THIS was a superb advert for Ayrshire football with promotion favourites Buffs edging it.

Kilwinning got off to the best possible start by taking the lead within three minutes. New signing and former Ayr United man John Bradford took a loose ball at the edge of the box and drove home to give the visitors an early lead.

In nine minutes a low shot from the edge of the box from Anderson tested Hewitt who made the save.

Three minutes later Hislop was the supplier for Jamie Boyle who shot wide, and this was the trigger for a good spell of Dalry pressure.

Singleton robbed Weir and cut in from the left but sent his shot wide. Then a Laughlin shot was deflected over the bar.

With 19 minutes gone a header from Ryan Singleton looked goalbound until it hit his own player Calder and despite Calder then getting a foot to the ball, it was cleared.

Buffs had a chance when a close range shot from Ben Lewis was saved for a corner.

In 24 minutes, Dalry had a chance to draw level. A corner was swung in and in a crowded box the referee gave a penalty for pushing. Jamie Boyle took the kick, low and hard to the keepers right, but Marc Fisher, who had been out on loan to Dalry earlier in the season, pulled off a fine save.

A weak shot from Chris Strain Jnr caused no problems for Dalry, before a shot from Agnew was well saved.

Kilwinning then played in a free-kick low to the near post and a cheeky flick from Lewis and Hewitt had to be alert to make the save.

Back came Dalry and Singleton held off two challenges before firing in a shot which was saved.

Seconds later Laughlin took advantage of a poor clearance, ran on to the edge of the box but Fisher pulled off another fine save at the expense of a corner.

Kilwinning took a short free-kick and when it was played into the box Agnew was under the ball and the danger passed.

A shot from Strain then went over, then a low cross was dealt with by the Dalry defence.

Just before the break a free-kick to the Buffs some 30 yards out was fired into the wall and the ball was cleared.

So, half time and nothing in it apart from the early goal which gave Kilwinning a lead of 1 - 0.

In 49 minutes home player boss Gavin Friels was the provider for Singleton whose shot was blocked and then a shot from Laughlin was missed.

Dalry looked to be in danger when Calder was robbed but Strain sent his shot wide.

With 54 minutes on the watch Lewis found a bit of space through the middle and his shot brought out a save from Hewitt.

Dalry were now pressing looking for the equaliser and firstly it was a shot from Friels which was saved, then Laughlin got in behind the defence, but again Fisher blocked the shot with a fine save.

Dalry then broke quickly from defence and a Boyle shot went wide.

Kilwinning were awarded a free kick when both players were pulling at shirts. The kick was cleared by Dalry but when the ball was played back in it had to be touched over for a corner by Hewitt Despite Dalry having the edge on play it was Kilwinning who doubled their lead on 73 minutes.

A powerful shot from Agnew could only be parried away by Hewitt and the loose ball bounced up just nice for Chris McGowan to header into the net to make it 2-0.

Dalry were still searching and asking questions of the Buffs and they got a reward in 81 minutes when a pass split the Buffs defence and Singleton took the ball and calmly slotted it into the net for 2 - 1.

It was mostly Dalry pressure after that with the nearest chance falling to Calder who shot over.

As the final whistle blew you could hear the sigh of relief from the Kilwinning bench.

Dalry possibly deserved the draw, but if they can play like this every week they will not be far away.

DALRY THISTLE: Hewitt; J Friels, Guinea, Toland, Friel, Calder, Hislop, Lockhart, Singleton, Jamie Boyle, Loughlin; Subs, Hyslop, G Friels, Jason Boyle, Halliday.

KILWINNING RANGERS: Fisher; Weir, Fleeting, Kerr, McGowan, Maitland, Agnew, Strain, Bradford, Lewis, Anderson. Subs Stewart, Quigley, Hart, Kemp, McMaster.s For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.