Troon Football Club

Recap

⚽️ Beith 1-2 Troon F.C. ⚽️
Saturday 20th September 2025
3pillars Financial Planning Scottish Communities Cup Round 2
Bellsdale Park, Beith
Kick-off 2.30pm

CUP VICTORY FOR THE SEASIDERS

Troon edged a dramatic Scottish Communities Cup second-round tie away to Beith, booking their place in the next round of this famous old competition, sponsored this season by 3 Pillars Financial Planning. It wasn’t always vintage Seasiders football, but late drama ensured Jimmy Kirkwood’s men continued their fine start to the campaign with their eighth win in ten competitive outings.

The build-up brought excitement, with Troon boss Kirkwood making two changes after last weekend’s South Challenge Cup exit to Auchinleck Talbot. Youngster Craig Watson slotted straight into the starting XI for his debut following a loan move from Kilmarnock, while Kyle Faulds returned to the heart of the midfield. There was also a welcome return for Sam Jamieson, who made the bench after injury. Beith, meanwhile, stuck with the same XI that had served them well in recent weeks, though they were boosted by the presence of Robert Thomson and player-coach Paddy Boyle among the substitutes.

The match sprang into life quickly. On just eight minutes, Stephen Docherty split the Beith defence with a perfectly timed through ball, and Kyle Gilroy showed great composure to race clear and finish smartly past the advancing goalkeeper to give the visitors the lead.

Beith struggled to create much early on, though controversy soon arrived. Max Brown was booked on 22 minutes for kicking the ball away after a foul, sparking frustration on the home bench. Manager Mick Dunlop was also cautioned shortly afterwards for protesting that a Troon player had committed the same offence without punishment.

Troon looked dangerous on the break, but it was their goalkeeper Dale Burgess who stole the show on 31 minutes. He produced a superb double save on his return to his former club – first stopping Liam McGonigle’s strike with a strong hand, then reacting brilliantly to tip Ross Smith’s follow-up effort over the bar. At the other end, Gilroy again threatened down the right and picked out ex-Beith man Lewis Lovering, whose header flashed narrowly wide.

The match then turned decisively just before half-time. Brown, already on a booking, lunged into Dario Viviani and referee Euan Birch had no hesitation in showing him a second yellow, reducing Beith to ten men. Troon went in at the break 1–0 ahead and with a numerical advantage.

HALF-TIME: BEITH 0-1 TROON F.C.

Beith reshuffled during the interval and came out fighting. They got their reward on 59 minutes when Adam Cummins rose highest to nod home McGonigle’s cross, levelling the tie. The hosts looked energised, but Troon steadied themselves with the introduction of Jamieson and Dean Fulton, and the Seasiders began to threaten again on the counter. And Jamieson nearly made an instant impact following a nervy moment for Beith’s on-loan Clydebank keeper Connor Keaney, who misjudged a through ball from Sherrie and watched it bounce over his head, but he scrambles back to his line to make a diving save with only millimetres to spare under heavy pressure from Jamieson.

The decisive moment came in the dying minutes. Lovering picked up the ball wide, slalomed past four defenders in a superb solo run, and slipped in Jamieson. The returning striker showed a cool head, guiding the ball past Keaney in the Beith goal to spark jubilant scenes among the travelling support.

It may have been a touch of smash-and-grab in the second half, but Troon’s resilience and cutting edge carried them through.

They will now host Hall Russell United at Portland Park on Saturday 18th October in the third round. Beith, meanwhile, will rue missed chances but can take heart from an improved second-half display as their rebuilt squad continues to grow.

Troon return to league duty next weekend, welcoming Rutherglen Glencairn to Portland Park.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Dale Burgess.

by Graeme McKenzie

To read the match preview, follow the link:
https://troonfootballclub.co.uk/beith-200925-preview/

⚽️ Troon F.C. versus Rutherglen Glencairn ⚽️
Saturday 27th September 2025
WOSFL Premier Division
Portland Park, Troon
Kick-off 2pm