15/11/'14 : AYRSHIRE DISTRICT LEAGUE

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 5 KELLO ROVERS 1

 

Lugar will go into their Scottish Cup third round tie in good heart after another five-goal haul that brings their total to twenty goals in their last four games.

 

Rovers have developed the bad habit of conceding early goals and they should have been behind in this match when Steven Shankland released Allan Paterson on the right side of the box and, rather than shoot, Paterson squared the ball to Marti Watt who smashed a shot against the crossbar with only the 'keeper to beat.

 

Kello's luck held only until the tenth minute when Alan Orr, who had been tormenting the defence down the Lugar left, passed to Shankland and he slipped the ball under the diving goalkeeper to open the scoring. Stuart Wark was unlucky shortly afterwards when his clever flick off a low centre from Graham Whittaker struck the post.

 

The reply from the visitors amounted to little more than a shot past the post from Sean Bennie off a deep cross by John Aitken and a 25-yard free from Martin Shaw that cleared the crossbar.

 

Lugar passed up another opportunity when Ian McCreadie, whose corner kicks caused problems throughout, hit a flag-kick to the near post where Wark flicked it on and Watt, at the back stick, sent the ball wide of the target.

 

On the half-hour Lugar grabbed a second goal when Shankland again split the defence and Wark ran down the middle to roll the ball past the hopelessly exposed goalkeeper. A minute later it was 3-0 when Watt took a pass on the left side of the box and erased the memory of his earlier miss by placing an exquisite shot into the far corner of Ryan Dunsmuir's net.

 

Home 'keeper Ryan Kelly made a fine save diving to his right to keep out a long-range effort from Stuart Bell but right on the break Allan Paterson jinked his way through the defence on the right and hit an angled drive into the far corner to make the half-time score 4-0.

 

Rovers had plenty of possession after the interval but they lacked penetration and with 58 minutes played Lugar got a fifth goal when substitute Liam Walker picked up the ball in midfield and sprinted through unchallenged to shoot past Dunsmuir.

 

Three minutes from time Kello got a goal back  when Kelly seemed favourite to claim a cross into a crowded penalty area but he failed to gather the ball and, after a scramble, Bell netted amid claims that the 'keeper had been fouled. Referee Daniel McFarlane, who handled the game sensibly throughout, saw nothing amiss however.

 

Substitute Roddy Paterson almost added a sixth goal for Lugar in stoppage time with a shot that hit the base of the post but overall the Jaggy Bunnets had a pretty good day.

 

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE - Kelly, Todd, Whittaker, Biggart, Muir, Watt, A.Paterson, McCreadie, Wark, Shankland, Orr.

Substitutes : Cuthbertson, R.Paterson, McGeady, Anderson, L.Walker.

KELLO ROVERS - Dunsmuir, Weir, Pagan, Houston, Kilpatrick, Shaw, Bennie, Bell, Aitjken, Jardine, Waite.

Substitutes : Hyslop, Regan Ross, McGinley, Gall.

8/11/'14 : AYRSHIRE DISTRICT LEAGUE

SALTCOATS VICTORIA 1 LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 5

 

Lugar's third trip to the seaside in as many weeks yielded a third successive five-goal win but it wasn't until the last quarter that they were able to "coast" to victory at Campbell Park.

 

Vics made things hard for themselves, having to play for 84 minutes with ten men, after an early moment of madness from Kyle Russell. The Saltcoats player inexplicably launched a two-footed assault on Craig Muir out on the Vics' right flank and referee Drew Kirkland correctly showed him the red card. The visitors failed to make the most of their numerical advantage in the first half and it was Lugar's Ryan Kelly whose goal was in greater peril as he saved a shot from James Moan at the base of the post then watched as Chris Black headed a cross from the left just over the bar. Victoria 'keeper Jim Catterson did eventually have to dive to save a swerving shot from Marti Watt and he held on to Jordan Mullen's header off an Ian McCreadie corner as the half drew to a close but that was as close as anyone came to a goal in an uninspiring first 45 minutes.

