Ardagh Glass League Cup

MAYBOLE 2

WHITLETTS VICTORIA 3

WHITLETTS ended a six year wait for a win at Ladywell Stadium with a thrilling victory in this Ardagh Glass Cup tie.

The Dam Park side hadn’t won in the Carrick Capital since 2011, losing on their last five visits but a stunning late strike from Darren Baird ended that run to break Maybole hearts.

Whitletts couldn’t have made a better start with new signing Mbanje Munyaradzi finding the net in just 75 seconds.

Maybole keeper Martin McCauley could only partially clear a Sean Ewart cross into the box and from 25 yards the little Zimbabwean lifted the ball over everyone and the ball nestled in the back of the net. Munyaradzi could have added a second moments later but couldn’t turn Craig Harvey’s cross into the net.

Midway through the half Jordan Boyd turned well at the corner of the six-yard box but McCauley pulled off a fine save and it proved to be a key save as in 24 minutes the home side equalised. A Chris Allan free-kick from 22 yards took a wicked deflection off the defensive wall, wrong-footing everyone as it spun into the far corner.

Maybole had a fair share of possession but Whitletts carried the greater threat with Sean Ewart and Boyd again testing MaCauley but in 43 minutes the keeper dived again at the feet of Harvey but this time pulled the Vics striker to the ground giving referee Ross Clark no option but to point to the squad. Harvey fired low past MaCauley.

Midway through the second half Louis Kerr tested MaCauley with a volley from the edge of the area.

With 11 minutes remaining a Lewis Dunn drive from 25 yards left Douglas rooted to his line as the ball crashed off the top of the bar but in 82 minutes, Maybole were back on level terms in controversial fashion, Allan netting his second, this time from the penalty spot. Isaac Kerr had bundled Nicholas Warren to the ground although the offence looked to have taken place outside the penalty area.

That sense of injustice spurred Vics into action. and in 86 minutes substitute Baird struck a stunning winner as he swivelled 25 yards out and struck a thumping shot past MaCauley which flew in off the post.

MAYBOLE: McCauley; McMillan, Bloy. Peacock. Lowe, Dunn, McDade (Clark 60); Gardiner (Warren 72); Allan, Nimmo, Connor.

Subs (not used): Barnett, Walker, Bell.

WHITLETTS VICTORIA: Douglas; Anderson (Boyle 46); Lawrie, I Kerr, Buchanan, Sloan, Munyaradzi. Boyd (Baird 72); Harvey (Milligan 72; L Kerr, Ewart. Subs (not used): Ogston, McClymont