Troon Football Club

Recap

⚽️ Kilwinning Rangers versus Troon F.C. ⚽️
Saturday 17th July 2021
PDM Buildbase WOSFL Premier Division
Kilwinning Sports Club
Kick-off 2pm

 

MATCH REPORT by Richard Henderson

This was not the return to action the Seasiders had hoped for, when an excellent Kilwinning side ran out winners in the sunshine at Kilwinning Sports Club in the league curtain-raiser.

The home side got the brand new WOSFL season started and they were straight on the front foot, with Darren Miller thwarting a Carlo Monti effort and Thomas Collins forcing a resultant corner. From that corner, former Troon defender David Syme created the first chance when reacting quickest to a drop ball, but his shot sailed over Marc Fisher’s crossbar. Jordan Stuart was first to force a save from Fisher in the eighth minute, when his twist & shot was palmed wide for another corner before Syme again saw another effort from a corner creep past the post. Controversy reigned supreme after 11 minutes when the Troon bench was outraged by a late Ben Lewis tackle in the middle of the park, which the ref waved away saying “it’s his first tackle” and then straight after that booking Dean Fulton for a similar challenge. Sam McCloskey, making his competitive debut for Troon against his former club, was the first to create a chance for the visitors when his good interplay down the left flank saw Ewan McLevy swing in a beautiful cross, but Ross Smith intercepted ahead of Sam Jamieson & Jordan Lusk’s effort fell into the welcoming arms of Jamie Barclay.

Carlo Monti was already starting to have in increasing influence on proceedings, and he created an opening which Tommy Maitland intercepted for a corner on 24 minutes. The resultant corner saw a sickening clash of heads between Syme & McLevy, which saw the Troon man removed from play & taken to hospital for checks. Fortunately Syme was alright to continue & McLevy was released home later that day with an all clear. Troon were forced into a reshuffle with Alan Frizzell replacing the injured McLevy, but less than 10 minutes later Kilwinning took the lead. Syme launched a cross ball for Monti which Galloway cut out, but Stuart was quickest to react to the second ball. He fed McGowan and from his clipped ball, Collins rose above McCloskey to head home past the despairing Fisher for the opener. Troon looked to react quickly however, and after Syme pulled down Maitland just outside the 18 yard box, Jaime Gallagher stepped up for an effort on goal, but his effort sailed over Barclay’s crossbar to safety. Ben Black was posing a threat, and his neat run led to a half-chance, but he struck the side-netting from an acute angle. Just as it looked like Troon had made it to the interval just one goal behind, Carlo Monti stepped on to a half clearance 25 yards from goal and struck a beautiful left-foot half volley into the top corner of Fisher’s goal to double the lead.

HALF-TIME: KILWINNING RANGERS 2-0 TROON F.C.

Troon made a brave change at half-time, forward Ryan Nisbet coming on for defender Dale Galloway & they began the second half on the front foot as they chased to get something out of the game. Sam Jamieson drew the first save of the half out of Barclay early on with a long-range strike which the former Falkirk man smothered, and it was that man Jamieson again from a corner, the ball breaking to him at the back post & Barclay again had to make the save. But as they attacked, gaps opened up behind that the Buffs were looking to exploit, and Collins drew the save of the game from Fisher, diving high to his left to tip his shot over the crossbar. But from the resultant corner, Jordan Stuart rose highest to power a header home to kill the game off as a contest at 3-0. The Troon bench couldn’t be faulted for their ambition and they threw Josh Black into the mix for the tiring Jamieson, and his direct running created new problems for the Buffs backline, but Troon were unable to capitalise, despite creating half-chances for himself, Ben Black and Nisbet.

A disappointing result for the visitors, although they will accept they were playing an excellent Kilwinning side who will be up there with the challengers yet again. The encouraging point for Troon will be that the goals conceded are individual errors that are able to be worked on in training to eradicate. Determination will be there to right some wrongs on Wednesday against Benburb.

 

Referee: Ross Birrell
Assistant Referee One: Adam Cairns
Assistant Referee Two: Joe Fox

 

To read the match preview, follow the link: http://troonfootballclub.co.uk/kilwinning-170721-match-preview/

 

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

 

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

 

 

⚽️ Troon F.C. versus Benburb ⚽️
Wednesday 21st July 2021
PDM Buildbase WOSFL Premier Division
Portland Park, Troon
Kick-off 7.30pm