 

The second half was a glorious spectacle by comparison with four goals flying in within the first ten minutes. In the first move after the break Lugar won a free kick on the left and McCreadie sent over an excellent ball that Mullen headed powerfully into the bottom corner. If Lugar thought they could put the cue in the rack after this breakthrough they were disabused of that notion within 60 seconds as Darren Biggart completely missed a long ball into the box and substitute Tam McLelland took full advantage by firing past Kelly to equalize. The former Lugar player then headed a cross narrowly wide but the Bunnets took the lead again after 51 minutes when Allan Paterson went on a dazzling run into the box only to be upended by the goalkeeper and the penalty was thundered into the net by Alan Orr.

Lugar gave themselves some breathing space in the 55th minute when Steven Shankland played the ball through to Allan Paterson who ran in and hit a well-placed shot past Catterson. Kelly had to dive bravely at the feet of Black to preserve Lugar's 3-1 advantage but after 73 minutes a fourth goal was added after Orr put in a centre from the left and defender Mark Ferris succeeded only in turning the ball into his own net.

The match was played in a ceaseless downpour and in the closing stages the ten men were literally and metaphorically treading water as Lugar created further chances. There was just one more goal, however, in the 85th minute when substitute James Cuthbertson played the ball over the tiring defence to fellow sub Rodney Paterson and he ran in to beat Catterson and complete the scoring.

 

SALTCOATS VICTORIA - Catterson, Hood, Curran, Ferris, Easdon, Moan, Quinn, Davidson, Black, Russell, Gibson.

Substitutes : Ingram, Shesman, McLelland, Knight, McNulty.

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE - Kelly, Todd, Biggart, Mullen, Muir, Watt, A.Paterson, McCreadie, Wark, Shankland, Orr.

Substitutes : R.Paterson, Cuthbertson, Whittaker, McGeady, Anderson.

 

1/11/'14 : AYRSHIRE DISTRICT LEAGUE

GIRVAN 0 LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 5

 

Lugar followed up their Scottish Cup success with another five-star win at Hamilton Park against basement boys Girvan. Boss Carlo Walker gave a vote of confidence to the eleven who started at Burghead and the Bunnets were rarely troubled by the Girvan youngsters.

Allan Paterson miscued in front of goal early on off Alan Orr's cross but the breakthrough was not long in coming. Ian McCreadie's corner on the left was headed towards goal by Jordan Mullen and Craig Muir completed the move by crashing the ball into the net after seven minutes. Home goalkeeper Colin Robertson then had to save a Rodney Paterson effort with his foot after Ian McIntyre failed to cut out a pass from Mullen. Robertson was actually better with his feet than with his hands as he booted away a free kick from Orr although he did punch away a Marti Watt corner with Steven Shankland in close attendance. Allan Paterson slipped at the vital moment after being played in by namesake Rodney then the 'keeper finally managed to hold on to a shot from Orr off Allan Paterson's cross.

Among Girvan's best moments was a break by Allan Robertson down the right that set up a chance for David McVittie but the shot drifted across the face of goal and wide. Lugar 'keeper Ryan Kelly was finally called upon to save from Connor Gracie after the latter had outpaced the defence and Kelly again kept his goal intact with a diving save to deny Jamie McAvoy. The visitors doubled their lead though after 28 minutes when Orr broke down the left and sent a shot under the diving goalkeeper and into the far corner of the net.

Referee Gerald Pllu caused Girvan's McIntyre an anxious moment when he mistakenly showed him a red card instead of a yellow for a foul on Shankland, and the Saltcoats whistler was again the centre of attention after the break when he was late in emerging from the dressing room. It was suggested that he was taking time to write the words "RED" and "YELLOW" on the cards in case of any further confusion and when he did finally appear there was a cheer from the stand. It may have been ironic but referees don't often get a cheer of any kind.

