Baxter rescues point for Buffs

Aug 29 2008 Irvine Herald

GAMEKEEPER turned poacher Craig Baxter salvaged a point for Buffs with a late double against Kilsyth Rangers on Saturday.

But the Abbey Park outfit should never have needed Baxter's goalscoring exploits in a game they dominated throughout only to miss chances galore.

The litany of lost chances started as early as the third minute when James Tyler took too much time in the box and was robbed by keeper Michael Duke, then the big striker rounded Duke two minutes later only to see Whiteford clear his shot off the line.

Steve McPeak showed how it should be done when he took full advantage of a Baxter slip to put Kilsyth ahead then, as Buffs camped in their opponents' box, Tyler fired over from ten yards, Baxter headed a free kick over and Neil Gilmour and John Mason passed up good opportunities.

Disaster struck again in 40 minutes when John Tinney hauled Tony Martin down in the box and veteran Kilsyth hitman Andy Thomson made it 2-0 from the spot then, right on the half time whistle, Gilmour rose to meet a corner but his header crashed back off the bar.

Mason missed another good chance after the break but Buffs finally pulled one back in 48 minutes when new boy Paul Gordon's cross was headed home by Gilmour.

Seven minutes later Thomson made it 3-1 when he beat keeper Keith Ross all ends up with a superb chip, a Gavin Orr header was tipped over and a Baxter volley came back off the inside of the post as Buffs tried to cut the deficit.

But they got the break they needed midway through the half when Kilsyth sub Scott Upton, who had only been on the park for ten minutes, picked up a second yellow card and the dismissal allowed Baxter to be used as an extra forward.

The tactic paid dividends when the big stopper poked the ball home after Duke dropped a cross in 68 minutes.

Buffs were piling on the pressure now and, after Duke made a great save from Gilmour, Baxter levelled six minutes from time when he rose to head home an Orr cross.