HAT-trick hero Kevin Adam helped Vics hammer ‘Kirk to chalk up a second successive win.

A dominant performance from the hosts helped take their goals for tally to 11 and one against to underline their status as one of the promotion favourites.

While it’s early days this win bodes well for the rest of the campaign.

Vics manager Stevie Wilson was impressed with his team’s display and said: “It was one of these games that you knew if you underestimated them you could end up falling short. With George Grierson there we knew there had been an improvement in their side, they had a good shape about them. We had to be patient but once we got our first two goals we were in control. Last week Kevin Adam had two and Eddie Ablohr had two and we asked them to keep their tallies going and Kevin Adam had a hat-trick while David Adams popped up with two.” Before kick-off the players and fans took part in an impeccably observed minute’s applause in memory of Vics secretary Sheena Thomson, who had tragically passed away almost two weeks earlier.

Muirkirk had a good opportunity in 12 minutes when a 12-yard effort from Kris Stewart was deflected wide by the home defence. Then a minute later Eddie Ablohr was adjudged offside when he ran on to a long through ball.

However the deadlock was broken in 17 minutes when David Adams picked the ball up 25 yards out and smashed a shot into the top corner of the net.

Vics had another good opening five minutes later when a cross into the box by Andrew Hislop was scrambled clear by a Muirkirk defender.

The Westenders doubled their advantage in 26 minutes when Kevin Adam squeezed home an angled drive from 16 yards.

Wilson’s troops once again came close on the half hour when a 25-yard drive from Eddie Ablohr was confidently saved by Shaun Kirkland.

The home side almost increased their lead in 34 minutes but a 25-yard piledriver from Darren Russell was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Kirkland.

‘Kirk carved out an opening a minute later when a header from 16 yards by Darren McIntyre was well saved by Chris Lamb.

Irvine Vics were awarded a free-kick right on the edge of the box in 43 minutes after Adam was tripped by a defender.

And Darren Russell effortlessly curled the set-piece low into the bottom corner of the net.

Vics were unlucky again in 52 minutes when an Adams shot from 12 yards was well saved by Kirkland with the visiting goalie also keeping out the rebound from Ryan Singleton.

In 54 minutes a netbound effort from 12 yards by Singleton crashed off the crossbar and went over.

David Wilson saw his speculative effort from 25 yards saved in 59 minutes.

However two minutes later Adam capitalised on hesitation in the ‘Kirk defence by rolling the ball home from 16 yards to make it 4-0.

Vics could have scored again in 64 minutes but Ablohr headed a Jordan Craig cross inches wide of target. Ablohr shot inches wide from eight yards a minute later.

Graeme Condon shot just over the bar for ‘Kirk from 25 yards in 70 minutes.

Adams raced on to a long through ball before shooting under the keeper and into the net from 12 yards as Vics went nap in 80 minutes.

However ‘Kirk pulled a goal back four minutes from time when the unmarked Condon shot home from eight yards.

Vics were awarded a penalty in 89 minutes when an Adam shot was handled in the box by Josh Williamson, who was red-carded, And the striker coolly netted from the penalty spot to round off an easy victory.

IRVINE VICTORIA: Lamb; Hislop, Russell, Young, Burgess, Wilson, Ablohr, Craig, Adam, Adams, Singleton. Subs: Scaramuzza, Monan, Trialist, Mitchell.

MUIRKIRK: Kirkland; Peck, Beveridge, Miller, Condon, McIntyre, C Wilson, Russell, Stewart, Turnbull, Campbell, Elder. Subs: B Wilson, Baird, Williamson, Scott.s