Ardrossan Winton Rovers Archive
Perfect Ten for Meadow
| Irvine Meadow | 3 |
| Ardrossan Winton Rovers | 2 |
Stagecoach Ayrshire District League
MIGHTY Meadow made it a perfect ten out of ten league victories to edge ever closer to the title but were pushed all the way by wily Winton, who gave them a much tougher work out than anticipated.
Sometimes in sport on your way to claiming the top prizes you have to win ugly, thumping victories can't simply be attained every week and Meadow certainly did this. And while sometimes they were not at their best in front of goal the three points and 30 out of 30 are ultimately all that matter when the statistics are analysed.
Derek Frye's troops deserved plaudits for a gritty, battling performance which illustrated that the bargain basement visitors were not overawed by money bags Meadow and at times, especially in the second half, gave as good as they got.
But you have to take your hat off at the home side's slick and stylish passing movement and their control of the ball in midfield as well as their unflinching resolve and self belief.
The hosts, as expected began strongly and made the breakthrough in 15 minutes when a rasping John McDonald shot from the edge of the 18 yard box appeared to take a slight deflection off strikeforce partner Ryan Davidson although the former claimed credit for the goal.
Three minutes later Gareth Turner swung a precision cross into the box and ex-Ayr United man John Nolan shot narrowly over the bar from 16 yards. As the home side continued to exert their authority, a Ryan Davidson header from a Ritchie Newall cross was skilfully saved by visiting number one Robert McGoogan. Craig Baxter then sent a pass in the direction of Billy Mason, but McGoogan dived to save at his feet from just inside the box.
Winton had a great chance in 29 minutes as an ambitious 30 yard drive from Scott Clelland produced a top drawer save from Michael Wardrope, who had little to do up until this point.
Then back at the other end Craig Baxter glanced just wide from close to goal after just getting his foot to a Newall free kick.
However three minutes after the break a wonder goal helped fired up Winton, who were a team transformed under Frye, get back on level terms. Debut boy Colin Frye, stepbrother of the manager, smashed home a shot into the top corner from 16 yards. The loss of a goal only served to spur on Meadow and they came close three minutes later as Nolan threaded through a pass to Joe Gold to shoot high and wide from 14 yards.
In 55 minutes Meadow restored their advantage as Turner swung a cross into the box and Joe Gold crashed the ball home from 16 yards.
This was now an absorbing battle of wills and determined Winton levelled for a second time four minutes later, Scott Crawford thundering a 30 yard free kick beyond Wardrope and into the net.
As Meadow went all out for a third goal Nolan ballooned a free kick high and wide from 20 yards out in 65 minutes. In 70 minutes club captain Alan McTurk made his first appearance in three months after recovering from ankle ligament damage, replacing Kenny Gillies.
In 75 minutes, Turner's effort from eight yards was deflected wide by the visitors' defence. A minute later Davidson sent a shot across the face of goal from 16 yards. Ten minutes from time Davidson was bundled down inside the box by Billy Easton, who was booked for the foul with Clelland cautioned for dissent. And referee Robert Madden rightly pointed to the spot, from where Davidson cooly converted to make it 3-2.
Right on full time a bullet from 20 yards by Newall was clawed out of the air by McGoogan and Meadow held on to register yet another win.
Irvine Meadow: Wardrope, Mason, Noble, Gillies, Baxter,
Nolan,
Gold, Turner, McDonald, Davidson, Newall.
Subs: McTurk, Gallagher, Robison, Adams, Ferris.
WINTON: McGoogan, Robertson, Taggart, Crawford, Easton,
Madden,
Clelland, Frye, Shanks, Fraser, Quinn.
Subs: McNab, Gray, Cook, Connelly.
This match report has been reproduced by kind permission the editor, Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald.