McBookie Ayrshire District League

ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS 4

DALRY THISTLE 0

STRIKER Thomas Collins made a dream debut with a hat-trick as Winton bounced back from three defeats with an easy win.

With Larry McMahon still suspended Rovers had Collins, on loan from Beith upfront with Ryan Caddis and Andy McGregor returning at centre-half.

Rovers threatened to overrun Thistle in the first 10 minutes as they made their best start to a game recently and they took the lead in three minutes when Ryan Caddis headed the ball on to Collins. Blair Lochhead in the visiting goal was unable to hold on to his shot and Ross Kearns got to the loose ball first to knock it home.

A minute later the keeper dropped the ball as Collins challenged for a cross from Jordan Cairnie but the danger was cleared.

Steven Tan had a great chance when he outstripped the Dalry defence, got into the box and shot but although Lochhead spilled the ball, Thistle managed to clear it. Dalry were struggling to cope with Winton’s pressure and Rovers created another couple of chances.

Collins was causing Dalry problems every time he was on the ball and in 14 minutes he tried to square it to Caddis in the box but left-back Chris McGowan Jnr - facing his own goal - put the ball high over the bar.

Dalry were getting into the game without creating any clearcut chances. However in 25 minutes Kearns beat the offside trap and he played the ball into the goalmouth where Robert Boyd cleared.

Thistle’s first real attempt on goal came on the half hour when Mark Archdeacon shot into the side netting.

Rovers doubled their lead in 35 minutes when Caddis headed a good kick-out from John Mullen on to Kearns who played in Collins and from a tight angle he shot across Lockhead and into the far side of the net for his first goal for the club.

Marc Davidson and Regan Ross were booked as Rovers continued to control the game and in 44 minutes some good play involving Caddis and Collins saw Andrew Hunter almost turn Collins’ shot into his own net but Lochhead saved on the line.

Dalry started the second half brightly and in the opening minute, Mullen made a comfortable save from Marc Hood.

]In 52 minutes Thistle won a free-kick on the edge of the box and from this the ball was headed past the goal by Jordan Stuart. Two minutes later Tan found Caddis on the right and he played the ball into the goalmouth where Collins volleyed home.

There was a pressure from Dalry in 55 minutes when Winton failed to clear following a free-kick but the ball eventually went out for a corner.

In 62 minutes a well-timed tackle by Davidson in the box saw him dispossess Hood as he ran in on goal. A minute later a goalmouth scramble saw Rovers have several attempts on the Dalry goal but the ball stayed out.

Thistle were still trying and in 66 minutes Mullen made a great fingertip save from Boyd.

In 73 minutes Rovers had a strong claim for a penalty turned down when Boyd on the ground seemed to handle a Ross Kearns shot. With 15 minutes left it was 4-0 when Ryan Caddis set up Collins who had his back to goal but he turned and curled the ball into the top right hand corner.