CARELESS Vics slipped down to third bottom spot after being edged out by the Farmer’s Boys in a high-scoring drop zone battle.

The Westenders blew a 3-1 first half lead and are now just five points clear of basement side Largs Thistle.

Former Kilmarnock and Beith striker Daniel McKay was given his first competitive start for the visiting side following his recent signing.

Neilston started the first half well, forcing a few corners in the opening minutes and Derek Kennedy had the first attempt but it went over the bar.

It was the home side who took the lead in 18 minutes when ex-Neilston man David Adams beat his marker to cross for Ricky Allan who drilled the ball home into the top corner of the net.

Vics doubled their lead minutes later when Reid Brown fired home from outside the area after some poor defending.

Neilston pulled a goal back when Martin McInnes found Derek Kennedy on the edge of the area and he turned to fire a low shot past Chris Lamb. They nearly equalised minutes later when a good link set up McKay but his shot was blocked by the defender.

The home side restored their two-goal advantage in 33 minutes when a mistake in midfield and a through ball caught the visiting defence out and Adams ran through to knock it past James Digney into the empty net.

Neilston pulled a goal back just before the interval when Kennedy picked up the loose ball to drill the ball home in the bottom corner.

The visitors began the second half on the front foot as they chased getting the equaliser, but it was the home side should have restored their two-goal advantage after scramble in the box from a corner and the ball was eventually cleared.

The Farmer’s Boys drew level in 68 minutes when Robbie Cameron bundled the ball over the line after Derek Kennedy’s effort was saved by Chris Lamb. At the other end the home side thought they had a penalty but Scott Chesney was ruled offside by the referee assistant.

The home side was reduced to 10 men four minutes from time when Robert Burgess picked up his second yellow after he fouled sub Graeme Barbour resulting in a melee between the two teams with few players getting yellow cards.

From the resultant free-kick Neilston went 4-3 up when Sean McGhee’s ball caused problems in the home box and Kennedy drilled home the winner and to complete his hat-trick and end a frustrating afternoon for the Westenders.

IRVINE VICTORIA: Lamb; Brown, Gregory, David Wilson, Burgess, Hannah, Chesney, Davidson, Adam, Adams, Allan. Subs: McMaster Singleton, Ablohr, Colligan, Young.

NEILSTON: Digney; McGhee, Murphy, McInnes, McDade, C Cameron, Kennedy, Docherty, R Cameron, McKay, Craig. Subs: Barbour, Diack (trialist); Tulloch, Dempsey, Sinclair (gk).

For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.