McBookie League One

KILSYTH RANGERS 3

WHITLETTS VICTORIA 0

INJURY-ravaged Vics crashed to on-form Kilsyth in this Championship clash at Duncansfield.

With Kilsyth defending a 100% home league record this was always going to be a tough match for the Ayr side but with a mounting injury crisis with NINE players unavailable, some of them long term, manager George Grierson had to rely on young Ross George rising from his sick bed to be able to field a starting XI, with two amateur players and 41 year old assistant manager Mark Ferris having to pull on his boots again for a place on the bench!

And their injury woes were soon to worsen. With six minutes on the clock Jordan Baird broke into the Rangers box only to be taken out by a challenge from a defender. Referee Chris Gentles waved aside Vics claims for a penalty but although the young striker soldiered on, his injury forced his exit from the match at half-time.

The first clear chance fell to the home side in the 14th minute when Salim Kouider-Assia headed wide from a PJ Dolan cross.

At the other end skipper Raymond Buchanan headed an Andy Kerr free-kick inches wide.

The 18-year-old wing back Kerr was playing well and almost found the net himself with a cross cum shot that dipped narrowly over the angle but it was Kilsyth who were having the better of the play and five minutes before the interval they took the lead. From a position wide left in line with the 18-yard box, Dolan whipped in a vicious free kick that flew over the head of stand-in keeper Aron Dorigo into the top corner.

That goal gave the home side a lift and right on the half time whistle they doubled their advantage when Kouider-Assia was given acres of space in the box to head home from 10 yards.

Kilsyth continued having the better chances and only two great clearances from low crosses into the box by Buchanan and Isaac Kerr prevented the home side adding to their tally whilst once again Kouider-Assia was given a free header in the box which he put over.

However the Rangers striker found the net in 76 minutes to kill off any hopes of a Vics comeback as he headed home a Dolan cross at the back post.

Dolan then also saw a header flash wide as the home side comfortably saw out the match to complete a difficult afternoon for Whitletts, leaving manager George Grierson to hope for the speedy recovery of some of his key players in the weeks to come.

WHITLETTS VICTORIA: Dorigo; George (Ferris 89 A.Kerr (Moodie 78) Brown, I Kerr, Buchanan, Boyd, Millar, Forsyth, Baird (Anderson 46) Donovan. Sub not used: Ewart.