Second half slump sinks Buffs

Sep 5 2008 by John Woods, Irvine Herald

BUFFS are sill looking for their first win of the season after a second half collapse saw them crash to defeat at Annbank.

The Abbey Park outfit looked home and dry as they turned round with a two-goal interval lead but a battling Bankies side had other ideas and, after levelling the match, they snatched a victory with a dramatic injury time free kick.

Kilwinning made a bright start with Gary Broadfield shooting wide and a Paul Gordon header suffering a similar fate.

However their pressure finally paid dividends in 16 minutes when James Tyler picked out Gordon and the youngster kept his head to coolly chip the ball over the advancing keeper.

Broadfield then met a Tyler header but shot wide from the edge of the box then Jim Wilson, who always seems to be a thorn in Buffs' side whenever they meet Annbank, rounded keeper Keith Ross but Craig Baxter cleared his effort of the line.

Annbank's Tommy Sloan sent a glancing header inches wide but it was Buffs who doubled their tally five minutes before the break when Baxter met a Neil Gilmour cross to head home off the underside of the bar.

However it was the home side who came out with all guns blazing after the break and dangerman Wilson reduced the deficit when he got in behind a static Buffs defence to fire home in 50 minutes.

Tyler set up John Mason but his shot was fisted away by the keeper, however Kilwinning were rocked in 78 minutes when Mick McCann netted to put the Bankies back on level terms.

Darwyn Johnston came close for the home side two minutes later then Buffs were forced to end the game with only ten men when Gordon picked up his second yellow card of the afternoon.

The game was running away from Kilwinning now but, just when it looked as if they would hold out for a point, Annbank were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box in 92 minutes and Dwayne Hyslop rifled a glorious effort past Ross for a sensational winner.