Kilwinning Rangers beat Irvine Vics to go back on top of league

Mar 5 2010 by John Woods, Irvine Herald

GOALS from Lee Grant and Michael Fulton fired Buffs back to the top of the league but in truth this was a match either team will want to remember with Vics surprisingly adopting a rather physical approach and the Abbey Park outfit struggling to recapture their best form.

Vics gave new keeper Jim Catterson a start while Buffs latest signing Michael Holden had to be content with a place on the bench, and it was the visitors who stormed forward from the first whistle with Kris Gilhooley's shot deflected for a comer, a Scott Hayes' effort held comfortably by Fraser Stewart and an inviting Craig Connell cross finding no takers.

Buffs replied with a deflected Grant 25-yard effort and a Ben Lewis run which was halted by a timely Chris Affleck tackle, Ian Seymour saw a shot blocked at the other end then, after presenting Vics with a chance following a poor clearance, Stewart redeemed himself with an excellent point-blank save from Brian Smith.

Buffs had a strong penalty claim waved aside when Tommy Sloan went down in the box then, after a great Vics move ended with Rod Lennox just failing to get on the end of a low Gilhooley cross, the half drew to a close with Catterson diving low to his right to turn a Sloan effort round the post.

The deadlock was finally broken five minutes after the break when a throw in found Sloan unmarked on the right and his low cross was turned home by Grant at the back post, but then it all began to get a bit nasty.

Referee Sean Carr, who had allowed some hefty challenges to go unpunished, produced his red card two minutes later when Lennox and Chris Wozencroft went for a 50/50 and, as the big defender hit the deck, the little Vics striker was sent packing.

Worse was to follow for the visitors when Buffs doubled their tally moments later after Catterson blocked a Lewis shot only to see the ball spin high into the air and come down to Grant who cleverly sent a looping header into the postage stamp corner.

Vics sub Andy Cripps was lucky to escape punishment after a desperate lunge which forced Buffs keeper Stewart to be substituted, and Blair Gilmour was next to incur the wrath of the home support with a tackle which left Lewis grounded.

But Buffs wrapped up the points in 75 minutes when Grant made ground down the left and cleverly held off Gareth Timoney before squaring the ball to Fulton who hammered it home from close range.

That was about that but there was still time for Buffs to savour a promising debut by Holden who came off the bench to halt some threatening Vics' attacks with some well-judged interventions.