McBookie Ayrshire District League

MUIRKIRK 1

DALRY THISTLE 5

IT took Dalry some time to wear down a determined Muirkirk side, but there was never any doubt about the outcome.

A bright start for Dalry saw a Mark Archdeacon shot come off the crossbar and over in only three minutes.

In eight minutes an Archdeacon free kick floated to the far post was met by Lewis Kirkwood and it took a good save from the keeper and again from the follow-up to keep the ball out the net.

A shot from Craig Marshall was well saved, then a cross from Archdeacon was met by the head of Kyle Cumming, but the chance went wide.

A corner for Dalry saw a header from Ian Cashmore come off the crossbar and over. The opening goal seemed inevitable and it duly arrived in 31 minutes. A superb pass from Cumming split the defence and Archdeacon made the run to score from 15 yards.

Kirkwood sent a good pass over the top of the defence but Cumming put the shot wide.

A corner for Dalry saw a header from Andrew Brown go wide.

Dalry were soon back on the attack at the start of the second half and with 49 minutes gone, Cashmore challenged for the ball at the edge of the box and got the break to allow him to pass the ball into the net.

If Dalry thought that was it, they got a wake up call in 55 minutes when Muirkirk pulled a goal back. It was a superb effort from 30 yards from Wilson which went beyond the reach of Blair Lochhead.

However just 60 seconds later the job got a lot harder for the home side when keeper Williamson was sent off. Archdeacon had outstripped the defence and running in on goal he was flattened just outside the box by the keeper, who had the gloves off ready to leave the park before the referee arrived on the scene.

Archdeacon sent the resultant free-kick over.

Just after the hour Dylan Stevenson bore down on goal coming in from the right but he opted to pass across the six-yard box when the goal seemed at his mercy.

Thistle boss Gavin Friels then made changes to freshen things up. Off went Craig Marshall, Cashmore and Cumming - all within a few minutes with Jordan Stuart, Lawrie and Byrne coming on. This gave Dalry a new impetus.

In quick succession a Stuart shot was saved, Cumming then shot wide and then Archdeacon was one-on-one with the keeper, who saved with his feet.

Three goals in as many minutes then settled the game.

In 75 minutes Stevenson once again came in from the right with the ball at feet and this time his low shot made it 3-1. A break on the left by Byrne was crossed low, but Stevenson could only stretch and put the ball over.

The fourth goal was only delayed by seconds as a pass through the centre of the defence allowed Lawrie to beat the offside trap and slide the ball past the keeper.

Then 60 seconds later it was 5-1. Byrne made a run on the right, a cross to the far post and Stuart buried it low past the keeper.

Dalry then simply saw out the rest of the game, pressing forward but unable to add to their tally.

A well deserved win against a stubborn Muirkirk.

DALRY THISTLE: B Lochhead; Boyd, K Lochhead, Brown, Kirkwood, Lavery, Cumming, Marshall, Cashmore, Stevenson, Archdeacon. Subs. Morrison, Hood, Lawrie, Stuart, Byrne.