JUNIOR FOOTBALL

McBookie Premiership

TROON 1

BEITH 2

BATTLING Beith deservedly took the points from this league encounter at Portland Park (see picture).

However the scoreline doesn’t reflect the visitors’ dominance against a team desperate for points. After a low key opening from both sides Beith gradually took control and they swept into the lead in seven minutes when, after winning several corners, Keir Milliken got in first at the near post to head home an inviting Darren Ramsay delivery. The visitors continued to dominate with Joe Bradley and Darren Christie causing problems down the flanks. Troon goalie Scott Johnstone made a fine save to touch a Milliken shot over the bar before Beith went 2-0 up in 21 minutes with a brilliant individual goal. Midfielder Paul Frize won possession on the halfway line and immediately drove forward and sped past four players before shooting confidently past Darren Johnstone. More goals looked on the cards with Troon struggling to stem the tide and Johnstone turned away a Darren Christie netbound shot. The hosts were handed a lifeline when nothing more than a hopeful ball upfield from Jack Sherrie fell between defender Kevin Green and Beith keeper Stephen Grindlay, neither took responsibility and Dylan Pooler gratefully shot home. The pattern changed little after the restart with Beith retaining possession but failing to overcome a stout defence. Troon continued to be unable to trouble the Beith defence and apart from retrieving the ball from his net in the first half, visiting keeper Stephen Grindlay remained a virtual spectator.

BEITH: Grindlay; McGinchey, Docherty, Green, Sheridan, Wilson, Ramsay, Frize, Milliken, Bradley, Christie. Subs: Fisher, McIlroy, McMahon, McKenzie, Noble.