McBookie Ayrshire District League

SALTCOATS VICTORIA 2

WHITLETTS VICTORIA 1

NINE-man Whitletts Victoria’s promotion hopes were dealt a severe blow as they suffered defeat at the hands of a rejuvenated Saltcoats in a match that was switched to Campbell Park.

In a controversial fixture, Whitletts ended the tie with nine men.

With the scores level at 1-1, Martin Lawrie was shown a straight red in 51 minutes for something he said after committing a foul while seven minutes later, Jordan Boyd followed Lawrie for an early bath for a second yellow card despite the players’ protestations that he hadn’t been booked earlier in the game. Referee Chris McTeirnan disagreed and the Ayr side were left with a mountain to climb while manager Neil Duffy was also red-carded for his complaints to the match official about Boyd’s red card.

This match started of at a fast pace with Saltcoats having an early penalty claim denied after only two minutes.

Whitletts then took control of the match with with a free kick just outside the box which was hit wide. Paul Millar fired wide from a free-kick for the home side but it was the visitors who took the lead when from a Craig Fisher corner-kick, Josh Sloan headed the ball in to the net.

Two minutes later the home side were level. Whitletts trialist keeper Martin Fraser was adjudged to have pulled down Graham Condon inside the box as he dived at his feet and Paul Millar stepped up hit the penalty to make it 1-1.

In 28 minutes Craig Fisher was booked for diving and it appears that it was this incident where the referee has incorrectly recorded Boyd’s shirt number instead of Fisher. Both sides were looking to make the breakthrough with Saltcoats having the upper hand but it was Whitletts who came closest to scoring with a Jordan Boyd shot that was blocked by a defender.

The second period started positively for Whitletts as they looked to take a grip on the game but as first Lawrie and then Boyd received their marching orders they were left facing an impossible task.

As to be expected it was Saltcoats who had the better of the exchanges and in 82 minutes they took the lead when a cross by Stephen Hill was headed home by Evariste Bembo.

Saltcoats then upped the pressure on Whitletts but failed to add to their tally as they held on for a second straight win.