No butts about it as Buffs slump

Dec 26 2008 by John Woods, Irvine Herald

THERE was no festive cheer round Abbey Park on Saturday as ten-men Buffs slumped to yet another league defeat which leaves them facing a real relegation struggle for the remainder of the season.

The home side were first to threaten with a long throw which caused all sorts of confusion in the Maybole defence before full back Stevie Crawford stepped in to clear the danger, then a mazy Paul Kerr run and shot was well held by home keeper Chris Wilson.

Maybole threatened again with a good right wing move but when the ball was cut back to Chris Clarke his weak shot was easy for Wilson, then a couple of quick Buffs corners had the 'Bole defence in a panic but this time Clarke finally managed to mop up the danger.

However a game which seemed to being played in decent manner blew up in spectacular fashion midway through the half when Buffs Alan Shields became involved in a spat with Clarke and, when he appeared to headbutt the Maybole defender, referee Stuart McMillan had no option but to send the Kilwinning player packing, leaving the Abbey Park side to play the majority of the match a man short for the second week in a row.

Chances were few and far between for the remainder of the half as both teams continued to test each other out, but it was Buffs who were unlucky just after the beak when the pacy James Tyler left three opponents trailing in his wake before picking out Chris Faulds, but his shot went just wide.

Maybole were next to attack but Barry Crawford's effort from a Paul Cameron cutback found a similar fate, however Crawford had better luck moments later when he grabbed a wonder goal, cutting past three opponents as he drifted in from the left before giving Wilson no chance with a ferocious angled drive.

Buffs had a lengthy spell of pressure as they tried to get back on level terms but they never really threatened keeper Mark McCauley and instead it was Maybole who wrapped up the points when Paul Kerr was downed in the box and substitute Andy Stevenson made it 2-0 from the spot.

Kilwinning's day was summed up in the dying seconds when Crawford's weak headed passback led to an almighty goalmouth scramble and, when McCauley somehow managed to scoop the loose ball off the line, it fell to Faulds but his drive came back off the crossbar.