McBookie Ayrshire District League

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 5

ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS 3

STRUGGLING Winton suffered their seventh league defeat of the season in a game which proved to be manager Bryan Slavin's last in charge.

The boss quit on Monday night after being left at his wit's end following another dismal display.

Playing with a fierce wind at their backs, Winton put the pressure on the home defence from the start and Larry McMahon had two good efforts blocked then cleared within two minutes.

Despite the conditions, both teams were serving up an entertaining match and Chris Vance brought out a good save from keeper Bryan Tucker.

Winton had the edge on chances created but it was Vance who gave Thistle the lead in 25 minutes. He latched on to a poor clearance following a corner before curling a shot from the edge of the box which gave Tucker no chance.

Lugar had the ball in the net again minutes later but it was ruled out for offside before there was almost a repeat performance from Vance when he intercepted a ball, but shot past the post.

Rovers equalised in 36 minutes when Thomas Donovan squared a ball to Jamie McKenna, who scored from 15 yards. They then took the lead two minutes later when Thomas Donovan fired the ball into the roof of the net.

In the first action of the second period, Donovan was caught offside before the visiting keeper denied two decent attempts on goal.

But he was helpless in 54 minutes when Jamie Conn equalised after a long throw in had caused chaos in the visiting defence.

Tucker once again performed heroics but could not prevent the strike from Conn and it was all square again — but only for 10 minutes.

The match took another twist when Jordan Cairnie took advantage of hesitancy in the back four and got between two defenders to head home a corner for 3-2.

Lugar were making better use of the strong wind at their backs than Winton had done in the first half and they equalised again when Tucker failed to gather the ball from a corner and danger man Vance levelled the match yet again.

Two minutes later it was 4-3 when a poor clearance came to Ross Ballantyne who made no mistake with his shot. The home side continued to press and Tucker made a good save in 83 minutes from Conn.

It was 5-3 two minutes later when a Winton move broke down and Thistle broke down the right and Ballantyne hammered home a spectacular shot.

Winton finished with 10 men when Alan Muir was shown a second yellow card in the closing stages.

ARDROSSAN WR: Tucker; Ashe, Davidson, Cairnie, Irvine, Muir, Tan, McMahon, McKenna, Donovan, Laughlin. Subs: McGregor, Lennox, Lynsey, McCann.