BUFFS KEEP SLIM HOPES ALIVE

0 - 0 • Published 29 Apr 2009 10:45 0 Comments

Share this

EK Thistle 1 Kilwinning Rangers 2

STRIKER supreme James Tyler scored two second half goals at windy Showpark to keep alive Buffs" very slender hopes of beating the drop.

It was a game of two halves with East Kilbride on top in the first half and using their wind advantage with the visiting trialist keeper making three fine saves. The best was a superb fingertip save to keep out a netbound effort in 22 minutes.

Kilwinning had few chances in the first half as they tried to contain the home side.

After the break Buffs stepped up a gear as they used the wind to their benefit and James Tyler"s pace was posing EK all kinds of problems. Five minutes into the second half Calum McGregor, who had a stunning game, fired a great through ball to Tyler who beat the offside trap but his shot was saved by the keeper.

The Abbey Parkers deservedly broke the deadlock in 67 minutes when a long ball down the centre from Alan Shields was picked up by Tyler who outpaced everyone and rounded the keeper to slot into an empty net.

Gary Faulds" side doubled their tally in 80 minutes when substitute Alan Keddie beat two men in the box and fired a cross to Tyler to sidefoot home from two yards.

Five minutes from time McGregor took a free-kick from 50 yards and Tyler was left unmarked from close range but headed wide of the post with keeper in no man"s land.

East Kilbride pulled a goal back two minutes into injury time when a clearance from the trialist keeper bounced off the home number five"s head and the number eight slipped the ball into the empty net. But Buffs held on for their third win in four games.

KILWINNING RANGERS: Trialist; McAusland, Moore, Shields, Philipson, Mason, Broadfield, Hannah, McGregor, Tyler, Gordon. Subs: Grant, Keddie, Shanks, Wilson.

This article appeared in Irvine Times 29 Apr 09

Follow @irvinetimes

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.