Winton Rovers defeat Craigmark

CRAIGMARK BURNTONIANS 0

ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS 4

WINTON made the long trip to a sunny but very cold Dalmellington, looking to keep their good league form going against a Craigmark team who had played well at Winton Park earlier in the season.

Recent signing Larry McMahon started with trialist Michael Lennox on the bench.

Winton started brightly and home goalie Mark Higgins got down to save a snap shot from Darren Miller following a Ryan Caddis corner in five minutes. A couple of minutes later a Larry McMahon shot was deflected following a good run and cross from Ryan Caddis.

The league leaders opened the scoring in nine minutes. Ryan Caddis squared to Jordan Cairnie 35 yards out and his shot flew into the back of the net with the home keeper rooted to the spot.

In 12 minutes Caddis played a free-kick to the near post but the defence cleared before McMahon or Miller could connect with the ball.

Three minutes later, Winton won a free kick for a foul on Larry McMahon.

]Caddis touched the ball to the side to Miller and although his shot was blocked then cleared by Craig Barrett the ball was picked up by Caddis on the edge of the area and Higgins turned the Winton striker’s curling shot on to the post.

In 21 minutes saw Higgins turned a Ross Kearns shot round the post following good play by Caddis and Bobby Colligan.

A minute later following a good move down the right, Mitchell Ewing cut inside and shot from about 15 yards. John Mullen saved the shot with his legs and Miller shepherded the ball out.

The game became scrappy for a while with players slipping and too many free kicks being given away. The next real action saw Larry McMahon shoot wide following a good run and cross from Steven Tan.

Craigmark then missed another good chance to equalise in 39 minutes when they kept possession as Marc Dyer then Lawrie had efforts blocked. The ball then broke to Paul McCambley who crossed into the box where Ewing’s free header was straight at John Mullen. Winton doubled their lead in 44 minutes when Caddis played a good ball to Ross Kearns who then played in Bobby Colligan out on the right whose low cross got caught up in Ryan MacKay’s feet and his effort to clear the ball facing the goal ended up in the back of his own net.

Rovers increased their lead in 58 minutes when Miller back-headed a Caddis corner into the net off the back post.

Mullen comfortably saved a long-range effort from Ewing on the hour. Two minutes later Higgins saved a McMahon effort and in 63 minutes a good move involving Caddis and McMahon saw Marc Davidson’s shot blocked and cleared.

The visitors completed the scoring in 66 minutes when Colligan beat a defender to a kick-out from Mullen and found McMahon. From the edge of the box, he played in Caddis who beat Higgins, got to the line and cut the ball back to McMahon who made no mistake from 10 yards for his first competitive goal since returning to the club.

In 75 minute Caddis got to a mis-hit clearance then laid the ball back to Colligan but his shot went across the face of goal.

Craigmark had two good chances late on through Kieran Nisbet who headed a throw- in over the bar in 84 minutes and with time running out he shot across the face of the goal and hit the base of the far post.

ARDROSSAN WR: Mullen; Ross, Jamieson, Miller, Cairnie, Davidson, McMahon, Kearns, Caddis, Tan, Colligan. Subs: Lennox (Trialist), Donaldson, Stevenston, Kelly, McGregor.