McBookie Championship

DALRY THISTLE 2

IRVINE VICTORIA 0

By Stewart McConnell

EVERGREEN striker Ian Cashmore came back to haunt his old side with a goal as District League champions Dalry downed Vics.

The win was the third in succession for joint table-toppers Thistle, who handed the Westenders, runners-up to them last season - their first defeat.

Experienced Thistle were clinical in front of goal, while Vics spurned a number of chances, although home goalie Blair Lochhead pulled off some superb saves.

In eight minutes home player Kyle Cummings went on a mazy run before having his effort from 10 yards cleared off the line by a Vics defender

Then as the hosts kept pressing, Lewis Kirkwood sent a 25-yards effort well over the bar from 25 yards in 15 minutes.

However two minutes later Dalry hit the front when Cummings slipped a precision pass to Cashmore, who drilled the ball home from 10 yards.

It was one-way traffic at this stage and Cummings shot well wide from 25 yards in 26 minutes.

Irvine Vics were still battling and Ross McKenzie sent a header from 18 yards wildly wide of target in 31 minutes.

The visitors were unlucky in 33 minutes when the trialist right-back sent a header from a Ryan Morrow free-kick narrowly wide of target.

Cummings was booked for a foul two minutes later and the resultant free-kick from Ryan Singleton was brilliantly touched round the post by Lochhead.

Home player Lewis Collins shot across the face of goal from 25 yards in 40 minutes.

Westenders goalie Ryan McLaren made a great save to deny Cashmore from eight yards two minutes later.

Vics came close a minute after the break when a 25-yard piledriver from Ryan Morrow was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Lochhead.

At the other end visiting defender Michael Holden made a headed clearance in 51 minutes.

The visitors were unlucky in 58 minutes when Ryan Singleton set up Logan Stevenson, whose shot from eight yards was well saved by Lochhead.

Another chance was spurned by Vics in 65 minutes when a 25-yard Singleton rocket crashed off the crossbar.

Morrow shot inches wide from 22 yards in 70 minutes.

The game was over as a contest when Dalry doubled their lead in 74 minutes. Veteran defender Chris McGowan powerfully headed home a Kyle Cummings header from eight yards.

Seven minutes later a 25-yard shot from the Vics trialist substitute was easily saved by the home goalie as Thistle easily saw the game out.

DALRY THISTLE: Blair: Hannah, Kyle, Lewis, Kyle, McGowan, Lavery, Cummings, Anderson, Cashmore, Stuart, Collins. Subs: Parrott, Browning, Turner, Gardiner, Fisher.

IRVINE VICTORIA: McLaren; Trialist, Trialist, Holden, Laughlin, Farrell, R Singleton, McKenzie, Skeoch, McKinlay, Morrow. Subs: Stevenson, Young, P Singleton, Trialist.