Saturday 16th August 2008 Ardagh Cup Section 1
Ardrossan Winton Rovers 1 – 3 Largs Thistle
Photos at www.flickr.com/photos/wintonrovers/
Largs boosted their chances of qualifying from the section
with this win at
Winton
Park. The hosts were a bit muted with their
performance after a good showing against Kilwinning yet it was the Rovers who
took advantage of some shaky early defending from Largs when Adam got an effort
on target in 2 minutes that Connick did well to save. Largs went 1 – 0 up on 10 minutes when a free
kick on the edge of the box was awarded and Thomas Molloy struck the free kick
through the wall and past O’Neill to give the visitors the lead. Stephen Reid hit back for the Winton cutting
in from the right and tried to beat Connick at his near post but the Largs
keeper saved. Largs showed their
attacking threat on 26 minutes when McClure ran at the home defence and
eventually picked out McCabe who forced a great diving save from O’Neill. Barnes got clear on the half hour mark
despite looking offside but O’Neill tipped his attempted chip past the
post. Largs went 2 up on 40 minutes when
Molloy turned goal maker putting in an inch perfect cross to the feet of Alan McCabe
who had the simplest of tasks to score. In
the second half Winton came close to reducing the deficit when following a
corner Connick went chasing the ball and eventually blocked Gallagher’s effort
on 60 minutes. Winton tried to play some good football and on 63 minutes
Hamilton got free on the
left and put in a good cross for Reid to head the ball down but Connick again
saved well this time with his legs. Barnes made it 3 – 0 on 70 minutes when his downward header from a
Lappin cross skidded under O’Neill and into the net. Gilmour was pushed forward and set up
Hamilton after a good
penetrating run but the finish never troubled Connick. Winton did get a goal
back on 78 minutes when a Gallagher cross from the right was met by the head of
McAvoy who looped a header over the advancing Connick and into the net.
Winton
O’Neill, Paton, Milliken, Gilmour, Wilson, Muir, McAvoy,
Gallagher, Adam, Reid, Patterson
Subs
Hamilton,
Monan, HoustonCook
Largs Thistle
Connick, Molloy, Mullin, McCabe, McMillan, M. Dow, Black,
Kyle, McClure, Lappin, Barnes.
Subs Shearer, Hendren, Russell, Marks, JP Dow.
Ref S.Carr