McBookie Ayrshire District League

DALRY THISTLE 3

IRVINE VICTORIA 0

VICS saw their title hopes dented by a dominant Dalry side who scored all their goals in the first half.

Both teams made a lively start and it was Vics who had the first chance. A low cross went across the face of the goal and David Adams got to the ball at the far post only three yards. However Anderson was in the right place to black the chance.

After this it was Dalry who imposed themselves on the game.

In only eight minutes they took the lead. A passing move from Ian Cashmore to Jamie Anderson to Kyle Cumming, who picked his spot from 15 yards.

A free-kick to Dalry saw a header from Jordan Stuart fall for Cashmore, but his shot was too high.

Cashmore then had a shot blocked

In 16 minutes it was 2-0 with the simplest of goals. From a corner-kick on the right, Stuart rose to head into the net.

Vics created a scramble in the Dalry penalty area but the ball was cleared for a corner.

Thistle pushed forward again and visiting defender Paul Young put in a great tackle to deny Cashmore.

Vics had a free-kick which was sent into the box by Callum Davidson, but it was cleared for a corner.

Dalry made it 3-0 in 35 minutes. Mark Archdeacon left his marker for dead at the halfway line and ran on to score from the edge of the box.

Thistle now looked well on top but Vics had a chance from a free-kick which saw Blair Lochhead save from Parris.

Before half-time Cumming had a chance for Dalry but shot over the bar. Davidson then sent a 30 yard free kick over and Cumming again who sent a tempting ball across the face of the goal.

There is no doubt Dalry went in the happier side at the break.

Vics had to try to push forward to try and salvage something and they created a problem for Dalry early doors, but the ball was scrambled clear.

In 50 minutes Dalry had to reshuffle when Cashmore pulled up and was replaced by Robert Boyd.

Fraser sent a clever pass over the defence for McLaughlin but his cross was weak with Cumming waiting unmarked.

The second half wasn’t living up to the excitement of the first but a melee broke out in 63 minutes with most of the players involved. The referee seemed to pick Stuart and Davidson at random to administer yellow cards.

Both sides made changes with Cunningham, Adams and Mears making way for Eddie Ablorh, Kevin Adam and McEvoy, and Dalry replacing McLaughlin and Lochhead with Collins and Hood.

Chances were few but Archdeacon supplied Anderson, whose shot went wide, and at the other end a free-kick saw a good defensive header from Kirkwood.

Cumming was the provider for Anderson but goalkeeper Chris Lamb did enough to block the shot.

Vics did push everything forward towards the end and from a corner, a Kenny Parris header went over. Then a long ball forward saw a shot from Parris saved for a corner. There was to be no consolation for the visitors.

An important win for Dalry who keep their title hopes alive and put a dent in the Vics hopes. However on this evidence, these teams both look like they will gain promotion.

DALRY THISTLE: B Lochhead; Burns, K Lochhead, Brown, Kirkwood, Anderson, McLaughlin, Stuart, Cashmore, Cummings, Archdeacon. Subs, Collins, Hood, Boyd, Turner, Fisher.

IRVINE VICTORIA: Lamb, Smith, Longair, Wilson, Young, Wilson, Mears, Davidson, Parris, Adams, Cunningham. Subs, Bonner, Adam, Ablorh, McEvoy.