at the back post who headed home from 10 yards, Five minutes from half-time Thistle were awarded a free-kick 30 yards out which was played into the box where an unmarked Steven Shankland rose to head home.

Worse was to follow on the stroke of the interval after Ryan Caddis had had an effort blocked and cleared, when Lugar were awarded another free -kick well outside the penalty area. This time Robbie Cochrane got his head to the ball but only directed it backwards and Chris Todd headed home.

Winton were on the attack from kick off after the break, creating a couple of chances before equalising in 49 minutes, Conor Browning ran on to a good ball down the left before reaching the line and hitting the ball low and hard into the goalmouth where Craig Breen forced it home from six yards.

Roddy Paterson then went close for Lugar with a dipping volley after Caddis had lost the ball out on the right in 54 minutes.

Caddis went close with a similar effort which went over the bar. Smith then had a shot blocked for a corner on 59 minutes and from this there was another chance when a poor punch by Kelly saw the ball only reach a Winton player and his shot was blocked and cleared by a defender almost on the line.

Winton took the lead in 70 minutes when Willet was fouled inside the box. Caddis stepped up and although Kelly got to the ball it went in off the post. In 77 minutes Thistle had a great chance when Matt Bennett lost the ball to Paterson who ran into the box but his shot was blocked by Michael Wardrope and the loose ball was cleared by Robbie Cochrane before Pateron could follow up.

After that it was almost all Winton but Cochrane and Breen failed to capitalise on some good play down the flanks by Browning, Willet and Caddis. Rovers seemed to have made the tie safe on 85 minutes when they won a second penalty when Steven Shankland handled a McCrea corner. Caddis hit his spot kick into the same corner, giving Kelly no chance The drama was not over as Lugar pulled a goal back in 89 minute. Again it was from another free-kick, this time 25 yards out on the left. The ball was played in low towards the near post where Craig Muir was on hand to get enough of a touch to knock it past Wardrope.

The match ended in an unfortunate manner for Rovers who were looking to see the game out in the corner on the stand side as Caddis was sent off almost on the final whistle.

ARDROSSAN WR: Wardrope; Miller, Bennett, Carson, Cochrane, McCrea, Breen, Johnston, Smith, Caddis, Subs: Browning, Willet, McMahon, Pollock.

For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.