McBookie Super League First Division

TROON 2

MARYHILL 1

By Stewart McConnell

FREE-scoring STRIKER Scott McLean delivered what could be a farewell gift in the form of a penalty-kick winner as Troon saw off stuffy Maryhill.

Former Kilmarnock target man McLean has trials with Livingston and Cardiff City lined up in in the next two weeks and this looks set to be his last game for the hosts as he aims for a return to senior football.

In four minutes a McLean cross into the box was booted away by a Maryhill defender. A great move from Troon six minutes later saw Ross McCrea set up Dylan Pooler outside the box and he found McLean to shoot narrowly wide from eight yards.It was all Troon at this stage.

Tony Murphy sent superb through ball to McCrea eight yards from goal but he was adjudged to be just offside in 16 minutes.

Maryhill had their first chance a minute later when a drive from 22 yards by former Ayr United man Anthony Marenghi was well saved by Ally McInnes.

A great tackle by home skipper Dean Keenan foiled Jack McLarty on the edge of the box after he had made a superb run in 25 minutes.

Pooler laid a pass on a plate to Mark Curragh who hit the post from eight yards in 28 minutes. Keenan sent a 22-yard free-kick well wide a minute later.

McLean sent a superb through ball to Jack Skerrie, who shot just over the bar from eight yards in 41 minutes.

Curragh sent a strong cross into the box in 44 minutes but Andy Banks booted the ball clear. From the resultant corner a Lewis Clark header crashed agonisingly off the crossbar.

Marenghi saw his free-kick from 22 yards saved by McInnes in 58 minutes and a minute later Pooler shot just across the face of goal as the Seasiders kept pushing.

However Troon seized the lead on the hour when a Keenan free-kick from 22 yards took a slight deflection on its way into the net. But a minute later it was all-square when Colin Preston ran on to a fine through ball and shot home from 10 yards.

A cross from Dean Fulton was headed just past the post by Skerrie in 66 minutes.

In 74 minutes Troon were awarded a penalty when Fulton was sent tumbling inside the box by Francis Owens who was red-carded and Scott McLean slotted home from the spot for his 14th goal of the season.

A 25-yard strike from McLean crashed off the crossbar in 84 minutes as Troon saw the game out.

Victory moves Jim Kirkwood's side up to third spot and in the thick of the promotion hunt.

TROON: McInnes; Barbour, Skerrie, Keenan, Clark, Strachan, Murphy, McCrea, Curragh, Pooler, McLean. Subs: Fulton, McKay, Collins, Chatham, Forsyth.

MARYHILL: Mailey; Beckley, McGillion, McFarlane, Banks, Crawford, McCall, Marenghi, Preston, Owens, McLarty. Subs: Emsley, McQueen, Tiffney, Clark.