Latest WoSFL Ayrshire action
AUCHINLECK Talbot saw their defence of the West of Scotland
Cup brought to an end in agonising fashion on Saturday after Tommy Sloan’s side lost to Pollok on penalties in a nail-biting semi-final.
The Beechwood Park tie finished
2-2 after 90 minutes, but it was
10-man Pollok who prevailed in the shoot-out after Ross Smith and Scott Schoneville saw their efforts saved by Pollok keeper Jordan Longmuir as the Glasgow club sealed their place in the final against Shotts or Darvel, with
Luke Main the man converting the deciding spot-kick.
In the Premier Division, meanwhile, Beith Juniors gave their hopes of retaining their league crown a huge boost with a 4-2 win at home to relegation-threatened Arthurlie at Bellsdale, with Ciaran Diver taking his tally for the season to 27 with a fine hat-trick alongside Ewan Wilson’s strike.
At the other end, Troon look all but safe from the threat of relegation after an entertaining, if rather breezy, 2-2 draw at home to Gartcairn, with Grant Brennan salvaging a point for the Seasiders right at the death, while Hurlford lost 1-0 at home to leaders Clydebank.
The windy conditions also had a big say in the 1-1 draw at Valefield Park, where Daniel Kindlan’s second half strike for Thorniewood cancelled out Ryan Connelly’s opener for Kilbirnie Ladeside.
In the Second Division, Craigmark Burntonians announced the resignation of Ian Nixon after six months in charge following their 7-0 thumping away to promotion chasers Vale of Clyde - but Bonnyton Thistle eased their relegation fears with a 4-3 win over Forth Wanderers at Carluke Rovers’ home ground.
Irvine Vics’ fading Third Division promotion hopes suffered another blow after a 2-1 defeat away to secondtop Vale of Leven; Bobby Colligan’s strike had the Ayrshire men in front at the break at Millburn Park, but Chris Jackson headed the home side level before Ross Cameron’s free kick won it three minutes from time.
Ardeer Thistle remain perilously placed just ahead of the Third Division drop zone despite coming from behind to draw 1-1 away to West Park United thanks to Stewart Morgan’s second half goal, but Kello Rovers now need a miracle to avoid tumbling into the bottom tier after losing 2-0 away to leaders Lanark United.
Lugar Boswell Thistle stayed in the Fourth Division promotion mix 4-0 win away to Saltcoats Victoria, though it took the Jaggy Bunnets a while to be sure of the points against a stuffy Vics side, with Kieran Oliver, Robbie Hannah and Ewan McIver all finding the net in the final 13 minutes to add to Conan Mackin’s early opener.
The only other Fourth Division game to beat the weather on Saturday saw Eglinton share the spoils with Carluke after a see-saw 3-3 draw at Ian Cashmore Senior Memorial Park, with Dylan McLintock’s stunning 25-yard effort in the third minute of added time earning the Jousters a point.