New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup Second Round

TROON 1

KIRKINTILLOCH ROB ROY 4

by Matt Speirs

CARELESS Troon conceded three goals in the last eight minutes to crash out of the West of Scotland Cup at Portland Park on Saturday.

The game looked to be heading for a penalty shootout until the hosts, who had kept four clean sheets in their previous five games, fell apart in defence and made it easy for the visitors to progress at their expense.

It was the second defeat inside a fortnight at the hands of Rabs, who had defeated the Seasiders in the league at Cumbernauld on October 31.

And they will be looking to bounce back with a big Scottish Junior Cup third round tie against Bo'ness coming up on Saturday.

Troon were without skipper Dean Keenan for this important cup match..

Rob Roy opened strongly and put the Troon defence under pressure but did not test keeper Ally Semple in the home goal. Against the run of play Troon took the lead in the 19 minutes and it was a well-worked goal. The ball was played through to prolific hitman Adam Forsyth and he gave the keeper no chance with a fierce drive.

It should have been two five minutes later when Forsyth burst into the box but this time he drove the ball against the keeper.

Rob Roy drew level on the half hour mark when an inviting cross by Chris Duff found former Irvine Meadow striker Willie Sawyers, who headed into the net off the far post.

Ten minutes after the interval a Jordan McGuire free-kick for Rob Roy flew inches wide of the post.

In 70 minutes Troon goalie Ally Semple saved well from Duff, with former Auchinleck Talbot defender Gavin Collins completing the clearance.

Rob Roy made a double substitution with nine minutes left, replacing Gary McMenamin and Kevin Watt with Steven Aitken and Lee Gallagher and it proved to be an astute move. for them.

And within 30 seconds Aitken, with his first touch of the ball, sent a fierce drive from 25 yards o the top corner of the net, giving the home keeper no chance.

Two minutes later the match was put beyond Troon when Aitken netted from the edge of the box. Three minutes from time Sawyers netted from close range to give Rob Roy a fourth goal. Semple produced another fine save in the closing minute to once again deny Chris Duff but it was the visitors who coasted into the third round.

It was a disappointing performance and a really bad day at the office for a Troon side who uncharacteristically looked off the pace and they will be looking to pick themselves up quickly.

TROON: Semple, Ure, Armstrong, McKnight, Collins, Chatham, Harvey, Spence, Forsyth, McKenn, Moore. Subs: Shirkie, Muir, McCrea, Brown, Fraser.