Kilbirnie Ladeside are held by Cumnock

CUMNOCK 1

KILBIRNIE LADESIDE 1

LADESIDE and Cumnock shared the points in a very even game played in blustery and freezing conditions at Valefield Park.

It was the hosts who made the most of an early chance as they went in front after only 11 minutes. A quick free-kick by Jim Anderson to Crerand was flicked on for MacKinnon on the left hand side and his low cross into the box mas met by Jon Scullion who hit a low shot past Semple into the net. A few minutes later, David Crerand played the ball onto Scullion who fired in a shot from the right edge of the box but Ally Semple made an easy save.

Cumnock had their first real effort on goal after 18 mins when Hilton hit a shot from 20 yards which bounced just in front of Kieran Hughes but he got down well to turn the ball away at his right hand post.

In 25 minutes, a mix-up in the Ladeside defence let in Keir Samson but Hughes was equal to his effort on goal. Scullion then whipped a cross into the Cumnock box which fell to Finlay 14 yards out but his shot was deflected wide of the target for a corner to the hosts which Scullion swung into the middle but Dominic McLaren headed wide. Good closing down by James Finlay won the ball from the Cumnock defence and he laid the ball off to Scullion who slipped it into the path of Kurtis Roberts but his shot from the edge of the box was tipped over by Semple. The last chance of the half fell to Cumnock after a free-kick into the box by Jamie Ballantyne was headed clear the ball fell to Stephen McKenna but his effort from distance went well over.

Cumnock started brightly at the start of the second half and some good play found Burns on the edge of the box but curling effort went wide. Some good inter play in midfield by Anderson and Roberts set up Williamson but he dragged his shot across goal and wide. Cumnock drew level on 62 mins when a long ball forward wasn't cleared and the ball fell kindly for Paul Burns, who fired a shot from 20 yards past Hughes into the bottom right corner of the net.

Ladeside looked to hit back and Roberts found Finlay on the left and he cut inside before firing in a shot which was well saved by Semple. Scullion then had a chance receiving the ball and driving forward before firing an effort from 25 yards just wide of the post. MacKinnon came close in 75 minutes when a cross-cum shot was caught by the wind and just went over the bar.The last real chance fell to the visitors when a ball forward found Andy Muir on the run but his shot from 20 yards was easily saved by Hughes.

KILBIRNIE LADESIDE: K Hughes; C Hughes, MacKinnon, Roberts, O'Byrne, McLaren, Williamson, Anderson, Finlay, Crerand

Scullion. Subs: McGill, Sweeney, Juskowiak, Halliday, Wilton.

CUMNOCK: Semple; Wood, Ballantyne, Lundie, Murray, Crawford, Samson, Esplin, Burns, McKenna, Hilton Subs: Anson, Muir, Martin, McKenzie, Johnson.