McBookie Ayrshire District League

ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS 2

ANNBANK UNITED 2

IMPROVING Bankies secured a battling point away to a Winton side whose promotion hopes are fading fast.

Bankies fielded some new signings, while former captain Ryan Caddis was on the bench for Winton.

The first action saw a Tam Jamieson cross, following a short corner on the stand side, headed off the line. Andy Hainey was then booked for a foul on Marc Davidson in five minutes and was quickly followed into the referee’s book for a similar foul on Thomas Donovan by Grant Kirkland. In between the bookings Bryan Tucker made the first of several good saves from a Daniel Wilson shot.

Lewis Blair then shot wide in 10 minutes before the home side had their first real attempt in 15 minutes when the ball was played to Jamie McKenna about 12 yards out and he turned a shot but Marc Fisher in the visitor’s goal blocked the ball with his feet.

In 22 minutes there was another chance for Rovers when a long throw-in from Marc Davidson ran through to McKenna in the box and he turned and shot and although this was blocked by Fisher the ball rebounded to the striker but his mis-hit second attempt went through to the Bankies keeper.

Rovers got the opening goal in 25 minutes when the ball broke to Lee Davidson on the right corner of the box and he hit a first time shot into the net.

The next 10 minutes were to prove crucial. Firstly David Orr and United centre half Jordan Drummond went for the ball inside the box and both went down and stayed down, stopping the game while they received treatment. Both players were unable to continue and after were helped off the pitch on the half hour. Caddis replaced David Orr and Euan Smith replaced Drummond. Five minutes later Steven Tan went into what looked an innocuous tackle on the edge of the United box not long after Rovers had a shout for a penalty when McKenna appeared to have been sent flying as he went for a ball. To everyone’s amazement and anger from Winton the referee sent off Tan, leaving them 55 minutes to play with 10 men.

With half-time approaching Bryan Tucker saved with his feet then caught the loose ball following a shot from Dillan Dunn in 40 minutes but the same netted a minute later when Tucker could only palm a dangerous cross out as far as Dunn who fired home. Then a poor defensive header fell to Daniel Wilson who made no mistake to send Annbank in 2-1 up at half-time.

Winton had the first real chance of the second half when Fisher saved a Thomas Donovan shot in 50 minutes and five minutes later equalised when good work inside the United box to keep possession and with Fisher out of position Marc Davidson netted in 55 minutes. On the hour Fisher could only punch the ball out to Andy Irvine on the edge of the box but the substitute’s effort was tipped over the bar by the keeper. It was almost 3-2 to Annbank in 65 minutes when Bryan Tucker saved well with his feet from Dunn before Andy McGregor cleared.

It should have been 3-2 a minute later whe McKenna was through one- on-one with Fisher, who saved with his feet before the danger was cleared. Rovers were piling on the pressure often with all 11 Annbank players in their box for set-pieces and looking to hit on the break and in 70 minutes Lee Sloan hit a free-kick over the bar. Caddis had a great chance to cap his return with a goal and to save the game on 80 minutes but he shot narrowly. Lee Davidson had the last real chance for Rovers in 85 minutes but his shot went over the bar.

ARDROSSAN WR: Tucker; Davidson, Slavin, McGregor, Cairnie, Tan, Davidson, McKenna, Orr. Subs: Caddis, Irvine, Muir, Lennox, McMahon.

ANNBANK UNITED: Fisher; Hainey; Sloan, Kirkland, Drummond, Sloan, Barrett, Blair, Stevenson, Dunn, Wilson. Subs: Ross, Smith, Taylor, Harris, Gray.