McBookie Ayrshire District League

ARDEER THISTLE 1

DALRY THISTLE 3

WITH Merksworth Park waterlogged, this match was switched to Recreation Park.

And it took a second half comeback from Dalry who played for 50 minutes with 10 men, to earn all three points.

Dalry started on the front foot and in only three minutes a Mark Archdeacon shot was well saved for a corner. From the corner Anderson sent a shot over from the edge of the box.

In seven minutes a Dylan Stevenson cross from the right caused problems for the Ardeer defence and the ball was eventually bundled for a corner. From the set-piece. Ryan Cummings shot wide.

Archdeacon then crossed to Ian Cashmore, who headed wide.

In 15 minutes Cummings was in on goal but Paul McCann pulled off another fine save. From the resultant corner a Jordan Stuart header was well saved.

Stevenson sent a cross beyond the far post, as Dalry continued pushing forward.

It took Ardeer until 38 minutes to have their first attempt on goal, a weak shot which was easily saved.

However the game took a turn in 40 minutes. Kennedy chased a long ball, clearly offside, but the referee allowed play to continue. Brown caught up with Kennedy at the edge of the box, but clipped his heels and down he went. The referee flashed the red card. Kennedy took the kick which went low through the wall and into the corner of the net to give Ardeer a surprise lead. And Kennedy had the chance to repeat it a minute into first half stoppage time, but the was blocked by the wall.

Whatever Dalry boss Gavin Friels said at half time worked because Dalry came out with their sleeves rolled up ready to take the game to Ardeer. A tactical switch saw Cummings make way for Craig Marshall, to shore up the defence.

Anderson created a chance for himself by leaving four players trailing but again McCann saved the shot.

Dalry were level in 58 minutes when full back Kyle Lochhead curled a 30 yard free-kick into the top corner.

Lochhead got his second from a corner which he headed in off the underside of the crossbar.

Dalry replaced Archdeacon and Cashmore with Burns and Lawrie, and this gave the Ardeer defence fresh problems.

In 80 minutes Lawrie cut in from the left and was pulled down inside the box, right on the bye line. There was only going to be one person to take the kick and Lochhead made no mistake from the spot for his hat trick to make it 3-1. With five minutes left, Stevenson tried a chip over the keeper but the ball went wide.

Dalry were reduced to nine men in 88 minutes when Stuart picked up a second yellow for an innocent clip of the heels.

Ardeer pushed, but Dalry safely saw out the game.

ARDEER THISTLE: McCann, McKay, Donnelly, Holden, Robertson, Kennedy, Reid, Sewell, Turner, Bruce, Kean, Niamey, Wilson, Patterson, Maxwell, Thomson.

DALRY THSTLE: B Lochhead, Lavery, K Lochhead, Stuart, Kirkwood, Brown, Stevenson, Anderson, Cashmore, Archdeacon, Cummings. Subs, Burns, Lawrie, Marshall, McGowan, Fleeting.