 

Three minutes into the second half a wind-assisted clearance by Kelly was volleyed into the postage stamp corner by Shankland and with 57 minutes played McCreadie hit a shot from just inside the box with the outside of his left foot that beat Robertson all too easily by his right-hand post. The next half-hour was marked only by a disallowed "goal" from sub Stuart Wark but in the 85th minute substitute James Cuthbertson collected the ball in the penalty area after Robertson had beaten a shot out. He then teed the ball up for Allan Paterson who placed his shot into the top corner to complete the scoring.

 

GIRVAN - C.Robertson, McMichael, Boon, Scobie, McIntyre, A.Robertson, Gracie, Sloan, McVittie, McAvoy, Cunningham.

Substitutes : Leavy, Millarvie, McKenzie, Hamilton.

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE - Kelly, Todd, Biggart, Mullen, Muir, Watt, A.Paterson, McCreadie, R.Paterson, Shankland, Orr.

Substitutes : Wark, Whittaker, Cuthbertson, McGeady, Mathieson.

 

 

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 4 ANNBANK UNITED 2

 

Two teams with defences as uncertain as the weather produced a nerve-jangling match that Lugar will be relieved to have won.

 

Home 'keeper Cammy Menzies saw some early action, blocking a shot from Scott McNamara after Kris Stewart's run down the left but the goalkeeper's next intervention, when he collided with Adam Forsyth, led to him having to be substituted.

 

Despite this setback, the Bunnets took the lead after 18 minutes when Rodney Paterson moved the ball to his right for Allan Paterson and the latter rifled a low shot into the far corner of Jordan Callaghan's goal. Rodney Paterson was less generous with the ball in Lugar's next attack as he ran in from the left and fired a shot into the side net, to the frustration of his colleagues in the penalty box.

 

The visitors got back on terms in the 21st minute when Lugar failed properly to clear a ball in from the left and Marc Logan struck a shot that beat substitute 'keeper Ryan Kelly low down by his left-hand post. Parity lasted only a couple of minutes though, as a Rodney Paterson shot beat 'keeper Callaghan at his near post to give Lugar a 2-1 lead.

 

The home rearguard had a makeshift look about it in the absence of Craig Muir and when Forsyth pounced on a defensive error, Kelly had to be quick off his line to block the shot with his leg. Lugar took advantage of this let-off to go to the other end and score a third goal in 32 minutes. Alan Orr cracked in a shot from the left and, although Callaghan pushed it away, the ball appeared to strike Rodney Paterson and rebounded into the net.

 

If Kelly had been at fault for Annbank's first goal he more than made up for it with great reflex saves from McNamara, Stewart (twice) and Ryan Hill as the home defence threatened to fall apart. Kelly was finally beaten in the 41st minute when Forsyth again got goal-side of his marker and lobbed the ball over the 'keeper's head to make the score 3-2 at the break.

 

The second half was a scrappy affair with neither defence looking secure. An overhead kick by Darren Biggart landed on top of the Bankies' net then Stewart deflected a shot from Hill into the Lugar goal but referee David Ingram came to the home side's rescue with an offside decision.

 

With Annbank looking the likelier team, Lugar scored somewhat against the run of play in the 79th minute. Allan Paterson looked to have the beating of Blair Anderson down the Lugar left and, when the full back put out an arm to ease the forward off the ball, the referee pointed to the penalty spot from where Orr blasted in Lugar's fourth and decisive goal.

 

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE - Menzies, McGeady, Whittaker, Mullen, Biggart, Watt, A.Paterson, McCreadie, R.Paterson, Wark, Orr.

Substitutes : Boyle, Todd, Wilson, Ferguson, Kelly.

ANNBANK UNITED - Callaghan, B.Anderson, Ferry, L.Anderson, Donnelly, Hill, Sloan, Logan, Forsyth, McNamara, Stewart.

Substitutes : Tait, Uppal, McDowall.

 

Lugar Boswell Thistle 2 Craigmark Burntonians 2

Ayrshire District League - Game 4

Saturday 27th September 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Craigmark's improved form continued against a Lugar side so depleted that boss Carlo Walker named himself as a substitute.

