McBookie Super League First Division

TROON 1

KILSYTH RANGERS 4

By Richard Henderson

TROON were left frustrated by an unexpectedly lacklustre performance in their home match with Kilsyth and were left with egg on their faces as their visitors took full advantage to deal a blow to the Seasiders' promotion hopes.

Coming into the game full of optimism after Wednesday's action-packed draw with Irvine Meadow, manager Jim Kirkwood made only one change as injured keeper Lyle Avci was replaced by Ally McInnes but the otherwise unchanged XI looked a very different side indeed as both teams started the match very slowly.

A flat opening 10 minutes was nearly woken with a jolt when a Dean Fulton drive down the right flank saw his low ball in cleverly stepped over by Evan Maley only for Danny McKay to stun the home fans when he blazed over from only 6 yards with the goal at his mercy.

The visitors were also able to easily swat away two poorly executed corners from their hosts in the opening twenty minutes as they rode out a lethargic storm, before Kilsyth dealt a sucker punch that stunned the Portland Park crowd into silence. Kilsyth dangerman Scott Davidson collected the ball deep on the left and drove in past a static Ross Barbour to thread a pass through to the back post for Jamie Watson to tap home past the stranded McInnes in the wee 'Gers first attack.

Troon didn't heed the warning though, as Davidson was giving ex-Kilmarnock man Barbour a torrid time by now and it was unfortunately no surprise when he doubled their lead10 minutes later with another good run and a great finish from a tight angle to double the advantage. Captain Dean Keenan tried desperately to rally his troops, and it was his drive out of defence that created Troon's only other chance of the half; feeding in Barbour whose dangerous ball in was headed wide of the target by McKay to sum up the Seasiders' first half.

A hungrier-looking Troon side who came out for the second half, but the life was drained right out of them again as a perfect breakaway from Rangers saw the lead extended to three and the contest virtually killed off in 52 minutes.

A poor Chatham corner was headed away by the first man and a neat interchange between that man Davidson and McFadden drove them up the pitch before Ally McInnes produced a marvellous save from the latter, only for Dan Smith to be the quickest to follow up and slide home into the empty net.

The hosts looked shell-shocked and things turned from bad to worse just before the hour mark as Keenan was perhaps harshly judged to have impeded Davidson on the edge of the box and ref McTiernan pointed to the spot.

Ally McInnes has worked wonders at spot kicks this season, but man-of-the-match Davidson got his second when he drilled into the top corner to round off an impressive individual display. The double introduction of Curragh and Thorburn failed to make any impression on a poor Troon performance which was uncharacteristic of their recent performances, but still one that will concern Kirkwood going in to a vital run of fixtures. That run starts off with trips to Kello Rovers and Cambuslang this week, before Cumbernauld are the visitors on April 28.

For Troon to land one of the automatic promotion spots they crave, they need a big reaction - and they need it soon.

TROON: McInnes; Barbour, Sherrie (Thorburn 70) Keenan, Strachan, Syme, McCreadie, Chatham, McKay (Curragh 63) Maley, Fulton. Subs not used: Clark Collins, Lamont

KILSYTH RANGERS: Kane; Kelly, Denholm, Hughes, Harrison, Conville, Waters (Livingstone 65) Smith (Reid 74) Watson (Graham 76) Davidson, McFadden

Subs not used: Falconer, Duffy