McBookie Premiership

KILWINNING RANGERS 3

TROON 0

By Stewart McConnell

PROMOTED Troon were no match for a dominant Buffs side whose strong second half display underlined their credentials as likely title contenders.

Buffs carved out a good chance in three minutes as recent signing Marc McKenzie saw his shot from 12 yards blocked by the legs of Scott Johnstone in three minutes.

Less than a minute later a 25-yard rocket from Sam McCloskey crashed off the bar and went over.

Carlo Monti played a superb pass to McCloskey, whose effort from eight yards was blocked by a defender in seven minutes.

Then Tommy Maitland sent a curling effort from 18 yards high and just wide two minutes later.

Troon has a great chance in 13 minutes when a 20-yard thunderbolt from Scott Chatham was tipped over the bar by Adam Strain.

Maitland had his effort from 10 yards booted away for a corner by Jack Sherrie.

Chatham shot wide from 20 yards for the Seasiders in 23 minutes.

Bryan Boylan had his shot from 12 yards blocked by the Troon defence in 26 minutes.

Troon came close when a 12-yard shot from Dean Fulton was cleared by the Troon defence.

Carlo Monti shot across the face of goal from 20 yards in 36 minutes. Then he had a free-kick blocked by the Troon wall a minute later. Buffs came so close in 41 minutes when Michael Wardrope sent a precision pass to Bryan Boylan but the striker was denied by a fine one-handed save from Johnstone.

The hosts missed yet another chance in 42 minutes when Garry Fleming shot inches over the bar from 16 yards.

Ben Lewis sent an 18-yards effort high and wide in 44 minutes before Boylan was foiled by Johnstone eight yards out seconds later.

Buffs were unlucky a minute after the break when a rasping 20-yard drive from Monti was tipped away by Johnstone.

Then Monti hit the post from 12 yards in 54 minutes.

Buffs finally snatched the lead on the hour when a Boylan shot from 16 yards was saved by Scott Johnstone, but recent signing Marc McKenzie drove home the rebound from 12 yards.

Buffs came close in 65 minutes when a Monti cross was headed just over the bar from eight yards by Boylan.

Ten minutes later Buffs were awarded a penalty when Ryan Nisbet was pulled back by David Syme inside the box and Maitland netted from the spot.

At the other end two minutes later a 20-yard free-kick from Dean Keenan was saved on the line by Strain.

However in 80 minutes Buffs were awarded another penalty following a handball, inside the box by Keenan, after a disputed free-kick. The former Ayr United player was booked and again Maitland converted from the spot.

Monti was unlucky in 88 minutes when he made a darting run and had his 12-yard effort saved by Johnstone as Buffs easily saw the game out.

KILWINNING RANGERS: Strain; Maitland, McCloskey, Pettigrew, Whyte, McGuinness, Monti, Fleming, Boylan, Wardrope, McKenzie. Subs: Lewis, Nisbet, Curragh, Hill.

TROON: Johnstone; Strachan, Sherrie, Keenan, Syme, Chatham, Fulton, McCrea, Nade, Pooler, Martin. Subs: McKay, Maley, Simpson, Stevenson, Love.