McBookie Ayrshire District League

WHITLETTS VICTORIA 1

KELLO ROVERS 3

WHITLETTS Victoria's hopes of promotion are over for another season after they fell at home to Kello Rovers in this vital promotion clash.

After a nervy opening spell from both sides the visitors made the breakthrough in 13 minutes. A long ball played down the left saw Graeme Ramage get in behind the home defence and as Ally McInnes raced off his line the Kello midfielder lifted the ball over the keeper and it trundled agonisingly into the net behind Danny Cunningham could get back to clear.

Alastair Smith then went close for Rovers with an effort from outside the area that flashed wide as they looked to build on their early advantage but they had keeper Ryan Dunsmuir to thank for keeping them in front in 18 minutes when he tipped over a Chris Black header in a crowded penalty box after Josh Sloan had headed a Paul Cameron corner back across goal. From the resultant corner Jordan Boyd was given a clear shooting opportunity but blazed over the crossbar.

Whitletts were doing most of the pressing with Kello playing on the counter-attack but the Ayr side were struggling to open up the visiting defence to create any real worthwhile opportunities. Vics best route to goal seemed to come from set pieces and twice Craig Harvey went close with a header from corner kicks.

In the second period Whitletts upped the pace and Black had a great chance when he worked his way into the box only to shoot straight at the keeper. Kello though were still looking dangerous on the break and Miller was unlucky with an effort from the edge of the box which fizzed over the crossbar.

Ramage almost grabbed his second of the game with a well worked free kick from Martin Shaw that was laid into the midfielder's path by Declan Hill but this time his shot flew just over.

It looked like time was running out for Vics when they were given a lifeline in 75 minutes. From Ali Boyle’s free-kick, Danny Cunningham rose in the box to head firmly past Dunsmuir and suddenly Vics had renewed hope of keeping their promotion bid alive. But not for long. In the next Kello attack, youngster Ali Boyle handled the ball on the line. No doubt about the penalty award, or the red card for the Vics full back, nor Graeme Ramage’s spot kick which gave McInnes no chance

Whitletts continued battling, but Kello’s organisation was such that they comfortably saw out the game and indeed the increased their advantage further with the last kick of the game, a low effort from Robert Hampson that took a deflection off Cunningham and went in off the post.

With their games in hand to come it now looks certain that the men from Kirkconnel will be playing in the Super League next season.

WHITLETTS VICTORIA: McInnes; Boyle, Ewart, Kirkland, Cunningham, Sloan, Boyd (Baird 60); Black, Cameron, L Kerr (Kennedy 64); Harvey. Subs not used: McFall, Campbell.