Ardrossan Winton Rovers Archive
Season 2004-05
SATURDAY 5TH MARCH 2005
| Muirkirk | 2 |
| Ardrossan Winton Rovers | 2 |
Stagecoach Ayrshire District League
WINTON'S promotion hopes were dealt a further setback as they were knocked off top spot after being held by the East Ayrshire hosts.
I a game played in all weathers a tame opening saw Winton's Stevie Wilson test goalkeeper Robert Best with a header in 19 minutes.
Wilson was then involved in a late challenge on best, but was only spoken to by the referee.
In 21 minutes Muirkirk had their first chance when Orr's corner was headed over by Stuart Campbell.
Eight minutes later controversy raged when Best came out of the box to prevent a Winton break and handled the ball outside his area. The referee only booked the keeper and awarded Winton a free kick which came to nothing. Kirk broke after this and Orr's cross ball was held up in the wind and Scott Crawford managed to head the ball past the post but only just for a corner.
Thirty seconds into the second half Muirkirk took the lead after Connelly completely missed taking a pass allowing Pat Lopez to run in and cross the ball into the feet of Ryan Applyard who had the easiest of tasks to knock the ball past Robertson in the Winton goal.
Winton had a gilt edged chance to level the game in 50 minutes when a Mark McCann pass to Stevie Wilson saw the midfielder in acres of space but his shot went past the upright.
Two minutes later it was 2-0. Another dangerous ball in from the right was not cleared by the defence and Stuart Campbell stuck hos low shot in at the mear post past Robertson.
Winton tried to get back into the game and Wilson again had a chance on the end of a low Clelland cross but Best smothered his effort. Inn57 minutes Winton sent on three substitutes in an effort to get back into the game, off came Connelly, Wilson and Cook and on went Templeton, Harvey and Kerr.
This bold move paid off as Winton went on the offensive and Templeton's curling cross was into the feet of Harvey, but he couldnt get his shot on target. In 67 minutes Templeton dribbled past two players and shot just over the bar.
Winton got back into the game in 76 minutes after a free kick following a foul on Clelland was taken by McCann and his curling shot from 30 yards cannoned off the bar and Scott Weir followed up to nod the loose ball home.
Muirkirk were reduced to 10 men when Flannigan was guilty of hand ball, preventing Kerr getting free on the right. In 81 minutes dominant Winton again came close thanks to the intervention of Templeton who saw a curling shot fly just past the post. Hoot Harvey then came close with a good turn and low shot in at the near post.
The visitors did equalise four minutes from time in somewhat controversial circumstances.
Danny Kerr was fouled outside the box and had to leave the field of play after treatment. Mark McCann took the kick and the ball was cleared by the Kirk defence but only towards the left back position when the referee allowed Kerr to come back onto the pitch and pick up the loose ball. Kerr then delivered a good cross onto the head of Scott Crawford who made no mistake, bulleting the ball past Best for a deserved Winton equaliser. Templeton had a chance to score late on in the game but his effort went wide.
WINTON: S Robertson, Yair, Connelly, McMillan,
Johnstone, McCann,
Clelland, Crawford, Cook, Wilson, Weir.
Subs: Easton, Templeton, Harvey, Kerr, G Robertson.
This match report has been reproduced by kind permission the editor, Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald.