Troon Football Club

Recap

 Darvel versus Troon F.C. 
Sunday 27th December 2020
PDM Buildbase WOSFL Premier Division
Townhead Park, Cumnock KA18 1LG
Kick-off 1pm

 

MATCH REPORT by Richard Henderson

Troon’s unbeaten start to life in senior football finally came to an end in snowy conditions, as the Seasider’s fell at the hands of Darvel.

With the Recreation Park pitch struggling in the wintry conditions, the match was moved to Cumnock’s Townhead Park. But after an early morning storm, the 3G surface was covered in snow and the match looked in doubt. Thanks to some hard work by the Cumnock groundsman & the Darvel committee, referee Chris Gentles was keen to get the game on after a delayed kick-off.

Darvel got the match underway, and one of the most talked about teams of the season so far adapted to the conditions far better than their guests did. Ross Caldwell looked a threat straight from the off, and his driving run saw him beat three men going into the box, but Scott Chatham produced a terrific interception to clear the danger. Ryan Stevenson produced the first moment of note for Troon, opening up and setting Josh Black free down the left, but Chris Truesdale was sharp off his line to clear. Darren Miller and Allan MacKenzie was proving a fruitful partnership for Darvel, and they combined shortly after that to provide Jordan Kirkpatrick with a great opportunity, but his shot flew high of Ross Lundy’s goal. Ex-Falkirk & St Mirren star Ian McShane was very quickly puling the strings in the ‘Vale midfield, and he sent Jordan Allan free down the left for the hosts only for him to be brought down before he entered the box by Todd Henderson, who saw an early yellow card for his efforts. Darren Miller’s shot was well saved by Lundy, but McShane was quickest to react and fired in the rebound through a ruck of bodies from the edge of the box.

Darren Miller and Allan MacKenzie were proving a fruitful partnership for Darvel, and they combined shortly after that to provide Jordan Kirkpatrick with a great opportunity, but his shot flew high of Ross Lundy’s goal. Allan MacKenzie and Ross Caldwell combined well to set-up Darren Miller, who did well to beat his man and take out the keeper with a square ball for Jordan Kirkpatrick to tap in the second on 25 minutes. Troon were looking shell-shocked at this stage and were struggling to get a foot on the ball anywhere across the pitch. Even the normally composed Ryan Stevenson was struggling to find space, but he got his first shot on goal after just half an hour, but Truesdale was relieved to see it clear his crossbar. That seemed to spark some life into the visitors, and they brought themselves back into the match just before the interval. Stevenson found some space deep in his own half and Raymond Montgomerie combined nicely with Dean Fulton to create an opening, and the former Talbot & Cumnock man fired past Truesdale to half the deficit.

HALF-TIME: DARVEL 2-1 TROON F.C.

Troon had been on the ascendancy in the run up to the interval & the half-time whistle had undoubtedly come at the wrong time for the Seasiders. Darvel had realised this and came straight out of the blocks for the second half determined to restore their lead.

It wasn’t long before they tested Lundy’s goal, and early in the second half Ryan Thomson strode out of defence in Beckenbauer-esque fashion and fed the lively Jordan Allan down the left. The former East Fife man found MacKenzie with his cross, but Lundy saved well. Dean Fulton came close with a solo effort, before Darvel extended their lead. A long clearance from defence caught out makeshift defender Scott Chatham, and MacKenzie pounced, racing into the box before tumbling under a challenge from Lundy. The ref pointed to the spot, and Darren Miller stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way and give Darvel the crucial third goal. As Troon reeled, Darvel capitalised and another long ball from keeper Truesdale forced another slip at the back for Troon, leaving Caldwell with the time to coolly chip the advancing Lundy for number four on the hour mark. Jordan Kirkpatrick was denied the goal of the day after he had danced through the Troon defence, but sub Keenan and Lundy combined to deflect his effort wide of the post to the former Clyde forwards frustration. But the ‘Vale Captain didn’t have long to wait, turning Montgomerie to fire home his side’s fifth goal with a fine finish which left the keeper with no chance.

Frustratingly, Troon started to play football at this point and Todd Henderson swung a ball in which was narrowly missed by sub Alan Frizzell. But their late pressure had effect, as Stevenson brought a high ball down calmly to feed the advancing Josh Black, who fired past Truesdale to reduce the deficit with 15 minutes remaining. Dean Fulton was denied by Kenny Marshall and Frizzell saw an effort blocked before a rasping effort from Henderson cannoned off the upright.

Today’s result makes that five wins, a draw and a defeat from the opening seven matches, and saw us remain level with Clydebank at the summit of the West of Scotland Football League. Next Sunday’s match at Portland Park is sure to be a cracker.

 

 MATCH OFFICIALS 

Referee: Chris Gentles
Assistant Referee One: Liam Gallagher
Assistant Referee Two: James McCluskey

Referee Supervisor: To be appointed

 

 MATCH HIGHLIGHTS 

Match highlights, courtesy of the club’s new official Media Partner, Memories by Movie.

 MATCH PHOTOGRAPHS 

Match photographs, courtesy of the club’s new official photographer JP:

 

 MATCH PREVIEW 

To read the match preview, follow the link: http://troonfootballclub.co.uk/darvel-271220-preview/

 

 NEXT FIXTURE 

Troon F.C. versus Clydebank 
Sunday 3rd January 2021
PDM Buildbase WOSFL Premier Division
Portland Park, Troon KA10 6QN
Kick-off 1.45pm