McBookie Ayrshire District League

IRVINE VICTORIA 4

DALRY THISTLE 1

VICS bounced back in style following defeat in their last competitive game to chalk up a 10th victory out of 12.

They had suffered their first league defeat of the season against Lugar Boswell Thistle on December 19 and were determined top make amends to keep up their strong promotion challenge.

But Stevie Wilson's men had to work hard for victory against an improving Dalry Thistle side who are showing good signs of progress under manager Gavin Friels.

The important win leaves them nine points ahead of Girvan and Darvel.

The match was swttched to Victoria Park in midweek as Merksworth Park was looking doubtful and both teams were desperate to see some action, following the frustrating weather-enforced break.

Dalry had to make a last minute change when keeper Brian Hewitt was injured in the warm=up and Sean Summers had to take over.

Thistle started the game really well and indeed for the first 35 minutes they were almost totally dominant. With six minutes gone a shot from Greig McVeigh brought out a great save. Then Jordan Stuart had a long rang shot which dipped onto the roof of the net.

The visitors then took a deserved lead in 17 minutes, with a bit of good fortune. Ryan McMunn sent in a low cross from the right into a crowded box and it somehow found its way through everybody and ended up in the net.

Thistle looked comfortable at this point but Vics gradually played their way into the game and started to push Dalry deeper.

It was all-square in 35 minutes when a cross from the left was headed by Jordan Craig and then ball seemed to come off his shoulder on its way into the net.

Vics then took the lead in 38 minutes when a break of the ball saw it land at the feet of David Adams 12 yards out and the striker coolly slotted the ball home.

It got even better for Vics in 44 minutes when full-back Gallacher was guilty of not clearing his lines properly and Adam stole the ball to run in and shore with a powerful drive from 15 yards.

So after enjoying much of the early play Dalry found themselves trailing at half=time.

The second half was a much more even affair, but real chances were few and far between. In 51 minutes a good Morrison shot was well saved as Dalry looked to get back into the game.

The best chance for Vics came 10 minutes from time when a header from Craig came back off the post.

Dalry changed to 3three at the back and had Vics pegged back with the pace they injected, but they were caught out with five minutes to go. Despite claims for a foul on the halfway line, Vics were allowed to carry on and on the break summer signing Mark McRobert, who has bnattled back from a long-term injury scored.

Apart from that mad last 10 minutes of the first half this wasn't a bad display by Dalry and they asked questions of Vics, who had to pull out all the stops for victory.

However at the midway point of the season the Westenders looked well placed for a return to the Super First Division although they know much work has still to be done to achieve their objective.

Vics; Lamb, Singleton, Russell, Young, Wilson, Craig, Ablorh, Davidson, Adam, Adams, Hislop; Subs McDermott, McEvoy, McRobert, Mitchell.

Dalry; Summers, McMunn, Gallagher, Brown, Mcgregor, Marshall, Morrison, Stuart, Mills, McVeigh, Archdeacon; Subs: L Hood, M Hood, Butler, McLuckie, Gray.