Troon Football Club

Recap

⚽️ Kilwinning Rangers versus Troon F.C. ⚽️
Saturday 12th October 2019
McBookie SJFA West Premiership
Buffs Park, Kilwinning Sports Club, Kilwinning KA13 6LF
Kick-off 2pm

MATCH REPORT by Richard Henderson

Troon’s first ever visit to Kilwinning’s new home at the Kilwinning Sports Centre began promisingly, but ended in defeat in front of a healthy crowd at Buffs Park.

Troon Manager Jonathan Baillie made a couple of enforced changes to his line-up from the Montrose Roselea Scottish Cup win, with Mark Morrison (injured) & the departed Kieran Paterson dropping out, to be replaced by the returning Raymond Montgomerie & 17 year old Academy graduate Todd Henderson. Andy Strachan was also returning to take his place on the bench, alongside Jai Ewing & Callum Loy from our Under-19 team.

Before kick-off both teams showed their support for the annual “Show Racism the Red Card” campaign before the home side got us underway, but it was the visitors who were first to exert some early pressure & Dylan Pooler forced an early corner which keeper David Markey gathered comfortably. Dean Fulton was looking an early threat down the Troon right, and he forced another corner which this time Markey was relieved to see headed over the crossbar. But it was the home side who opened the scoring, with long-serving Ben Lewis capitalising on an uncharacteristic howler from Neil McGregor to outstrip the visitors’ defence and slide past the advancing ScoJo.

The goal flooded confidence into the home team & saw a lovely spell of passing football from the Buffs, albeit with few clear-cut chances being created. Troon’s Jack Sherrie suffered a painful-looking injury on the half-hour, as he landed awkwardly and hurt his shoulder. He continued after treatment, but never really looked the same after this despite a promising start. Kilwinning’s wide men Dean Agnew & Alex McWaters looked to stretch the visitors and the home side sought them at every opportunity, and McWaters nearly doubled the lead on 37 minutes but couldn’t get the ball out of his feet and Keenan stepped in. Troon forced another few corners in the closing stages of the half but looked toothless and unable to capitalise on them, before yet another Kilwinning breakaway from a Stevenson corner saw Garry Fleming fire over the bar.

HALF-TIME: KILWINNING RANGERS 1-0 TROON F.C.

Troon’s hopes of an early comeback were shattered just four minutes after the restart, as former Troon winger Alex McWaters forgot his first half profligacy and threw three of our defenders the wrong way with a clever dummy to curl past ScoJo to double the lead in what could have been a knock-out blow to Troon’s hopes. But the away side rolled up their sleeves & got stuck in, and after a Ryan Stevenson shot was blocked Dylan Pooler’s hard-work was rewarded as he was on hand to fire home on 65 minutes. Game on? You bet, as Stevenson forced another save from Markey with a long range rasper. A head knock to one of the home players halted proceedings briefly, and Manager Baillie went for it with the introduction of another forward in Sam McCloy, but Troon seemed to run out of legs and looked dead and buried when McWaters netted his second of the game with 5 minutes of normal time to play. But the comeback looked on again when full-back Sherrie rose highest to meet a Henderson cross-ball & reduce the deficit once more right at the end of normal time. But with 5 minutes of injury time to play, Troon pressed for an equaliser which could have possibly flattered them, but the Buffs saw the rest of the match out for the 3 points.

A forgettable first half followed up by a much more exciting second 45, but the Troon recovery just began too late. Better shape to the side with important players returning to the fold, but we just didn’t have enough for a good Kilwinning side today. On to Beith at home next weekend.

MAN OF THE MATCH: TBA

REFEREE: Andy Taylor
ASSISTANT REFEREE: Gavin Cousar
ASSISTANT REFEREE: Alastair Taylor

📆 NEXT FIXTURE 📆

⚽️ Troon F.C. versus Beith ⚽️
Saturday 19th October 2019
McBookie SJFA West Premiership
Portland Park, Portland Street, Troon KA10 6QN
Kick-off 2pm