McBookie Ayrshire District League

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 1

IRVINE VICTORIA 2

REVENGE was sweet for title favourites Vics as they overcame the only side to defeat them in the league this season in a hard-fought match at Rosebank Park.

Lugar had been unbeaten since their win at Victoria Park in December.

The Bunnets won a couple of early corners which the visiting defence struggled to clear, but it was the visitors who had by far the better of the first half.

They took the lead in just eight minutes when Scott Chesney picked up an aimless clearance from Lugar goalkeeper Lyle Avci and sent in a low centre from the right which was tailor-made for Kevin Adam to whack into the net.

A 30-yard volley by Eddie Ablohr was well saved by Avci, diving to his right and then a dangerous cross from Chesney drifted beyond the far post after David Waite took a fresh-air shot as he attempted a clearance.

Lugar's hopes suffered a further setback when stalwart defender Craig Muir went off with a back injury and it wasn't until the half-hour mark that the home side had a shot at goal - a feeble effort from Andy Johnstone which trickled past the post.

The Westenders returned to the attack and Avci was called on to hold a drive from Callum Davidson.

Just before the break referee Ross Menzies, who had handled the game well, turned down a penalty appeal from Ablohr, after he tangled with Jason Mullen, allowing Avci to retrieve the ball.

Vics' discipline left a little to be desired as they picked up four needless bookings in a match they never looked like losing, although Lugar did perform better in the second half.

James Hilton curled in a shot from the right that just cleared the post, then Johnstone done almost exactly the same thing but it was still the league leaders that had the upper hand.

Avci made a good reflex save from Eddie Ablohr's header off a Davidson corner on the right, and the keeper drew further plaudits for saving Davidson's free kick from the edge of the box.

Davidson was again denied when the home goalie blocked his next effort and, even when the keeper was beaten by a free kick from Ryan Singleton, the ball came back off the base of the post.

A second goal seemed inevitable and it arrived in 83 minutes. Avci came off his line to challenge the hard-working Ablohr and the ball broke to Adam who chipped it into the unguarded net to give the visitors a two-goal cushion.

It was a cushion they were glad to fall back on as, with the watch showing 90 minutes, Jamie Ballantyne sent over a corner-kick from the right and Johnstone placed a free header to goalkeeper Chris Lamb's left.

However, Vics successfully negotiated some nervous added minutes to secure the three points.

LUGAR BT: Avci; Waite, Ballantyne, Mullen, Muir, McCowan, Faulds, McCreadie, Hilton, Johnstone, Lowe. Sub White, Campbell, Kirkwood.

IRVINE VICTORIA: Lamb; Singleton, Russell, Young, Burgess, Scaramuzza, Chesney, Davidson, Adam, Ablohr, Hyslop. Sub: McDermott, Craig, Adams, McEvoy, Mitchell.