Published: Wednesday, 7th May, 2008 15:00
KNOCK-TEN-TIBER
By Stewart McConnell
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KNOCKENTIBER 3 CARRICK 1
CAPTAIN Courageous David Kirkland fought off the effects of cramp, leading by example with a dazzling extra-time double as tiber clinched their TENTH Britsih Energy Ayrshire Cup crown and their first in a decade, edging out a fiesty young Carrick side in this Friday night nailbiter.
Then he set his sights on defending their Lindsay fencing (Irvine) Premiier Division title and even end up with a quadruple with the Eric W White Memorial trophy already in the cabinet.
The overjoyed 35-year-old said: "I am absolutelly over the moon and it was great to score twogoals in the final.
"I am 35 now so it means a lot to me to win trophies like this."
Tiber took the lead with the first chance of the match in five minutes, Gary Grieg jumping the Carrick defence to head a corner-kick from Ryan Miller into th enet at th efar post. Then as Tiber continued to stamp their authority on the game in 14 minutes as an Ally McKerral free-kick from 30 yards was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Carrick goalkeeper Steven Espie.
Carrick gradually started to come back into the match and in 20 minutes John Johnstone made a run towards the edge of the box before the before opposing number four Kevin Campbell mopped up the danger.
And the South Ayrshire men carved out their best opportunity thus far in 23 minutes as a shot from 25 yards by Steven McBirnie was skillfully pushed round the post by Ross Stewart in the Tiber goal.
An attacking start to the second half saw Tiber's James Caldwell have a 16-yard shot deflected wide by a Cqarrick defender. but carrick countered quickly and in 53 minutes a Graham Muirhead chip from 12 yards went just over the bar.
The premier diviosn side had a lucky escape in 62 minutes, making a goal-line clearance to keep out a Muirhead effort.
However, it was all square in 73 minutes with as tunning equaliser from Carrick, Reid Logan clashing a rasping 30-yard drive into the roof of the net. Then, as carrick pushed for a shock winner, Gary McNeil shot inches over the bar from 22 yards. Seven minutes from time from 16 yards.
Then two minutes from extra-time Tiber got infront with a set-piece goal, Kirkland using his height advantage to out jump the carrick defence and brilliantly head home along-range free kick from Miller, who was later confirmed as man of the match.
A minute later Kirkland's shot from six yards was well saved by Espie. then it looked to be over as a superb three-man move culminated in Kirkalnd blasting a shot from 12 yards off both posts to make it 3-1.
Then Carrick's McBirnie set up eddie cole to shoot wide from 14 yards in 112 minutes but it was already a foregone conclusion that the trophy was on its way back to Knockentiber.
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