McBookie Ayrshire District League

IRVINE VICTORIA 2

DALRY THISTLE 1

SPIRITED Vics inflicted a first league defeat on Dalry as they came from behind to steal a late win.

Thistle were forced into two defensive changes and it was perhaps this that led to an apprehensive start.

With seven minutes on the clock the first chance of the game fell to Vics when a free-kick was sent into the box and Graham Longair at the far post volleyed the ball over.

However in nine minutes Dalry took the lead. Kieran McLaughlin was allowed to get in behind the defence and he stayed calm to put the ball behind keeper Chris Lamb from just inside the box.

Vics were certainly pressing Dalry back and they won a couple of corners and free kicks, putting some pressure on the Dalry defence.

It took a great defensive tackle from McLaughlin to deny a chance and then David Cunningham saw a free-kick well saved by Blair Lochhead,

The equaliser was only delayed until 20 minutes. A weak defensive header was turned back over the top of the Dalry defence and David Adams had space and time to score from 15 yards.

Dalry had a great chance to retake the lead on 25 minutes when Mark Archdeacon was clean through on the goalie but he perhaps had too much time and Lamb got down and save.

A minute later Adams, who looked well offside was allowed to run on in on keeper Lochhead who pulled off a fine save.

After Vics had the better of the pressure, Dalry came back at them and a shot from Lavery went just wide, and the visitors took some heart from a better spell of play before the interval.

If the first half had seen Vics dominating possession and pressure, the second half was just the opposite as Dalry took control.

It started with a corner to Dalry which Lamb slapped away and Ryan Cummings had half a chance inside the box but the ball got tangled under his feet.

Then Ian Cashmore supplied a low cross which saw Cumming mis-kick in front of goal from six yards.

In 64 minutes, McLaughlin found Cashmore whose shot come back off the post. Then on 70 minutes a Jordan Stuart effort was headed off the goal line.

Vics were being pegged back even though Dalry were struggling to put together their usual passing game on the poor surface and in the strong wind.

It took until 70 minutes before Vics threatened when a quick break forward ended in a corner.

Then from a free-kick, Cunningham headed just wide.

In 79 minutes Dalry had a really strong claim for a penalty turned down after McLaughlin was pulled down from the back.

With five minutes left Kenny Parris was almost in the clear but it was cleared.

It looked like these two teams, favourites for promotion, would settle for the draw, but there was to be a twist in the tail as Vics stole all three points.

In the first minute of time added, a simple long high ball forward which caused problems in the strong wind and when it was flicked on with a header by Parris, it fell kindly to Eddie Ablohr who scored from 18 yards with a powerful shot.

It was a cruel end for Dalry who had put so much into the second half without reaching their usual high level, and Vics celebrated the victory as if they had won the league.

IRVINE VICTORIA: Lamb; Smith, Longair, D Wilson, Bonner, Craig, Mears, Davidson, Parris, Adams, Cunningham. Subs; C Wilson, Singleton, Adam, Bolton, Ablorh.

DALRY THISTLE: B Lochhead; Boyd, Hannah, Kirkwood, McGowan, Lavery, McLaughlin, Stuart, Cashmore, Cumming, Archdeacon. Subs; Lawrie, Morrison, Burns, Turner, Fisher.