Ardeer lose out to Maybole

ARDEER THISTLE 0

MAYBOLE 2

THISTLE stumbled at the first hurdle of this season's Ayrshire District League race.

In a vital season where promotion to the new West Region Championship is the prize for the top three finishers in the ADL with a play-off available to the fourth place team, Ardeer failed to take their chances after having most of the pressure in the first half.

Thistle had the first chance in two minutes when a Derek Kennedy shot was deflected away by Maybole defender. Then a good move between Archie Sewell and Gareth Turner saw Turner cross find Kennedy in the box but Martin McCauley in the Maybole goal pulled off a fine save to thwart the striker's 10-yard effort.

Paul McCann pulled off a great stop from Callum McDade at the other end when the striker connected with a corner-kick and his 10-yard effort looked netbound until McCann flung himself to his left to save the shot. Good interplay between Kennedy and Scott Reid set the striker up with another chance in the Maybole box but he couldn't get enough power in his shot to trouble McCauley. Ross Clark set up Lewis Gardiner on the edge of the area but his shot flew high over the bar.

Just on the half hour, Turner and Del Kennedy set up Matthew Stevenson on the edge of the penalty area but the midfielder shot inches wide of the post. It was end to end action now and a Clark header found Chris Allan in space but his shot flew wide. Kennedy then set up Gareth Turner but his shot went over the bar. Kennedy then had a great chance when he controlled a Paul McKay through ball and beat two Maybole defenders but he was unlucky to see McCauley turn his 10-yard drive around the post.

In 49 minutes Ardeer paid the price for their missed first half chances when a loose ball in the box wasn't cleared and it fell to Chris Allan who lashed it past McCann from 10 yards to put the visitors in front.

Ardeer brought on Carlo Scaramuzza for for Sewell but before he could make an impact on the game they were 2-0 down when Allan picked up a long clearance from the back, he played a one-two with Aidan Connor and knocked the ball past McCann from 15 yards for his and Maybole's second goal.

Visiting player Callum McDade was shown a second yellow card but the visitors seemed content to hold what they had.

Carlo Scaramuzza set Kennedy up with a chance that was deflected for a corner. Nyame found Gordon Wilson for a 20-yard effort that was saved by McCauley but Maybole held on for a win.

Ardeer will have to start putting the ball in the net. Had they taken their chances in the first half the game could well have been over at the interval.

ARDEER THISTLE: McCann; McKay, Thomson, Donnelly, Holden, Stevenson, Kennedy, Reid, Sewell, Turner, Gillies. Subs: Scaramuzza, Nyame, Wilson, Dorigo, Kean.