McBookie Ayrshire District League

DALRY THISTLE 2

MUIRKIRK 1

UNDER-par Dalry went about it the hard way in this game, playing the last half an hour with 10 men, before coming back to win.

In the early stages it was all Thistle, with several good crosses being delivered into the box, but no real clearcut chances created.

Mark Archdeacon had a shot which brought out a good save and Robert Boyd sent a shot just over. Chris McGowan Snr had a shot from 22 yards which was well saved, before Kyle Cummings shot into the side netting.

William Boyd shot just wide as Dalry continued to pile on the pressure.

The hosts were well on top, but there was just something lacking by way of urgency and commitment.

In 38 minutes Archdeacon headed well over from eight yards and then McLaughlin tried a shot which the keeper fumbled for a corner.

As so often seems to happen in games like this the team who had been on the receiving end went up the park and scored.

In 43 minutes, and the first time that Muirkirk had seriously been in the Dalry box, they took the lead when the ball was bundled home from close range.

So half time and the Dalry players trooped off to the prospect of a real ear bashing.

With 10 minutes of the second half gone Gavin Friels decided to ring the changes.

Off came Cummings and Shaun Lavery and on came Jordan Stewart and Liam Hood, and this seemed to give Dalry a bit more urgency and drive about them. Stuart Hunter almost pulled off the spectacular with an overhead kick which went wide.

With a hour gone Dalry were reduced to 10 men. Robert Boyd had been booked in the first half for speaking out of turn and when he was guilty of handball it was a second yellow and time for an early bath.

In 63 minutes it took a superb save from Blair Lochhead to deny the visitors, before Dalry went straight to the other end and levelled. There was a bit of good fortune when a low driven cross into the box was deflected for an own goal.

Having 10 men made very little difference to the game as Dalry were still on top, but Muirkirk now at least looked as though they wanted to try and take the game to Dalry.

Jordan Stewart sliced a shot wide, and then a shot from the same player was parried away by the keeper.

Into the last 15 minutes and Thistle were almost caught in a quick break on the left and when the cross came in the resulting header went over.

Dalry then took the lead on 79 minutes. A corner on the right was sent to the far post and McLaughlin powerfully headed home in a crowded box.

Dalry could have gone further ahead when Jordan Stewart ran with the ball for 40 yards and saw his shot blocked, but when the ball broke to Hood his shot went wide.

Not the best performance by Dalry, but three points nevertheless.

They will have to be much improved if the are to keep in touch with the promotion hopefuls.

Dalry: Lochhead, Hunter, McGowan Junior, R Boyd, McGowan Senior, Brown, McLaughlin, W Boyd, Archdeacon, Cummings, Lavery. Subs, Hood, Beech, M Stewart, Marshall, J Stewart.