 

Although Dom Boyle of the visiting team had the first shot at goal which was pushed over the bar by Cammy Menzies, Lugar had the better of the early exchanges. A throw-in by Graham Whittaker was headed over the angle of post and bar by Stuart Wark then Wark's next headed effort met the same fate following an Alan Orr free kick.

 

Lugar almost gifted 'Mark the lead when a clearance attempt by Menzies rebounded off Dillan Dunn and the 'keeper had to scurry across to beat the striker to the loose ball.

 

The Bunnets took the lead, however, after 18 minutes when Ian McCreadie found Rodney Patterson on the right with an astute pass and Patterson centred for Wark to side-foot the ball past 'keeper Steven Douglas. There could have been more goals as Patterson on two occasions outstripped the Craigmark defence only to shoot weakly at Douglas. Andy Boyle latched on to a slack pass out of defence before sending an inviting ball across the face of the goal that found no takers.

 

Craigmark needed a break and they got it after 33 minutes when two players contended for the ball in the penalty area and referee Derek Park perceived a push on the forward by Darren Biggart although almost no one else did. A penalty was given and dispatched to the top corner by Dunn to level the scores.

 

The visitors had a sudden surge in confidence after this and Peter Meechan ran on to a through pass before striking a shot that Menzies stopped with his foot but the first half provided no further goals.

 

Craigmark's Lewis Kirkland was booked for a foul on Patterson early in the second half and when he pulled Boyle's jersey in the penalty area in the 57th minute the outcome was a penalty to Lugar and a second yellow card for the defender. Wark's recent ill luck from the penalty spot continued though, as he blasted this one past Douglas's right-hand post and Craigmark breathed again.

 

Their respiration was once more inhibited when Chris Todd crashed a 20-yard drive off the crossbar but it was the ten men who took the lead on the hour when Dunn pounced on a poor defensive header by Craig Muir and went on to dink the ball over Menzies and into the net.

 

Four minutes later it was all square again when Boyle picked up the ball from a short corner on the right and sent in a low centre that Biggart rifled into the net.

 

Lugar's push for victory was impeded by a red card for Boyle after an uncharacteristic foul on Scott Dempster but, even so, Wark glanced a header inches wide off Orr's corner and Douglas made a fine reflex save from the same player to ensure a point for the visitors.

 

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE - Menzies, McGeady, Whittaker, Muir, Biggart, Orr, Boyle, McCreadie, Wark, Patterson, Todd.

Substitutes : Middleton, Ferguson, Wilson, Walker, Kelly.

CRAIGMARK BURNTONIANS - Douglas, Steel, Barrett, Henderson, Kirkwood, Reid, Meechan, McCubbin, Dunn, Boyle, Dempster.

Substitutes : McKay, Holland, Thirtle.

 

 

Lugar Boswell Thistle 4 Muirkirk Juniors 0

Ayrshire District League - Game 3

Saturday 13th September 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Muirkirk made Lugar work hard for their win and it was only in the final quarter that the home side put the game beyond their much improved visitors.

 

'Kirk made the better start and had the first shot at goal after a quickly taken free kick by Martin McCann but Jason McCuaig's effort was wide of the mark. Shaun Gallagher then tested home 'keeper Cammy Menzies with a low shot before Lugar had even located the starting handle.

 

Rod Patterson had Lugar's first effort on goal but 'keeper Stuart Smith was up to the task. A mishit clearance by Smith fell to Steven Shankland and he set up a chance for Alan Orr but the shot was too high.

 

The Bunnets seemed sure to take the lead when Chris Todd beat the advancing goalkeeper to a through ball and squared it to Patterson who, with the goal unattended lofted his shot out of the ground from right in front of the target.

 

A header from Allan Paterson landed on the roof of the net before Rod Patterson pounced on a rare slip by McCuaig and set up a chance for Ian McCreadie but the shot was miscued.

