McBookie Super League Premier Division

ARTHURLIE 1

KILWINNING RANGERS 4

Pictures: Ross Mackenzie and Robert Burns

HIGH-flying Buffs steamrollered Arthurlie at Dunterlie Park courtesy of a hat-trick from former Ayr United striker Ryan Nisbet.

It was their fifth win out of seven and on this evidence they could challenge for the title.

After falling behind to a fantastic Craig Pettigrew free-kick Arthurlie got themselves back into the game getting on level terms but after falling behind again with 15 minutes to go they chased the game and were picked off with two late goals.

Kilwinning were first to try their luck four minutes in but Colin Spence jumped highest of the wall to block a Monti free kick from the edge of the area. A minute later Grant Hay had to get down low at his near post to smother a Latta effort as the visitors started brightest.

Craig had Arthurlie’s first effort on ten minutes but Strain was equal to his effort saving with ease and less than 60 seconds later Kilwinning got their noses in front. A free kick just outside the penalty area saw new signing Pettigrew curl a great effort up and over the wall giving Hay no chance.

Soon after a daisy cutter across the face of the goal from Findlay Frye had Hay scrambling but the ball thankfully rolled past the far post.

Twenty minutes in, Mark McKenzie chased a lost cause on the left and somehow managed to poke the ball through to Steven Weir whose shot on the turn ended up in the side netting. On the half hour Boylan broke at pace for the visitors before setting up Liam McGuinness but just as he was about to pull the trigger Steven Tart made a fantastic clearance. Liam McGuinness popped up at the other end soon after to block a shot from McKenzie and Craig’s curler from the rebound went just over. There was no more scoring in the opening period and Kilwinning went in at the break a goal to the good.

Macaulay Wilson didn’t appear for the second half following an earlier injury and was replaced by debutant Jamie Watson and it was Arthurlie who started the better second half, Strain doing well to touch a McKenzie effort round the post early on.

Twenty minutes in and Wyper replaced Weir and two minutes later his deflected shot from the edge of the box brought the teams level.

The game didn’t stay level for long however, as four minutes later Kilwinning went back ahead. A good run down the left from Boylan ended with him cutting the ball back inside to Nisbet who took one touch to control the ball before hitting past Hay, who was already diving the opposite way.

On the half hour, Nisbet gathered possession again and jinking past players along the 18-yard line he finally left fly - only to be denied by a great save from Hay.

With two minutes remaining an Arthurlie chasing the equaliser gaps were appearing at the back and when Nisbets shot was blocked by Scott Gair, the Kilwinning frontman was first to react and hit the rebound home just as Hay raced to collect.

Right on full-time Nisbet completed his hat-trick when he ran in at the far post to slide a Monti cross under Hay at his near post to finish the scoring for the day.

ARTHURLIE: Hay' Girvan, Wilson, Chisholm, Tart, Gair, Spence, McKenzie, McAleenan, Weir, Craig. Subs: Graham, Wyper, Wilson, Capuano, Nugent.

KILWINNING RANGERS: Strain, Latta, McCloskey, Pettigrew, Whyte, Frye, Monti, McGuinness, Winters, Nisbet, Boylan.