Vics have six appeal

WHITLETTS VICTORIA 6

MUIRKIRK 0

NEIL Duffy recorded his first victory as Whitletts manager as his side chalked up a comfortable three points against a young Muirkirk side.

The boss was delighted with his team's perfomance and said afterwardsL: "Tony Balfour scored a couple of good goals and we could have won by even more had we taken our other chances. It was a really good team performance."

Vics started strongly and both Chris Black and Tony Balfour had chances before the home side took the lead in four minutes. Balfour, with his back to goal was allowed to turn inside the box and his low shot beat Robbie Wilson at his near post

Moments later James Davidson almost made it two when his inswinging corner kick was headed off the line by Diarmid Turnbull.

In 15 minutes Vics youngster Kris Kerr almost netted his first goal for the club with a thunderous drive from 25 yards which rattled the crossbar. Despite their dominance however it took Whitletts until 28 minutes to double their advantage. From a quick throw in by Davidson, Balfour raced clear down the right wing and as he cut into the box, toe poked the ball under Wilson into the net.

Louis Kerr then went on a run, drifting past three or four defenders before Sam McFall played in Balfour whose snapshot went wide but the third goal did arrive in 41 minutes. From Davidson’s corner-kick, Black rose to head home from close range.

The second half started in a similar fashion and just after the restart Wilson made a fine save to deny Balfour with former Vics player Gary Russell sweeping up the danger. Balfour then should have had his hat-trick when he raced clear but with Black clear in the middle, Balfour opted to go himself but his effort slipped inches wide.

Chris Black got on the end of a Sam McFall shot but Wilson did well to save at point blank range but Vics did finally get their fourth goal in 64 minutes when Raymond Buchanan headed home a Davidson corner at the near post.

Muirkirk had their moments and striker Andrew McQuade was unfortunate to see his header slip narrowly past.

With 10 minutes remaining however, Whitletts veteran defender Graham Longair scored a rare Vics goal with a stunning strike. The 'Kirk defence allowed him to progress unchallenged and from 25 yards, he unleashed an unstoppable shot past Wilson into the top corner

Tony Balfour was desperate to complete his hat-trick and from a corner-kick the Vics striker hit the crossbar.But with three minutes remaining he turned provider when from his corner kick, Buchanan headed home his second of the game to complete the scoring in a comfortable victory.

WHITLETTS VICTORIA:. McInne; Anderson, Ewart, Mullen, Buchanan, Davidson (Sloan 65), K Kerr Longair 29), Kerr, Black (Liam Anderson 75), McFall, Balfour.

Subs not used. McCarrison, Hercus.

MUIRKIRK:. R Wilson; Peck, Beveridge, Russell, McIntyre (Hamilton 69), Millar, Williamson,. C Wilson (J Williamson 83), McQuade, Campbell, Turnbull (Murtagh 40).