 

Muirkirk had played the better football without carrying a great forward threat and within four minutes of the restart they found themselves in arrears. A corner on the right from Orr produced confusion in the Muirkirk goalmouth and Patterson made up for his earlier miss by stabbing in the loose ball to give Lugar the lead.

 

In a hectic spell for the visiting defence Billy Arthur did well to cut out a Patterson cross from the right then Smith had to dash from his line to prevent the same player getting on the end of a through pass. The second goal came after 51 minutes when Allan Paterson hared off down the left and squared the ball to Shankland who had all the time and space he needed to slide a low shot past Smith.

 

'Kirk weren't done yet though, and Menzies was at full stretch to touch a Martin Griffin shot over the bar but the home side were playing with more confidence now and Orr hit a stunning shot on the drop that just cleared the crossbar.

 

The decisive third goal came after 78 minutes when an Andy Boyle free kick was headed in at the far post by fellow sub Marti Watt. Three minutes later a lovely reverse pass from Allan Paterson sent substitute Stuart Wark clear and he needed no second bidding to run in and score with a low shot.

 

Muirkirk were denied a consolation goal near the end when Seamus McGeady attempted to chest the ball back to his goalkeeper, allowing McCann to intercept. Menzies blocked his shot and Gallagher blazed the rebound over the bar leaving Muirkirk with nothing to show for their efforts.

 

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE - Menzies, McGeady, Whittaker, Biggart, Muir, Orr, A.Paterson, McCreadie, Shankland, R.Patterson, Todd.

Substitutes : Wark, Watt, Boyle, Wilson, Campbell.

MUIRKIRK - Smith, Thomson, McCuaig, Niassi, Mullen, Arthur, McCann, Griffin, Gallagher, Turnbull, McAllister.

Substitutes : Quitongo, Waite, Higgins, Gilmour.

 

Lugar Boswell Thistle 2 Dalry Thistle 1

Ayrshire District League - Game 2

Saturday 6th September 2014

         Lugar bagged their first three points of the league season with a hard-fought victory over a Dalry side who may feel they had enough chances to take something from the game.

Although goalless, the first half produced a number of opportunities at both ends. Lugar's Jason Mullen headed fractionally over the bar off a corner kick then Dalry's Ryan Singleton was frustrated by a great double save by Cammy Menzies. His opposite number Bryan Hewitt also stood up well to block a Stuart Wark effort following a run by Ian McCreadie.

 

Hewitt was the hero again when he pushed out Wark's header off a long throw-in by Craig Muir, and Andy Boyle was unable to direct the rebound into the net. Boyle fought well for possession on the right to set up Allan Paterson but the shot drifted wide then an impressive run and cross by Graham Whittaker resulted in Hewitt saving another Wark header.

 

The Garnock Valley side ended the half strongly, however, and a Jamie Boyle shot on the turn following a free kick narrowly missed the mark. The same player came even closer with a 25-yard volley that struck the junction  of post and crossbar but Dalry's best chance came just before the break when Boyle floated the ball beyond the defence for Ross Loughlin whose header cleared the bar when it looked easier to score.

 

Lugar had Menzies to thank at the start of the second half as he first parried a shot by Boyle then put an end to a dangerous run by Singleton, blocking the shot with his leg. The Bunnets hit back with a 25-yard free by Wark that whistled over the bar and a shot by Muir off McCreadie's pass that curled wide.

 

With 68 minutes played Wark broke the deadlock when he ran on to a defence-splitting pass from Boyle and dispatched a low shot past Hewitt. Lugar looked fairly comfortable for a spell thereafter and they seemed to have put the result beyond doubt with a second goal in the 82nd minute. Their best bit of football of the afternoon culminated in a low centre from the right by substitute Chris Todd which fellow sub Rod Patterson deftly guided past Hewitt at the near post.

