McBookie Ayrshire District League

WHITLETTS VICTORIA 2

ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS 1

WHITLETTS Victoria completed the league double over league leaders Ardrossan at Dam Park to keep their promotion hopes very much alive.

Goals from Josh Sloan and a Craig Harvey penalty were enough to give the home side victory that sees them move to within two points of Ardrossan at the top of the league with the Ayr side having a game in hand.

Now Vics task is clear. They need three wins in their last three remaining league fixtures - a double header against promotion chasing Kello and away to Maybole to be playing Super League football next season.

On a heavy pitch that passed an early morning pitch inspection, this proved a great advert for junior football.

Both teams showed their desire from the kick off as play raged from end to end. Paul Cameron and Craig Harvey had opportunities for the hosts early on while Stevie Tan just failed to connect with a Larry McMahon cross in front of goal and Ryan Caddis blazed the ball over the bar from the edge of the box.

Vics had a great chance in 13 minutes when confusion between a defender and the keeper allowed Harvey to nip and although Cameron, Sloan and Jordan Boyd all had chances the ball was cleared, but from that corner kick Sloan rose unchallenged to head home and give Whitletts the breakthrough.

In 36 minutes referee Ross Menzies had no hesitation in pointing to the spot when Tan went down after a trip in the area by Ali Boyle. Up stepped Caddis who drilled his penalty down the centre only for it to be blocked by the legs of Ally McInnes.

Three minutes later, Winton were level as a Caddis cross from the right was headed home by Jordan Cairney.

On the hour Vics striker Craig Harvey was bundled to the ground by a trio of Winton defenders. This time the referee pointed to the spot and Harvey dusted himself down to fire the resultant penalty-kick low into the corner of the net.

McInnes pulled off a superb save to turn Tan's effort round the post. As time wore on Winton flung everything into attack and with two minutes remaining McInnes again saved, this time from a McMahon header.