Troon Football Club

Recap

⚽️ Newton Stewart 1-5 Troon F.C. ⚽️
Saturday 12th September 2026
Scottish Lowland Football League (West)
Blairmount Park, Newton Stewart
Kick-off 3pm

Troon run riot in Newton Stewart

Troon produced another emphatic performance as they swept aside Newton Stewart 5-1 on the road. Jimmy Kirkwood’s side were in complete control for much of the afternoon, racing into an early lead before eventually pulling clear with a dominant second-half display.

Kirkwood made just one change to the side that defeated Saltire City in the previous round, with Dean Fulton replacing Max Guthrie on the flanks. There was also a welcome return to the squad for Leyton Dunlop, who had been sidelined with injury since July. Newton Stewart suffered a significant blow before kick-off when captain Marc Whyte was ruled out, leaving a sizeable hole in their midfield. Forward Robert Middleton was also named among the substitutes.

Troon could hardly have wished for a better start. Barely 20 seconds had been played when David Syme swept a superb left-footed pass forward, releasing Jack Allan behind the Newton Stewart defence. Allan showed excellent strength to hold off two defenders before calmly slotting past Mark Thomson to put the visitors ahead. The hosts responded well and levelled after 11 minutes. Aaron Drysdale danced his way into the Troon box before slipping the ball underneath Martin McDonald to make it 1-1. The equaliser failed to unsettle the Seasiders, however, and they regained the lead on 29 minutes. Nathan Baird produced some excellent work before Allan turned his marker on the edge of the box. The forward then unleashed a powerful strike with his weaker foot which went straight through Thomson’s legs and into the net.

Troon were now firmly on top and added a third before half-time. Callan Veitch delivered a pinpoint corner into the danger area and Gareth Armstrong rose highest to bullet a header beyond Thomson, giving the visitors a deserved two-goal cushion.

HALF-TIME: NEWTON STEWART 1-3 TROON F.C.

Troon suffered an early setback after the interval when Baird was forced off following a late challenge, with Dunlop introduced for his first appearance since his injury. The returning midfielder would eventually have a starring role.

First, though, it was Dean Fulton who added to the scoreline. Kyle Gilroy continued his impressive form down the left, flashing a dangerous ball across the face of goal, and Fulton was perfectly positioned to smash home Troon’s fourth on 55 minutes. With the contest effectively settled, Kirkwood began to utilise his bench. Ben Hughes and Guthrie were introduced for Dario Viviani and Allan, before Clayton Hood and Ryan Hamilton replaced Reece Craig and Veitch in midfield.

Troon continued to dictate proceedings and could have added further goals before the closing stages. The fifth finally arrived from the penalty spot in the 87th minute after referee Mark Daly pointed to the spot. Dunlop stepped forward on his comeback and showed no nerves whatsoever, smashing the penalty high and beyond Thomson to cap a memorable return to competitive action.

FULL-TIME: NEWTON STEWART 1-5 TROON F.C.

It was an outstanding performance from the Seasiders, who were impressive from the opening seconds and completely controlled the second half. Five goals ultimately reflected their dominance, although the final margin could arguably have been even greater.

Troon now return to Lowland League West action, with Johnstone Burgh visiting Portland Park on Wednesday night. After two consecutive victories producing ten goals, Kirkwood’s side will be looking to carry that momentum in league competition.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Jack Allan, as voted for in our Supporter’s WhatsApp group chat at full-time!

by Graeme McKenzie

To read the match preview, follow the link:
https://troonfootballclub.co.uk/newton-120926-preview/

 

⚽️ Troon F.C. versus Johnstone Burgh ⚽️
Wednesday 16th September 2026
Scottish Lowland Football League (West)
Portland Park, Troon
Kick-off 7.45pm