Trophy holders Troon lose to Vics in cup

HOLDERS Troon saw their defence of the trophy come to a disappointing end with defeat at the hands of spirited lower league side Vics.

The Westenders, facing relegation from the Super First Division, showed far greater desire than their Premier Division opponents in last Wednesday’s tie at Portland Park.

Their reward is a mouthwatering semi-final at home to Auchinleck Talbot or Kilbirnie Ladeside on a date to be confirmed. Troon by contrast will end the season with a meaningless final league match away to Hurlford United.

Vics began well and a Kieran Paterson free-kick from 30 yards was well saved by Darren Johnson in the home goal in five minutes. Only a minute later a Bobby Colligan cross from just outside the box was met by Ricky Allan, whose point blank shot was well saved by the home keeper two minutes later.

Back at the other end a Tony Murphy cross-cum shot from 12 yards was well saved by visiting goalie Chris Kirkpatrick in 12 minutes.

Less than a minute later Vics had claims for a penalty turned down when a cross from Allan appeared to strike the arm of a Troon defender.

Adam Forsyth then came close when his shot from the edge of the box was smothered by Kirkpatrick. However Vics snatched the lead with an excellent goal in 20 minutes when Kevin Adam sent home a cheeky lob from 16 yards.

Troon then forged a good chance as Scott Chatham teed up Forsyth to shoot well over the bar from 12 yards a minute later. Chatham then shot well over the bar from 25 yards in 24 minutes. Kirkpatrick brilliantly finger tipped a Header from home skipper Dean Keenan over the bar a minute later.

Keenan made a good run and sent a precision pass to Forsyth whose shot from eight yards was easily saved by the visiting goalie in 32 minutes.

Troon were unlucky four minutes later when Mick McCann headed on to Forsyth whose shot from six yards was well saved by Kirkpatrick as Troon enjoyed their best spell of the match.

A Chatham corner-kick was easily saved in 42 minutes.

However Vics soared into a 2-0 lead a minute later when midfielder Kieran Paterson, on loan from Troon, smashed a 22-yard free-kick into the top corner of the net. Troon spurned another chance in 48 minutes when Forsyth shot over the bar from eight yards.

The hosts came close again in 53 minutes when a Scott Chatham corner-kick was spilled by Kirkpatrick and Neil McGowan sent the rebound from eight yards well over the bar.

A Dale Moore header was well saved by the visiting goalie in 57 minutes after he had been treated for a knock.

Troon wasted another chance in 62 minutes when a Chatham corner-kick was blasted over the bar from eight yards by Gavin Collins. Only a minute later Forsyth had an effort from 16 yards smothered by Kirkpatrick. Vics were so close to scoring a third in 65 minutes when Ryan Singleton made a surging run and crossed to Adam, whose header from six yards crept inches wide.

A McCann shot from a Chatham corner-kick spun was deflected wide in 67 minutes.

A cross into the box from Muir was saved by Kirkpatrick in 77 minutes. Then a Keenan effort from 25 yards was easily saved two minutes later.

Troon were right back in it six minutes from time when Keenan’s free-kick from 25 yards was scrambled home from four yards by Forsyth.

The hosts came close again in 89 minutes when a Keenan corner-kick was headed just over the bar from six yards by Wilson but Vics held on to advance.

TROON: Johnson; Armstrong, McGowan, Keenan, Collins, Chatham, Murphy, Wilson, Forsyth, McCann, Moore. Subs: Walker, Wyllie, Muir, Fraser.

IRVINE VICTORIA: Kirkpatrick; Davidson, McKay, Burgess, Hannah, Colligan, Paterson, Adam, Singleton, Allan. Subs: Wilson, Chesney, Brown, Russell, Kelly.