Saturday 19th July 2008 Pre season Friendly
Ardrossan Winton Rovers 2 – 2
Wellington Recreation
Photos at www.flickr.com/photos/wintonrovers/
European football arrived at
Winton
Park on Saturday with the arrival of
Wellington Recreation who are the Junior equivalents over in
Northern Ireland.
Winton got out of the traps fairly quickly going down the slope against their
opponents but there was no real clear cut chances in the early phase of this
game. David Wilson went on a typical
burst from full back before threading a nice ball through to Muir who fired in
a low cross that McAvoy sent goalwords but Quinn tipped his shot past the post
in 7 minutes. The Rec claimed a penalty
in 12 minutes after their No 9 went down under pressure from
Wilson but nothing was forthcoming. Another half chance went the way of the Irish
lads but the striker pulled his shot at the near post. Winton created a couple of great chances
around the quarter hour mark when John Gallagher sent in a couple of great
crosses but Adam couldn’t quite get the finish. As the game progressed the Ulstermen got more of the ball without being
too threatening but on 24 minutes they went ahead when a quick break on the
right saw the ball cut back to Andy Bell who knocked the ball past O’Neill to
give the visitors the lead. Winton were still threatening but they really
couldn’t find the killer touch and on 28 minutes Milliken shot over from
distance. The game was competitive and a
strong challenge by Brown on 35 minutes raised the heat in this game but it
quickly settled after this. Graeme
Hamilton came on for the Rovers and on 38 minutes he saw the keeper deny him
his debut goal. The better chances were going the Rovers’ way and McAvoy got a
stinging drive into the hands of Quinn. On 70 minutes Gallagher again put in a
couple of crosses in quick succession to the head of Scott Adam but the keeper
was grateful that the ball was straight at him. Gallagher did get the equaliser on 72 minutes when Paul Monan floated in
a good cross and after
Hamilton
challenged for it the loose ball fell to Gallagher who volleyed home from 15
yards. Adam set up Monan on 74 minutes
with a good cross but Monan’s effort was cleared off the line. Winton entered the last period with more in
the tank than their Irish opponents and Adam saw his chip go agonisingly wide
of the post with 10 minutes to go.
Hamilton
got his goal that his impressive debut deserved when he tapped home after more
Winton pressure. Wellington passed up a
chance when McGuire stole in between two defenders to head just past but the
Rec equalised on 90 minutes when slackness in defence saw O’Neill pull off a
couple of brilliant stops but McGuire knocked the loose ball home to give the
visitors an equaliser.
Winton
O’Neill,
Wilson, Milliken,
Brown,
Easton,
Muir, Patterson, Frye, McAvoy, Adam, Gallagher
Subs Stewart, Paton, Monan,
Houston,
Hamilton
Wellington
Recreation
Quinn, Adair, Nelson, McGuire, Kane, Devine, Curneen,
O’Neill,
Bell, McAllister, Todd, Cahoon,
Crawford,
Shannon
Ref S.MacMillan