KILWINNING RANGERS 3 WHITLETTS VICTORIA 1 Whitletts promotion hopes are now hanging by a thread after a controversial defeat to league leaders Kilwinning Rangers as two hotly contested red cards, one in each half, dented Vics chances of taking the points. The Buffs made the perfect start, taking the lead inside the first minute when the ball was played into the path of Brian Boylan who fired past Ally McInnes from 18 yards. Kilwinning were looking threatening and were keen to add to their early goal. They went close with an Owen Quigley diving header that flashed inches wide and then when Boylan raced in on goal, McInnes raced off his line and did enough diving at full stretch at the strikers feet to turn the ball behind for a corner, while only a Lee Holland interception denied John Bradford from a Boylan cross. The home side were in control with Whitletts restricted to counter attacks and the visitors hopes were dealt a severe blow in the 16th minute when Ricky Hanvey was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Buffs co-manager Chris Strain. While no doubt it was a foul the decision by referee David McKniff to show a straight red stunned both camps. Kilwinning were in control and it took Vics until the 26th minute to muster their first real attempt on goal when Tony Balfour saw his drive parried by keeper Marc Fisher. The Buffs still had most of the play with the running of Boylan and Dean Agnew in particular causing the Vics defence problems but the visitors, despite being a man short, began to grow in confidence and Gary Russell saw his effort blocked by Fisher as he pounced on some uncertainty in the Buffs defence. Immediately Kilwinning broke upfield and Boylan’s shot through a ruck of players was blocked by McInnes. At the start of the second period again it was the home side who were in the ascendancy and Raymond Buchanan did well to deflect a Bradford shot wide of the target. From the resultant corner kick Quigley headed just over. But again Vics’ weathered the storm and began to test the home defence and in the 56th minute they were back on level terms. As Balfour raced in on goal, keeper Fisher raced from his line and anticipating a lob jumped up into the air but the alert Vics’ striker kept his cool to roll the ball along the ground and into the empty net. That proved to be the end of the game for Balfour who had to go off injured to be replaced by Sean Ewart and within minutes of coming on the youngster broke clear after being released by Michael O’Connor but this time Fisher was equal to the task. Suddenly it was Whitletts who were in control and the league leaders were looking a little ragged. Fisher came to their rescue again to deny O’Connor while Euan Blair headed just wide from a corner kick. At this stage it looked more likely for Vics’ to add to their tally but with 20 minutes remaining came the second real controversial moment of the game. On the break, Kilwinning striker Boylan raced clear only to be impeded outside the box by McInnes as Martin Reynolds swept up. Again no doubt about the award of the free kick but despite the visitors protests that the keeper was not the last man, referee McKniff disagreed and sent the Vics’ keeper for an early bath. Defender Lee Holland went in goal for Whitletts. The Buffs seized their chance and five minutes later they restored their lead when John Brdford stabbed the ball home with Holland at full stretch. Any hopes Vics’ had of salvaging a point were ended in the 79th minute when from a corner kick Boyland saw his header go in off the post. It was all Kilwinning now and Holland did well to tip over an Isaac Kerr header while the big stand in keeper also had to bravely race off his line and dive at the feet of Calvin Kemp to deny the striker which saw both players require treatment. A cruel outcome for a gallant Vics’ side who showed the desire and commitment to compete against all the odds against the divisions top side but who travelled back to Ayr with nothing to show for their efforts. Kilwinning Rangers 1. Fisher 2. Weir 3. Fleeting 4. Kerr 5. McGowan 6. Strain 7. Agnew 8. Maitland 9. Boylan 10. Bradford (Wallace 81) 11. Quigley (Kemp 56) Subs (not used) 12. Stewart 16. Wilson Whitletts Victoria 1. McInnes 2. Reynolds 3. Blair 4. Buchanan 5. Holland 6. Russell (Nimmo 84) 7. Kerr 8. Hanvey 9. Wilson 10. Balfour (Ewart 56) 11. O’Conner Subs (not used) 15. Longair Referee: David McKniff
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 18:32:00 +0000
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