:LEADERS Buffs blasted a last gasp leveller to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat against rejuvenated Vics.

The game was always going to be a tight affair between two on-form teams.

Bryan Boylan and John Bradford were keeping the Saltcoats rearguard on their toes early on.

Saltcoats, however gradually fought their way into the match and were first to have a shot at goal on 12 minutes when Paul Weaver’s shot from the edge of the area was well saved by Marc Fisher.

Kilwinning had their first real shot at goal in 14 minutes and were unlucky not to take the lead when Lewis Hunter’s shot came back off the upright. Mark Ferris had a good shot charged down and cleared by Fisher before Boylan had two quick efforts at goal, the first going high and the second wide.

In 20 minutes the Buffs had a penalty claim correctly denied by referee Sean Welsh, much to the annoyance of the large travelling support as an Owen Quigley shot came of the arm of Liam Curran.

With Vics pushing forward, Curran was making some inroads up the left wing and his cross ball just evaded the back post. Another excellent cross from Chris Black was met by Mark Ferris but Fisher saved.

On the half hour, Boylan drifted past Catterson with some great footwork but when he saw the empty goal he fire the ball high over the crossbar.

But with the very next attack five minutes later Saltcoats went ahead as Alan Weaver played a defence-splitting pass to his elder sibling Paul to shoot home from the edge of the box The goal inspired Saltcoats and Joe Young and Paul Weaver began to have a real go at Isaac Kerr and Chris Strain in the heart of the Kilwinning defence. Weaver again went close from the edge of the area in 38 minutes.

But Saltcoats could not see the game to the break as when Chris Black was dispossessed on the halfway line Kilwinning pushed forward and when Jamie Anderson put over what looked like a harmless cross a mix-up between Catterson and his defence saw the ball roll through to Owen Quigley and the winger fired home.

Early in the second half Joe Young and Liam Curran saw efforts go wide, before Catterson denied Boylan and John Bradford.

Subsitute Calvin Kemp had three good chances inside five minutes. The first saw Catterson save at his feet, the second went high and wide but his third and best shot thundered off the crossbar.

This sparked Saltcoats into life and as Alan Weaver found Chris Black who set up Joe Young just and he got past Weir and chipped the ball over the onrushing Fisher before Sean Quinn lashed the ball home.

Vics replaced Black with Simon Johnston and with his very first attack produced the save of the match from Fisher as he dived to his left to knock his volley away after he met a pinpoint cross from Seamus McGeady.

Saltcoats could smell blood and pushed for a third goal. Johnston again tested the fingertips of Fisher, this time with a header.

With full-time approaching, Buffs pushed forward looking for a leveller. And their efforts were rewarded in the dying minutes when the ball was knocked over the line by Mick Hart to send their fans home in buoyant mood.

SALTCOATS VICTORIA: Catterson; McGeady, Curran, Trialist. Easdon. A Weaver, Black, P Weaver, Young, Ferris, Quinn. Subs: Monan, Trialist, Gibson, McLelland, Hood.

KILWINNING RANGERS: Fisher; Weir, Fleeting, Strain, Kerr, Hunter, Agnew, Anderson, Bradford, Boylan, Quigley. Subs: Hart, Stewart, Kemp, Wallace, Wilson.