MAYBOLE must be wondering how they could dominate a match for long periods but end up with nothing to show for their efforts.

MAYBOLE must be wondering how they could dominate a match for long periods but end up with nothing to show for their efforts.

The visitors opened brightly and in four minutes were unlucky not to open the scoring when a Chris Allan shot was diverted on to the post.

It was Vics, however who made the breakthrough three minutes later when a ball into the box found Robert Burgess all on his own and he sent a curling ball into the side of the net.

‘Bole pushed hard for an equaliser and in 28 minutes Allan saw a fine shot turned over the bar by Chris Lamb in the home goal.

Two minutes later an overhead kick by Scott Dinwoodie was cleared off the line to keep Vics ahead. On the half hour an Allan corner-kick was met by Jonathan Baillie but his effort was easily saved by Lamb.

Maybole were reduced to 10 men in 38 minutes when Baillie appeared to grab Kevin Adam by the throat when the ball was out of play.

A minute before the interval Vics doubled their lead when a fine effort by Bobby Colligan was turned on to the post at full stretch by Scott Johnstone but the ball rebounded into the net.

Five minutes after the interval Maybole pulled a goal back, John Frame heading an Allan corner-kick beyond Lamb.

Maybole were awarded a penalty on the hour when Ryan McKay was penalised for a push on Andy Stevenson however Lamb saved Allan’s spot kick with his legs.

Two minutes later Scott Dinwoodie hit the bar with a stunning shot and David Cunningham also had an effort that hit the bar.

Adam then had a chance to restore Vics two goal advantage but Johnstone produced a fine save to foil the striker. Nine minutes from time, Vics did increase their lead when a real stramash took place in the Maybole six-yard box with Johnstone twice producing great saves to keep the ball out. However at the third attempt Adam shot home.

Right on time Maybole were awarded another penalty and this time Andy Stevenson smashed the spot-kick high into the net. However, it was too little, too late as Vics held on to considerably boost their survival hopes.

IRVINE VICTORIA: Lamb; Davidson, McKay, Wilson, Burgess, Hannah, Colligan, Paterson, Adam, McMaster, Allan. Subs: Young, Chesney, Singleton, Ablohr.

MAYBOLE: Johnstone; Frame, Dillon, Cargill, Baillie, Cameron, Reid, Dinwoodie, Stevenson, Allan, Love. Subs: Dyer, Cunningham, Keegan.