Ayrshire District League
WHITLETTS VICTORIA 1
GIRVAN 4
GIRVAN pressed home their title credentials with a convincing victory to bring to an end Whitletts Victoria’s 14-month unbeaten run at Dam Park.
Vics went into the game missing almost their entire back line and the visitors took full advantage with some clinical finishing to open up a four-point lead over their hosts.
Girvan were dominating early on and Paul Cameron’s 25 yards free kick left the Vics’ keeper rooted to the spot and he was relieved to see the ball crash back off the post.
It took the home side until 18th minutes to register a shot in anger with a Michael O’Conner shot that found the side netting.  The game was needing a goal and it came in 24 minute for the hosts. A ball over the top allowed Tony Balfour to run in behind the Girvan defence and  round Steven Douglas before rolling the ball into the net.
Within two minutes Girvan were level. Davie Cunningham worked his way to the byeline and from his cutback the unfortunate Raymond Buchanan put the ball into his own net.
Sixty seconds later  a Graeme Longair challenge on Tony Murphy saw the Seasiders midfielder go down inside the box and referee Calum Scott pointed to the penalty spot. Cameron stepped forward but McInnes saved brilliantly.
However the keeper’s afternoon was soon to turn sour in 41 minutes when he was sent off. in  controversial circumstances. After clearing the ball outside his box which he picked up and injury, the Vics number one hobbled back to his goals and made a comment to the referee who promptly showed McInnes a red card. Elliot Masterson took over the keeper's jersey.
It was always going to be a backs-to-the-wall job for Whitletts and in 52 minutes they assisted in their own downfall as Girvan took the lead. Longair’s sclaffed clearance across the area fell straight to Paterson who curled his shot into the corner of the net.
Whitletts continued to strive to get back into the game and created a couple of half chances with Balfour being denied by Douglas while a netbound Buchanan header struck Stephen Cargill/
But ut with 11 minutes remaining Girvan sealed the points with a third goal.
Masterson did well to push out an angled drive but Josh Sloan, who had only just come onto the park, was left with the easiest of tasks to roll the ball into the empty net.
Five minutes later the visitors made it 4-1 as Paterson glanced a cross into the net..
Girvan were well worthy of their win and manager Peter Leonard has turned around their fortunes.
WHITLETTS VICTORIA:   McInnnes; Sloan, Longair,  S Kerr, Buchanan, McCarrison. Black,  Graham (Masterson 41);.McFall (L Kerr 84);  Balfour.  O’Connor. Subs (not used) 12. Hercus 15. Collins 16. Ferris GK Masterson
GIRVAN: Douglas; Maxwell, Marshall, Cargill, Danny Cunningham., Dinwoodie (Gallagher 86);  Murphy, Cameron, David Cunningham (Nairn 84); Paterson., Reid (Sloan 77). Subs (not used):  Nairn, Gallagher, Wilde