McBookie Ayrshire District League

ANNBANK UNITED 2

MAYBOLE 1

IN what has been a whirlwind week with Bankies ending their partnership with the Ayr United Football Academy, players Lee Sloan and Andy Stevenson stepped up to take charge of the team against high-flying Maybole.

And they stand-in duo helped inspire a fine win.

The game was switched to Dam Park Stadium with New Pebble Park unplayable.

Bankies' intentions were clear from the get go as Dillan Dunn had an early shot saved. Up the other end and goalie Marc Fisher also had to be alert to stop Maybole taking an early lead.

Lewis Gardiner made some space for himself but he slipped as he went to shoot and Fisher had an easy job collecting the loose ball, another Maybole shot went wide. With 11 played Dunn dragged a shot from the edge wide and he ball was quickly played up field by Maybole leaving Fisher to make another save. A Tommy Sloan cross was met by the head of Toni Sisi, the effort appeared to be heading for the top corner but visiting goalie Martin McCauley made a fine one-handed save to tip the ball over the bar.

In 37 minutes Bankies took the lead. Andy Hainey picked out MacLean Simpson in space, the big Aussie took the ball away from the keeper and finished low into the net. Maybole went looking for an immediate reply but again Fisher was there to deny them.

The action started almost immediately in the second half with both sides looking fired up and some strong challenges going in by all involved. Tommy Sloan played a vital park in keeping the score down as he cleared off the line and immediately the ball was with Dunn but his low shot was saved.

Play was flowing from end to end as both sides looked for a vital goal. With 58 minutes played MacLean Simpson was played through as gaps started to emerge in the Maybole defence but the big Aussie has his shot saved. However with just over an hour played the Bankies scored a second. Simpson took off down the wing before unleashing a powerful drive across goal and the Maybole keeper could do nothing but watch it hit the net. The game wasn't over though as five minutes later a Mitchell Ewing cross was turned home by Bankies defender Craig Barrett to make it 2-1.

Maybole then had two goals ruled out for offside as they turned the pressure up in search of an equaliser, with 10 to play although things were made hard for them as Nicky Warren dismissed for a dangerous foul.

ANNBANK UNTED: Fisher' Hainey, T.Sloan, Barrett, Kirkwood, L.Sloan, Sisi, Millarvie, Dunn, Simpson, Graham.

MAYBOLE: McCauley; McMillan, McClelland, Peacock, Warren, Bell, Lowe, Ewing, Nimmo, McDaid. Subs: Bloy, McLeod, Trialist, Trialist.