McBookie Super League First Division

KIRKINTILLOCH ROB ROY 0

KILBIRNIE LADESIDE 1

NINE-man Ladeside are in a great position to survive in the Super Premier Division following this much-needed victory away to the league leaders.

Third-bottom Kilwinning Rangers now need seven points from their last three games to send the Valefield Park side into the Premier Division playoff.

Kilbirnie looked the hungrier team and when Adam Forde was taken out by a challenge from Green they had an early chance, but Kyle Rafferty sent his effort well over the bar.

Ten minutes later good play between Martin Grehan and Owen Ronald saw the latter played in but his cross along the six yard area was cleared for a corner. A James Creaney ball forward was headed down by Grehan to Ronald but he pulled his shot wide from 25 yards.

With 32 minutes played Kilbirnie had a great chance to go in front when Kyle Rafferty won a corner and Ronald swung the ball into the box but Mick O'Byrne saw his header tipped over the bar by McKinven. Forde then won a free-kick on the edge of the box but his low shot was easily saved by McKinven. Right on half-time Ladeside were reduced to 10 men when O'Byrne slid into a challenge and the referee was quick to show the Kilbirnie player a straight red card.

Rob Roy had the first chance of the second half when Willie Sawyers laid the ball off to Fraser, but Kieran Hughes saved his effort on goal.

Further chances fell to McGuire and Gallacher for Kirkintilloch but they failed to hit the target.

Ladeside took the lead in 54 minutes when a free-kick was hoisted forward by Hughes to the edge of the box an Forde touched the ball back to Smith before he slipped the striker through inside the box and he fired a left footed shot low into the far corner of the net.

Forde then had another chance when a poor headed clearance by Green under pressure from Grehan fell to the Ladeside striker but his shot was saved by McKinven.

Rob Roy were then awarded a soft penalty after players went down in the box following a corner from the left. Substitute Paul McMenamin stepped up but fired his effort wide. Ladeside were then awarded a penalty-kick when Smith played in Ronald and he was brought down by Boyle. Forde however couldn't take advantage as he saw his spot kick cannoned off the inside of the post and go right across the goal.

Kilbirnie were then reduced to nine men when Ian Gray picked up two bookings within the space of a minute. Having just been yellow-carded for time wasting, he then lunged into a challenge having lost control of the ball and the referee showed him a second yellow and a red. With three minutes remaining, Ladeside nearly doubled their lead when a poor clearance by McKinven fell to Smith and his first time effort from 35 yards bounced in front of the empty goal before just going over the bar.

Rob Roy's Fraser was then shown a second yellow and red card after a late challenge as Ladeside hung on for a deserved victory.

KILBIRNIE LADESIDE: Hughes; Gray, Creaney, O'Byrne, Donnelly, Green, Ronald, Rafferty, Grehan, Smith, Forde. Subs: Meechan, Harkins, McKinnon, Anderson, Kerr.