Premier League newcomers Girvan all but secured their place in the quarter final knockout stage of the Ardagh Glass League Cup with an odd goal in five victory over Whitletts at Dam Park.
 
It was Girvan who started the better in this match, pressing Whitletts back into defence without creating any real openings in front of goal, although Jack McDowall and Robert Patterson were clearly finding plenty of space down the left flank.
 
But it was Whitletts, against the run of play, who took the lead in 22 minutes. From a long  kick out by Stevie Douglas, Craig Harvey was taken out inside the area by a combination of Mark Doolan and keeper Scott Johnstone, leaving referee Drew Kirkland little option but to point to the spot. Harvey dusted himself down to roll the ball past Johnstone into the net.
 
But that lead didn’t last long. Two minutes later Girvan were back on level terms when a Jack McDowall cross picked out the unmarked Michael Reilly to head home from eight yards. And within a minute the visitors were in the lead. A simple ball down the centre of the home defence saw Reilly race clear and calmly fire past Douglas.
 
The Premeier League newcomers were in complete control of the proceedings. Douglas denied Reilly his hat trick with a fine block and it came as no surprise when Girvan increased their lead a minute before the interval. As Vics failed to clear their lines, the ball broke kindly for Robert Patterson and the ex-Vics striker swept the ball past Douglas.
 
It could have been worse before the half time whistle with Douglas denying Patterson a quick fire double as the Hamilton Park side had to settle for a two goal advantage at the break.
 
Whitletts started the second period in a more positive fashion but failed to make their territorial advantage count and midway through the half Girvan began to pose a greater threat with both Reilly and Paul Cameron squandering great opportunities to increase their advantage.
 
Harvey went close for Whitletts to reducing the leeway with a 25 yard free kick that just went past the angle but they had Douglas to thank moments later for keeping them in the game as he did well to block a David Jardine shot from 10 yards.

And the value of that save was proven in 77 minutes when a defensive mix up in the Girvan defence saw the ball break kindly for Harvey who slipped the ball under Johnstone to make it 3-2.
 
And a minute later he almost had his hat trick as he got on the end of a low Jordan Boyd cross but under pressure from a Girvan defender this time the Vics striker fired wide.
 
Mark Doolan tried his luck from distance for the visitors but his shot slipped wide and although Vics pressed for the equaliser, Girvan comfortably held on to claim all three points with Whitletts finishing the match with ten players as defender Blair Anderson received two yellows in quick succession at the death.
 
Whitletts Victoria 1. Douglas 2. Anderson 90 3. Ewart 65 (McClymont 71) 4. I. Kerr 5. Buchanan 68 6. Lawrie 75 7. Munyaradzi 8. Sloan 9. Baird (Milligan 56) 10. L. Kerr (Boyd 66) 11. Harvey
Subs (not used) 14. Boyle 16. McClymont 17. Ogston
 
Girvan 1. Johnstone 2. Hunter (Jardine 68) 3. Doolan 4. O’Donnell 5. Cunningham 6. M. Cameron 7. Reid 8. P. Cameron 9. Reilly 10. Patterson 11. McDowall
Subs (not used) 14. Ewing 16. Dinwoodie 17. Frame