The start of March normally signals the beginning of the home straight, but there is plenty still to play for in the 2024-25 campaign, and we welcome our friends from Hurlford to Portland Park for our 17th GreenVersity WOSFL Premier Division match of the season.
⚽️ Troon F.C. versus Hurlford United ⚽️
Saturday 1st March 2025
GreenVersity WOSFL Premier Division
Portland Park, Troon
Kick-off 2pm
It’s been a rollercoaster few weeks, culminating in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Cumnock. A few weeks of frustrating performances where we were excellent without a goal threat, then onto the goalfest against St. Cadoc’s and finally the hard-fought score draw at Cumnock last Saturday. We look much like our old selves, and at the perfect time of the season as well. Great to see a number of players involved in the squad from our Development Team as well.
Hurlford have taken great delight at upsetting the odds the last few seasons, Manager Darren Henderson never failing to keep his side competitive in an increasingly difficult division. This season is proving a stern challenge, a good start tailed off quickly but some typically dogged performances have seen them pick up points recently against Largs & a win against Glenafton last week is giving cause for optimism at Blair Park.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s match…
Leyton Dunlop had to be helped from the pitch on Saturday against Cumnock after a nasty looking clash that left him with a broken nose. He returned home from the hospital on Saturday night with no signs of a concussion & no lasting damage to his cheekbone, apart from some nasty swelling and bruising. But he is expected to be missing for a couple of weeks at least until he recuperates.
Captain Mark Morrison returns to the side after suspension and Logan Smith has returned to full training & is hoping to play a part in this weekend’s squad, but Dean Fulton & Ben Black miss out with hamstring strains. Our only other absences are long-term absentees Scott McLean & Ewan McLevy.
Certainly wasn’t a boring week last week, good to see us getting back to the levels we’ve been at all season. All credit to the boys & the Coaches for that, it’s always a proper test of character when you hit a sticky patch and to come through it tells us a lot.
We were disappointed not to take anything out of the Johnstone Burgh match last Saturday, we certainly felt our play warranted at least a point, but all of that frustration was taken out on St. Cadoc’s on Wednesday. That was everything that is good about us, and to an extent we carried that into Saturday & scored some good goals through Sam & Kyle. I think the tired legs played their part on Saturday though, otherwise I feel we would have seen that game out for the win. Leyton’s injury was a dreadful one, I’m glad to hear it isn’t as bad as we feared, although it’s obviously bad enough. Look forward to getting him back involved soon.
We enjoy our matches with Hurlford, always a warm welcome up there & we like to reciprocate, so a good relationship between the clubs. Darren’s a Manager I know well & have a lot of time for; always a really challenging encounter between the sides, and rarely much between us. The game at the start of the season was a good performance from us, so no doubt Hurlford will feel they owe us one. It’s all about how we handle that this weekend.
Jimmy Kirkwood (Manager)
| Full Name | Hurlford United Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | The ‘Ford |
| Founded | 1912 |
| Ground | Blair Park, Hurlford |
| Capacity | 2,005 |
| Club Secretary | Clark Nicol |
| Manager | Darren Henderson |
| Captain | Paul McKenzie |
| 2023-24 | WOSFL Premier Division, 9th from 16 |
⚽️️ BEN HUGHES ⚽️
The 20 year old brings much-needed youth & vitality to the ‘Ford midfield, and he has the perfect mentor in Taz in there!
Began his career with Kilmarnock before a move to Lowland League Champions East Kilbride in the summer of 2022, and then on to League Two side Stranraer the following summer. He joined Darren Henderson’s men on loan initially, before signing on permanently in the summer.
⚽️️ CARTER FREW ⚽️
Still only 22, young Carter has made himself a mainstay of the ‘Ford defence with some seasoned performances folliwing the absences of more experienced campaigners like Chris Robertson & Chris McKnight.
Began his career with St. Mirren as a youth, Carter signed on at Blair Park in the summer of 2021 & he has impressed ever since. Comfortable at full-back, but he has established himself at centre-back this season & he is certainly one to watch in the coming years.
© Thanks to Drew Wilson and www.hurlfordunited.com for their photos
Troon F.C.
| DREW | WON |