 

Minutes later a cross from Wark on the left was just too long for Patterson as Lugar sought the goal that would put the icing on the cake. With just one minute of the 90 remaining though, Mark Archdeacon broke down the left and his cross took a heavy deflection off Muir that sent the ball over the 'keeper's head and in at the far post. That meant that the home side had to play out five nervous minutes of stoppage time decreed by referee David Roome before they could celebrate a well-earned win. 

 

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE - Menzies, McGeady, Whittaker, Mullen, Muir, Orr, Boyle, McCreadie, Shankland, Wark, A.Paterson.

Substitutes : R.Patterson, Douglas, Campbell, Todd, Biggart.

DALRY THISTLE - Hewitt, J.Friels, Guinea, Friel, Pollard, Calder, Hislop, Loughlin, Singleton, Jamie Boyle, Archdeacon.

Substitutes : Jason Boyle, Lockhart, G.Friels, Halliday.

Whitletts Victoria 3 Lugar Boswell Thistle 1

Ayrshire District League - Game 1

Saturday 30th August 2014

Injury-hit Lugar began their league programme with a tough assignment against promotion favourites Whitletts at a sun-drenched Dam Park. The Bunnets dominated the opening spell with both Stuart Wark and Rod Patterson having a pop at goal.

Lugar's early pressure paid off in the eighth minute after a run by Allan Paterson was ended by a crunching challenge on the edge of the box. Wark extracted retribution with a perfectly struck free kick that went in to Ally McInnes's right leaving the goalkeeper helpless.

Victoria's equalizer bore certain similarities as it also came from a free kick just outside the penalty area awarded for Jason Mullen's foul on Tony Balfour in the 19th minute. Although goalkeeper Cammy Menzies pushed away Balfour's free kick, the ball struck defender Seamus McGeady and rebounded into the net.

The home side enjoyed a good spell thereafter and Balfour sent in a cross that flew just beyond Jim Wilson. Next, a long ball from Alan Love gave Balfour the chance for a shot that brought a good save from Menzies and it was no surprise when Vics took the lead with 25 minutes played. Wilson met a cross from the left only to see his header pushed on to the bar by Menzies but the defence was slow to react and Michael O'Connor nodded in the rebound as the 'keeper struggled to recover.

The third goal for Whitletts came after 34 minutes when defensive indecision allowed O'Connor to win possession wide on the right and, as Craig Muir attempted to prevent him getting the cross in, the ball struck the defender, completely wrong-footing the goalkeeper, and floated into the net at the far post.

 

A minute before the break Lugar were convinced they should have had a penalty when a Paterson shot appeared to be blocked by the arm of Steven Kerr as he lay on the ground. The ex-Lugar player then rolled over on top of the ball before it was eventually scrambled clear. Referee Drew Kirkland, whose performances have irritated Lugar in the past, was perfectly placed on this occasion...to ignore the entire incident, ensuring Vics retained their 3-1 lead at the break.

 

The official continued to look out of his depth after the interval and ended up booking ten players - five from each side - mostly for verbal outbursts, while more serious matters went unpunished.

One such incident occurred after 67 minutes following a penalty award to Lugar. Allan Paterson's penetrating run had been prematurely ended by yet another scything challenge by Raymond Buchanan and this time the referee pointed to the spot. In the melee that followed, however, he completely missed what looked like a cowardly stamp by serial offender Martin Lawrie on the prostrate Paterson who had to be substituted as a result. To compound that misfortune, Wark's spot-kick proved insufficiently challenging for his former team-mate McInnes who saved it comfortably, and further goals never looked likely in a sterile last quarter.

 

WHITLETTS VICTORIA - McInnes, Longair, Lawrie, Holland, Buchanan, Kerr, Love, Hanvey, O'Connor, Balfour, Wilson.

Substitutes : Wallace, Allan, Nisbet, Ewart, Baillie.

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE - Menzies, McGeady, Orr, Muir, Mullen, Peacock, A.Paterson, McCreadie, R.Patterson, Wark, Boyle.

Substitutes : Kelly, Walker, Campbell, Douglas, Todd.