Irvine Victoria versus Troon F.C. 
Saturday 26th September 2020
Pre-Season Friendly Match

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS – NO ENTRY TO SPECTATORS

 

MATCH REPORT by Richard Henderson

Troon ran out confident winners in a sun-kissed friendly against Irvine Victoria at Victoria Park.

The Vics started the game strongly, but very quickly Troon’s fluid passing style took control and it was little surprise when they took the lead. The dangerous Josh Black, who has shone in the early season games, beat his full-back to swing in a cross that saw Christian Nade force the ball home past on-loan Buffs keeper Chris Taylor in the 11th minute. The Vics defence, marshalled by the excellent Daniel Martins, had their hands full with Troon’s lively front line but when the visitors doubled their lead it was from an unlikely source. Jaime Gallagher’s pinpoint corner was met by the head of defender James McGowan, who powered home his first goal in a Troon shirt to double the lead on 19 minutes. Dean Fulton was causing havoc at this stage with his direct running, and he made it three shortly after with a shot from range leaving Taylor helpless before Gallagher scored the fourth with another curling effort from outside the box. Opening scorer Nade, who had been leading the line superbly til this point, was forced off with a foot injury on the half hour but had an excellent vantage point to see Fulton clipped as he rounded keeper Taylor and ref Ross Haswell pointed to the spot. Ryan Stevenson took on the responsibility and stepped up to fire high past Taylor to complete the scoring in a devastating first half display.

HALF-TIME: IRVINE VICTORIA 0-5 TROON F.C.

The usual flurry of half-time changes took place, with Troon introducing four substitutes into the action; Steven McCreadie, Scott Chatham and Ryan Nisbet all introduced with Under 20 prospect Lewis McDowall making his debut at the heart of the defence as he replaced Dean Keenan. Irvine Vics made a number of changes as well and the interruptions halted the flow of the game, but before Vics had time to settle Troon were at it again. Half-time substitute Ryan Nisbet was on hand to finish a tidy move from under the nose of Blair Cousar for number six. Dean Fulton doubled his own tally just six minutes after the re-start, before Vics’ veteran forward James Tyler took advantage of a gap at the back to sneak between the right-back & centre-back to climb high and power a header past the unlucky Lundy. Within a minute of Vics pulling a goal back (and much to the frustration of the home dugout), the advantage was restored as Nisbet beat the offside trap to fire low past Cousar. McDowall’s fellow Youth Academy graduate Dale Galloway also made his first team debut on the hour, replacing Ryan Stevenson in the midfield engine room.

Troon were an attacking machine at this stage, but arguably the goal of the game was scored by Irvine Vics’ on-loan Ayr United starlet Brian Connor. Collecting the ball into the opposition half, Connor accelerated away from the midfield before dancing round four challenges at the edge of the box, rounding Lundy and firing home in impressive fashion. Ryan Nisbet completed his second-half hat-trick with a lovely curled finish before Dean Fulton smashed the ball home to match the feat and put Troon into double figures, completing Vics’ misery but rounding off a superb display from the visitors.

A hugely impressive performance from Troon once again, controlling the game from the outset & being clinical when the chance arose.

 MATCH OFFICIALS 

Referee: Ross Haswell
Assistant Referee One: Club linesman
Assistant Referee Two: Club linesman

 NEXT FIXTURE 

Bonnyton Thistle versus Troon F.C. 
Wednesday 30th September 2020
Pre-Season Friendly Match