DEFEAT was snatched from the jaws of victory for Troon as the hosts scored two dramatic last gasp goals to preserve top spot.

The visiting side took the game to Rabs right from the off and had three clearcut chances inside the first 15 minutes.

In three minutes Adam Forsyth had a shot saved by the home goalie before he shot narrowly wide two minutes later.

As the Seasiders kept piling on the pressure, a free-kick from skipper Dean Keenan crashed off the post with the home defence at sea in 15 minutes.

However the Portland Park side capitalised on their dominance a minute later by taking the lead with a well-worked goal in 16 minutes. Dale "Gunner" Moore made a darting run before swinging a cross into the box with goal predator Forsyth skilfully side-footing home from just outside the six-yard box.

into the second half and Troon let Rabs back into the match by carelessly conceding a series of free-kicks to allow them to have much more possession.

In 65 minutes Stewart Maxwell's side were awarded a soft penalty after Keenan was adjudged to have tripped a home player inside the box. However the visitors had the last laugh when Ally Semple saved the spot-kick effort.

However eight minutes from time Moore carelessly gave away a free-kick just outside the box. And the set-piece effort was powerfully headed home by former Irvine Meadow striker Willie Sawyers.

The game looked certain to end in deadlock. However in injury-time Semple tried to claim a cross which came into the box but Colin Spence moved in to make a clearance and the ball came off his shin and spun into the back of the net.

It was a cruel way for Troon to lose the match after they had put so much into it but had to leave empty-handed.

 

KIRKINTILLOCH ROB ROY: Brown; Finnigan, McKenzie, Carter, Barr, Whelan, McGuire, McMenamin, Sawyers, Watt, Duff.

 

TROON: Semple; Ure, Armstrong, Keenan, Collins, Chatham, Harvey, Spence, Forsyth, McKenna, Moore. Subs: McCrea, Muir, McGowan, Shirkie, Brown.