McBookie Ayrshire District League

CRAIGMARK BURNTONIANS 0

WHITLETTS VICTORIA 1

A SECOND half goal from Craig Harvey secured a vital three points for 10-man Whitletts to keep the clubs promotion hopes very much alive against a hard-working Craigmark side.

With 20 minutes remaining a Vics counter-attack saw Paul Cameron tripped in the box as he tried to go round 'Mark goalkeeper Stevie Douglas but before the referee could blow his whistle for the expectant penalty, Harvey followed up to fire home from close range.

It was no more that Vics deserved over the 90 minutes. They showed fire and passion to get a vital win and but for an outstanding display by former Vics keeper Douglas the margin of victory could have been greater.

Vics started strongly but the first real chance of the game fell to the home side when Greg Gallagher couldn't get enough onto a Scott Dempster cross to direct the ball goalward.

Whitletts were doing most of the pressing and only an outstanding last ditch block by Stephen McKay denied Craig Harvey? the opener after Douglas had saved Jordan Boyd's initial shot.

Chris Black had a shot from a Sean Ewart cross deflected wide but the visitors had to thank Danny Cunningham from stopping them from falling behind on the half hour mark when from a huge Douglas kick out, Willie Hall scooped the ball past Ally McInnes only for the big centre half to get back and clear the ball off the line.

Boyd's persistence set up Vics' next chance but his cutback bounced wildly off the shins of Harvey only a few yards out from goal as the sides as boths sides went in goalless at the break.

Whitletts' intentions were clear early in the second period when a thumping 40-yard drive from Blair Anderson had Douglas scrambling across his goal but although Vics were having the better of the play Craigmark had a great chance on the hour when on a counter attack, Dempster set up Marc Dyer in acres of space but he blazed the ball over the bar.

Five minutes later the visitors were denied in an incredible stramash in the home six-yard box that saw Boyd, Black, Cameron and Harvey all have chances to put the ball in the net and when Douglas then saved Louis Kerr's shot, the big keeper then again made a sensational block with his foot to keep out Boyd's point blank effort as the midfielder looked set to score.

Seconds later Rab Kirkland was shown a yellow card by referee Gary Hanvidge and a minute later seconds he was given a quick second after an altercation with 'Mark substitute Bryce Reid who was also shown a yellow card.

Down to 10 men, Vics' promotion ambitions looked to be hanging by a thread but in 70 minutes after McInnes saved a McKay drive, Vics broke upfield in a move that resulted in Harvey scoring the only goal/

Chris Black had a drive from 25 yards that flew wide while in the closing minutes Douglas twice again defied his former side - first making a fine save to deny Harvey in a one-on-one situation and then in injury-time, blocking a Cameron effort and getting back to his feet to save young Kris Kerr's netbound effort.

Now the scene is set for a huge fixture at Dam Park on Saturday against league leaders Ardrossan Winton Rovers with both sides knowing that defeat could spell the end of their promotion ambitions for another season.

CRAIGMARK BURNTONIANS: Douglas; Barrett, Dawson (McCubbin 50); S McKay, Kirkwood, Dempster, Gallagher (Reid 55); Hall, Nisbet, Dyer, Ewing. Subs (not used): Lawrie, McLelland. Mair.

WHITLETTS VICTORIA: McInnes; Anderson, Ewart, Cunningham, Kirkland, Sloan, Boyd (K Kerr 75); Black, Cameron, L Kerr, Harvey (Boyle 90). Sub (not used): Ross