DOUBLE dazzler Bryan Boylan helped buoyant Buffs breeze into the third round of the national competition following a first half goal fest at Abbey Park.
The 1999 winners controlled much of the match although let the lower league side back into the match by conceding two careless goals and they had other chances to add to their tally.
Chris Strain Junior's side are now unbeaten in the last five games and have really turned their form around.
The manager was satisfied with the overall display although still feels there is room for improvement and said: "In the first half we started brightly, it was us doing the pressing and we scored some good goals. The thing that pleased me was we didn't look under any pressure. The two goals we gave away were poor defensively. For the first one Adam hit the ball and it hit Isaac Kerr and the boy scored an open goal. The free-kick we conceded for the second goal came from us not being organised quickly enough and we made a sloppy foul although fair play to the boy for sticking the free-kick away. Fair pay to Ashfield, they knocked the ball about well in the second half and they made it difficult for us. If we had not conceded the goals we had in the first half things would have been easier for us but we still showed a good mental fortitude to go and see out the game and that pleased me."
Buffs took the game to the visitors from the off and came close in the opening minute when an Isaac Kerr header from six yards hit the top of the net and spun over the bar. Then a minute later Ricky Hanvey effort from the edge of the box was well saved by Anton Nugent in the visiting goal.
However Buffs went ahead in stunning style in seven minutes when the ball broke to Dean Agnew 30 yards out and the former Stranraer man lashed a shot into the top corner.
Two minutes later the home side had a lucky escape when a Michael Giblin effort from 25 yards hit the post.
Ashfield levelled in 15 minutes when the unmarked Jordan Brown headed home.
In 19 minutes a Ben Lewis shot was deflected wide as Buffs pressed forward. However from the resultant corner-kick the ball broke to Boylan who hooked the ball home from four yards.
Buffs had a good chance from a set-piece in 23 minutes but a free-kick from Liam McGuinness was confidently saved by Nugent.
The Abbey Park side went further ahead with a superb goal in 26 minutes as livewire wideman Agnew pounced on a loose ball, surged into the box and squared to Ben Lewis who thundered home from six yards.
Home goalie Adam Strain made a superb save to foil visiting dangerman Chris Malangou 25 yards out a minute later. Nugent made a point-blank save to foil Lewis on the half hour.
Ashfield pulled a goal back in 32 minutes when Giblin drilled a 25-yard free-kick low into the bottom corner of the net. Lewis headed the ball narrowly wide from six yards in 37 minutes.
Buffs had a good opening in 43 minutes when Joe Coleman shot across from 25 yards.
A minute later however it was 4-2 when Ashfield failed to clear their lines following a Buffs attack and Boylan slammed the ball home from six yards.
Ashfield had a great opportunity six minutes after the interval when a Giblin free-kick from 25 yards was well save by Strain.
Barry Fleeting was unlucky for the hosts in 54 minutes when he got  his foot to the ball six yards out but the goalie blocked to deny him.
Coleman was unlucky seven minutes later when his ferocious effort from 25 yards produced a stunning reflex save from Nugent.
Giblin sent a free-kick from 25 yards well over the bar in 65 minutes as Ashfield tried to get back into the match.
Home substitute Jamie Anderson surged into the box only to have his shot from 12 yards well saved.
Buffs created another good chance in 73 minutes when the excellent Coleman had his shot from 12 yards well saved.
Agnew made a superb challenge to thwart Sean McBride inside the box in 81 minutes. A minute later Chris Stevenson shot well over the bar from the edge of the box.
Buffs were so close to scoring a fifth four minutes from time when Lewis set up Agnew to shoot across the face of goal from eight yards.
But the home side saw the game out to win their way through
They played well although were tested at times by a side who are two leagues below them but competed well.
KILWINNING RANGERS: Straion Coleman, Fleeting, Kerr, McGowan, Maitland, Agnew, McGuinness, Boylan, Lewis, Hanvey. Subs: Burns, Anderson, Cashmore, Stewart, Kemp.
ASHFIELD: Nugent; J McBride, S McBride, Griffin, Higgins, Donnelly, Brown, Giblin, Malangou, McGowan, Jamieson. Subs: Parandel, Stevenson, Johnston, McDonagh.
 



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