15 Mar 2008 - Winton pick up the points at Rosebank Park

Stagecoach Ayrshire District League                 Saturday 15^th March 2008

Lugar Boswell Thistle 0 – 2 Ardrossan Winton Rovers

Despite Winton’s long lay off due to the weather, their league campaign got a boost with a well deserved win at Lugar. The pitch was heavy and passed a morning pitch inspection but although it looked as if it would cut up badly, the rain stayed away and held out. Lugar’s Michael Fulton looked lively after 5 minutes and his run and shot was blocked bravely by Paul Brown at the edge of the Winton box.  Winton’s Muir and McAvoy linked well on the right a minute after this and McAvoy’s shot was saved by Gall in the Lugar goal.  Gary Davidson fired in a great shot after getting on the end of a cut back on 7 minutes but Gall pulled off a good stop again.  McAvoy had a run from the right and cut in but skewed his shot past the near post on 10 minutes. 

The Rovers were passing up a few chances and after a corner from Davidson was knocked back to the young striker his cross was met by Paul Brown but it cannoned off his shin and went over the bar. On 14 minutes the best Winton chance so far came when a deep cross from the left from Mark McCann was met at the back post by Alan Shanks and he saw his header parried onto the post by Gall before the Lugar defence cleared.  Lugar got a chance to trouble the Winton defence when Campbell McCluskie pulled his shot past the post.  Winton kept up the pressure and a series of efforts saw Wilson go close and Gall looked lively to tip a low drive past the post for a corner.  Lugar’s chances were fleeting at this stage and Mark Morrison hit a good dipping volley from the edge of the 18 yard box just past the post.  McCluskie saw a free kick from 35 yards out curl past the post but Winton were still on top and John Gallagher on 40 minutes picked the ball up on the left and ran at the Lugar defence before managing to get on target but under pressure from the home side defenders. 

In the second half again Lugar started brightly and Morrison saw a shot in at the near post saved well by Colin Robertson.  Winton then started to re- assert their first half pressure and on 54 minutes Davidson ran at the Thistle defence before flicking the ball wide to McAvoy and his shot was tipped past the far post by Gall.  On the hour mark McAvoy and Muir combined well again on the right although this time it was Muir who fired in the shot that was saved.  Substitute Scott Adam got on the end of a 3 on 3 breakaway by Winton but his shot from the left channel was again well saved by Gall.  The goal that Winton’s play deserved came on 68 minutes when Adam ran at the Lugar defence before sending Muir free on the right and his inch perfect cross was met by the head of McAvoy at the back post to score a well worked goal.  Lugar only really came to life after going a goal down and on 77 minutes they came close to getting on level terms when a free kick on the edge of the box was taken by Morrison but he saw the ball come off the woodwork and the Rovers’ keeper smothered the follow up.  Lugar had another chance to get the equaliser on 80 minutes when Robertson blocked a point blank range effort from Gary Grossart inside the 6 yard box. 

Winton sealed the game in 85 minutes when Jamie Paton, who had just come on, forced his way down the right to send in a great cross to Scott Adam who tucked the ball past Gall to give Winton a deserved victory. 

Lugar Boswell Thistle

Gall, Doolan, McDonald, McCluskie, Baird, Mulgrew, Cameron, McMahon, Fulton, Morrison, Auld.

Subs Dunlop, Grossart, Storrie, Fraser

Ardrossan Winton Rovers

Robertson, Wilson , McCann, Brown, Easton , Shanks, Muir, Frye, McAvoy, Davidson, Gallagher

Subs Patterson, Monan, Adam, Paton, Milliken

Ref C.Brawls