McBookie Super League First Division

ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS 2

KILWINNING RANGERS 2

HIGH-flying Buffs were sent crashing back down to earth by a stubborn Winton side who blasted back from behind to secure a much-needed point.

The Scottish Junior Cup quarter-finalists are unbeaten since mid-September and were favourites to take another three points against a side who pipped them to the District League title this season.

But while Buffs had much of the play and more of the chances, the home side defended doggedly and deserved to take something from the match.

Later disappointed visiting boss Chris Strain Jnr said: “It was one-way traffic the full game and only one team was wanting to win. Full credit to Winton - they scored a good goal through Ben Carson. We got ourselves back into the game, somewhat fortuitously, got ourselves in front and should have won. The second goal came about because for a moment we all switched off and it cost us dearly because Winton are scrapping for points.”

Added Winton counterpart Chris Strain Snr: “I was pleased to take a point because we were a bit depleted with a few injuries and guys playing with injuries like Bobby Colligan and Ryan Caddis. Graham Boyd was out with medial ligament damage and Darren Miler was on holiday.”

The home side forged the first opening in two minutes when trialist and former Irvine Meadow midfielder Frank Gibson shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box. Ten minutes later Buffs came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock when Ben Lewis sent a precision cross to Bryan Boylan, whose header from eight yards crashed off the crossbar.

However, in 26 minutes the hosts made the breakthrough in style when Ben Carson sent a 30-yard volley into the net.

On the half hour visiting goalie Adam Strain made a great save to keep out a shot from the edge of the box by ex-Buffs striker John Bradford. As Buffs kept pressing, a Ben Lewis corner-kick was headed narrowly wide by Tommy Maitland in 35 minutes.

Visiting defender Barry Fleeting had a shot from close to the corner flag blocked by the Buffs defence four minutes later.

In 42 minutes visiting striker Ross Stewart had only Dylan Caddis to beat from six yards but blasted the ball over the bar, However, a minute later Buffs were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box and Ricky Hanvey sent the set-piece low into the bottom corner.

Three minutes after the break, Boylan teed up Lewis eight yards out and he shot over the bar. Then in 51 minutes Lewis sent a 25-yard free-kick wide.

Bradford sent a superb through ball towards Caddis in 56 minutes but Strain beat him to the ball. Winton came close three minutes later when a Caddis header from six yards following a Bradford cross was well handled by Strain.

Home goalie Dylan Caddis rushed out to beat Stewart to the ball inside the box in 62 minutes. The hosts were unlucky a minute later when Gibson made a surging run before shooting over the bar from 25 yards.

The Abbey Park side restored their advantage in 66 minutes when Boylan whipped a cross into the box and Dean Agnew nudged the ball home from six yards.

Buffs almost scored again five minutes later when Agnew powered into the box and shot narrowly wide from 12 yards.

Winton levelled in 77 minutes when a superb pass from Caddis was picked up by Conor Browning who won a challenge in the box and sent home an angled drive from eight yards.

The Abbey Parkers had a chance eight minutes from time when the ball broke to Ian Cashmore 22 yards out but his lob was easily saved by Caddis.

Buffs should have scored in 85 minutes but Cashmore shot wide from 25 yards. Then a 22-yard Caddis free-kick was deflected wide by the Buffs defence three minutes later as Winton held on for a point.

ARDROSSAN WR: D Caddis; Gibson, Richardson, Reid, Marriott, Carson, Browning, Willet, R Caddis, Bradford, Colligan, Cochrane, Gemmell, Mason, Wardrope.

KILWINNING RANGERS: Strain; Coleman, Fleeting, Kerr, Campbell, Maitland, Agnew, Hanvey, Boylan, Lewis, Stewart. Subs: Burns, Barrowman, Boyd, Cashmore, Cumming.