18 Apr 2008 - Winton win Cup thriller
Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup 2nd Round
Dalry Thistle 3 – 3 Ardrossan Winton Rovers
(Winton won 4 – 3 on penalties)
Photos at www.flickr.com/photos/wintonrovers/
Winton progressed into the last eight of this competition with a win over local rivals Dalry which was decided in the evening gloom with a dramatic penalty shoot out.
Winton took the game to Dalry and McAvoy was first to show with a low shot that he pulled past the post after 4 minutes. David Wilson pushed down the right and fired in a good cross on 6 minutes for Muir but he miss cued and the ball went wide. Monan got free on 10 minutes to fire in a good shot that Donohoe parried but McAvoy couldn’t capitalise but the good start that Winton had was merited by a goal on 11 minutes when Wilson again ran at the Dalry defence and this time cracked in a great left foot shot from the edge of the box past the Dalry keeper. Winton couldn’t hold onto their lead again and Murphy got free on the right in 15 minutes and he sent in a low dangerous cross in at the near post and McNally was brave to dive in and head the ball home. Winton pushed on after this set back but the next chance came to Dalry when McNally got down the right and cut the ball back looking for Kevin Crawford but O’Neill smothered his cut back. Winton passed up a chance on 40 minutes when McAvoy burrowed into the box and he knocked the ball to Gallagher whose shot was brilliantly saved by Donohoe and from the clearance, McNally ran at the Winton defence but was denied a shot by a fantastic challenge by Graham Muir tracking back. Paul Monan was unlucky on 42 minutes when he drifted in from the right side and hit a low left foot shot that just drifted past the right post. Dalry got off to a good start after the interval and McNally’s cross on 47 minutes saw O’Neill save at the feet of Murphy. The home side’s good start saw Jamieson launch himself at an O’Mally cross but couldn’t get it on target. Dalry took the lead on 54 minutes when what looked like an innocuous cross from Murphy towards the back post saw a hesitant Winton defence allow McNally to steal in and hook the ball into the net. On 58 minutes the Rovers looked vulnerable again when Crawford got to the bye line and cut the ball back but Milliken cleared just in time. Milliken won Winton a free kick on 61 minutes saw John Gallagher fire in a free kick from the corner of the box and the ball went under the Dalry keeper to give the Ardrossan side the equaliser. But again holding on to a lead proved to be an issue for the Winton and Dalry went 3 – 2 ahead on 64 minutes when a miss clearance from the head of Milliken saw Murphy control the ball turn and shoot all in one movement placing the ball low into the corner of the net. Fortunately for the neutrals this game wasn’t over and Winton threw caution to the wind to try and get on level terms and on 80 minutes Scott Adam saw an effort put over the bar after good interplay amongst the Winton players. Winton pushed the home side back and Donohoe stopped a good effort by Gallagher on 82 minutes but Winton equalised with 4 minutes to go when Scott Adam headed home at the near post. Into penalties and up stepped Dalry’s Rae first of all who skied his over the bar. Paul Brown dispatched his to give the Rovers the advantage. McMeeking levelled with his effort but Colin Frye produced a ridiculous effort trying to chip the keeper but only succeeded in chipping it into the grounded goalie’s hands. Willie Hutson put Dalry back in front before Muir put away a fine effort to make it 2 each after three penalties each. Tony McCann skied Dalry’s forth effort with the ball landing on a roof outside the park before Mark McCann restored the advantage to the Ardrossan side. Paul Murphy scored to try and pressurise McAvoy who took Winton’s final and decisive penalty but he made no mistake meaning Winton move into the quarter finals.
Dalry Thistle
Donohoe, O’Mally, Crawford, McMeeking, Jamieson, Tait, Rae, McCann, McNally, Murphy, Graham.
Subs Hutson, Prow, Hunter
Ardrossan Winton Rovers
O’Neill,
Subs Paton, Shanks, Davidson, Patterson, McCann
Referee : S.McMillan