McBookie Ayrshire District League

MUIRKIRK 0

CRAIGMARK BURNTONIANS 3

by Martin Rogan

IT may have been the final game of the season, but there was still plenty at stake for both teams.

Craigmark would surely have been out to avenge their earlier defeat by Muirkirk at Station Park and climb another place in the final league standings while a win for Muirkirk would lift them off the bottom of the table. After a goal-less first half, the visitor came out on top and Muirkirk remain in the District League's basement.

The first opening came when Scott Dempster sent in a low cross from the left which caused some anxiety in the home defence but Ryan Beveridge successfully ushered the ball to safety.

Andy Mair then hit a shot wide, but the hosts soon gained a foothold in the game and Lee Williamson fired a shot over the bar from 10 yards after Stephen Campbell had crossed.

'Kirk had a credible penalty claim waved away by referee Scott Anderson after Ross Ballantyne appeared to be tripped in the box and there were further alarms and excursions in the Dalmellington defence when 'keeper Mark Higgins dropped Campbell's corner kick but Craig Peck's shot was charged down by the converging defenders. Steven Hill put in a dangerous cross to the far post that just eluded Ballantyne as the home side's good spell continued.

'Mark came back into contention with a shot over the bar from Mitchell Ewing off Mark Dyer's pass and as the half neared its end, home goalie Robbi Wilson had to push a Ryan McKay drive away for a corner from which Craig Barrett headed over the bar.

The old adage that a team has to score when it's on top was proved accurate after the break when Craigmark gained the upper hand and effectively won the game with two goals in a four minute spell. Dempster scored the first of these in the 49th minute when he profited from Barrett's ball into the box and struck a left-foot shot into the top corner.

In 52 minutes played, a Dyer shot was initially blocked but Dempster followed up to net the rebound and double the advantage. Dyer passed up a good chance when he sent the ball wide from 12 yards out and a Ewing cross whistled past the far post as Dempster tried to make contact.

An attempt by Ballantyne to lob the goalkeeper almost got a goal back for Muirkirk but the ball dropped just the wrong side of the crossbar.

Four minutes from time Craigmark finished the season in style when the lively Ewing ran down the right and lashed in a shot that beat Wilson at his near post to give the scoreline a more convincing look.

MUIRKIRK: R Wilson, CWilson, Beveridge, Peck, McIntyre, Williamson, Campbell, Anderson, Ballantyne, Hill, Murtagh.

Substitutes : Ferris, Millar, Barrie, Burt, Kiltie.

CRAIGMARK BURNTONIANS: Higgins; Kerr, Dawson, Kirkwood, Nisbet, Mair, Barrett, Dyer, Ewing, McKay, Dempster. Subs: Reid, Paterson, Holland, McLelland.