Double defeat dumps Kilwinning Rangers

May 22 2009 by John Woods, Irvine Herald

A HUGELY disappointing season ended on a doubly disappointing note as Kilwinning Rangers lost their last two league games.

A sparse crowd looked on Wednesday as Buffs travelled to Shotts Bon Accord and the freezing fans had to wait until the 30th minute for their first taste of goamouth action when James Tyler burst through the home defence only for keeper Alan Smith to nip the ball off his toes as he tried to trail it round him.

Shotts then took the lead when John Goodwin set off from the halfway line and evaded several feeble challenges before slotting the ball past keeper Jonathan Robertson and the writing was on the wall when John Osborne took full advantage of a weak headed passback to make it 2-0 at the break.

Tyler reduced the deficit in 53 minutes when he shouldered Gary McSeveney off the ball and rifled it into the far corner but hopes of a comeback were dented when Shotts roared straight back from the restart and John Osborne lashed home their third goal.

As the Kilwinning heads went down Kevin Barr got on the end of a John Boyack cross to steer number four past Robertson then the home side missed a couple of chances to add to their tally before a late rally saw Buffs create several good opportunities but their finishing was dreadful.

BUFFS then ended their league campaign with a 3-1 home defeat from East Kilbride Thistle on Saturday.

Star of the show was Ayr United-bound John Tiffoney who gave the visitors a first minute lead with a simple finish but Buffs bounced back from the shock and, on the half hour mark, James Tyler grabbed a deserved equaliser with a tremendous left foot shot which gave keeper Johnny Murdoch no chance.

Tiffoney restored Thistle's lead in 39 minutes after he was sent clear by a brilliant crossfield Billy Struthers pass but the talented teenage spurned two second half chances before Steven Watson wrapped up the points with a low shot in the 61st minute.