Ardrossan Winton Rovers Archive
Winton bow out
| Hurlford United | 3 |
| Ardrossan Winton Rovers | 2 |
Stagecoach Ayrshire League
The first meeting of these two clubs in eight years saw the home team take the points in a game where Winton twice took the lead but ultimately couldn't hold onto it.
The Ford took the game to their visitors early in the game playing up the slope and against the wind in the ifrst half and on five minutes Tony Murphy saw his low shot blocked on the edge of the box. Gary Russell's free kick after nine minutes took a deflection off Hart but the ball landed safely in the arms of Robertson in the Winton goal.
Winton's first real effort came on 13 minutes whena cross ball from the right was laid off by Gallagher to Muir but his left foot strike was saved by Allan Smith in the Ford goal. Scott Adam collected a loose ball from Crawford three minutes later and had a go from 20 yards but the ball went past the left hand post.
There was plenty of action early on and Robertson did well to go well to go low at his near post from a shot by Murphy.
Gallagher set up Adam with a chance on 24 minutes but the stiker's effort skewed past the far post.
Rovers took the lead in 26 minutes when a long throw in from the left by Milliken was flicked into the box and McAvoy scored with an overhead kick from 12 yards.
However 'Ford quickly levelled when a simple ball through the middle saw Derek Rae score with a low shot from just inside the box.
The game was quite even at this stage with some half chances falling to either side. Winton started the second half chances falling to either side. Winton started the second half well and a good move saw Graeme Patterson get on the end of a cut back but there wasn't enough power in his shot to trouble Smith.
Gallagher cut in from the left on 50 minutes and he got a curling shot that was deflected out for a corner as Winton began to push on. McAvoy got free on 53 minutes but Smith got out to block his effort.
The goal that the Rovers pressure deserved came in 54 minutes when another move on the right saw the ball cut back to Patterson who in turn squared the ball for Milliken to sidefoot home from 12 yards out.
Ford get an equaliser two minutes later but only after Winton got away with a miraculous clearance off the goal line and the ball eventually came to Burgess who fired in a low shot that Robertson could only parry and the loose ball fell nicely to the feet of Hart who tucked the ball home.
Robertson kept Winton in the game in 58 minutes when he produced a brilliant stop at the feet of Lawless at the back post when it looked easier for the number six to score. Patterson then found Muir whose shot was tipped round the post by Smith.
The winner came in 67 minutes, courtesy of a slip by Winton when a throw out to Patterson was intercepted by Crawford and he ran in on goal and forced a save from the Rovers keeper but the loose ball this time was picked up by McGregor who scored from six yards.
Gallagher's close control and running saw him force another decent stop from Smith on 75 minutes as Winton tried to claw their way back.
David Craig got in on goal but Robertson again saved and a minute later the Hurlford defence was opened up but the resultant effort from Davidson saw the ball loop over the bar.
Winton pushed on leaving some gaps at the back and a free kick to 'Ford on the edge of the box saw Robertson tip over Rae's curling effort with two minutes left.
WINTON: Robertson, Wilson, Milliken, Brown, Easton,
Muir,
Patterson, Frye, McAvoy, Adam, Gallagher.
Subs: McCann, Davidson, Paton, Cook.
This match report has been reproduced by kind permission the editor, Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald.