McBookie Ayrshire District League

IRVINE VICTORIA 1

ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS 3

WINTON went into this game between two expected promotion challengers buoyed by their first win of the season against Dalry Thistle while relegated Vics were opening their league campaign off the back of a very good Ardagh Cup campaign which saw them win three and draw two, scoring 14 goals.

Rovers had Dylan McLaughlan back and gave David Orr a start although they were without Steven Tan and Kevin Struthers.

After a fairly even first 10 minutes, the first real attempt came for Winton when Larry McMahon brought the ball down on the edge of the box and turned but his shot was comfortably saved by the keeper. A minute later Dylan McLaughlan who was wearing protection on one of his arms picked up a knock was unable to continue and was replaced by Jordan Cairnie. Both sides continued pressing, but the final ball was letting them down and real chances were at a premium.

In 20 minutes a Michael Lennox shot on the edge of the box was blocked then cleared by the Vics' defence.

Andy McGregor played the ball over a Vics defender to Jamie McKenna in 35 minutes and he cut the ball back to Larry McMahon whose shot was deflected wide.

Rovers' pressure finally paid off in 38 minutes when they won a free-kick just outside the box for a foul on Larry McMahon. Regan Ross stepped up and drilled a low hard shot through the wall and into the net for his third goal of the season. Vics hit back almost immediately with Callum Davidson bringing out a great save from Bryan Tucker in 41 minutes.

Winton created the first real chance of the second half when Lennox headed the ball goalwards but it was collected by Ryan McLaren in 50 minutes. Lennox had a great chance to increase the lead on 55 minutes when he got into the box but shot across the face of the goal. On the hour McKenna blocked an attempted clearance by the keeper and the ball deflected towards David Orr but he was unable to bring the loose ball down and a defender cleared.

Cairnie had two long range efforts on goal around 20 minutes into the second half before Vics got an equaliser against the run of play. The ball was cleared into the Winton half and was chased by David Adams and two defenders and with Bryan Tucker well out of his box the strtiker lobbed the ball over him and into the empty net from midway inside the Winton half for 1-1 in 70 minutes.

Rovers continued pressing despite the setback and with 10 minutes of the match left the ball was only cleared out to Alan Muir but his shot went wide.

A minute later Muir on the left then played a great ball to McMahon and as he got into the box he was pulled down and the referee pointed to the spot. McKenna stepped up and although the keeper did well to parry his weak spot kick, the striker followed up and made no mistake burying the loose ball from 10 yards for 2-1 in 83 minutes.

It was 3-1 almost from the restart when a free kick from the left touchline by Lee Davidson was only cleared out as far as Lennox about 20 yards out on the right side of the box and he hit an unstoppable volley into the net.

Vics tried hard to get back into the game without success.

IRVINE VICTORIA: McLaren; Bonner, Young, Wood, P Smith, Craig, Davidson, Mears, Bolton, Adams, Adam. Subs: McNab, Wilson, Hamilton, Ablorh, Singleton.

ARDROSSAN WR: Tucker; Ross, L Davidson, M Davidson, McGregor, Muir, McMahon, Lennox, McKenna, Orr, McLaughlan. Subs: Cairnie, Cowie, Easdon, Anderson, Jamieson.