Lugar Boswell Thistle

1/10/'11 : AYRSHIRE DISTRICT LEAGUE

DARVEL 1 LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 4

Lugar comfortably secured their first away win of the season at a rain-soaked Recreation Park. The first quarter of the game belonged to the home side, however, and 'keeper Ronnie Davis had to be on top form to keep his side on level terms.

An early corner from Andy Walker was palmed out as far as Sean Scott who fired into the side net. A Walker effort was then blocked on the six-yard line and Davis had to dive to save a long-range drive from Scott. Scott's next attempt, a deflected cross from the left, came down on top of the net then Davis clawed away another cross from the same player while Chris Lynn loitered with intent.

When Lugar finally got going John Dunlop sent a header wide off Mark Gilmour's cross as Darvel appealed for offside. A free kick taken by Davis a few yards inside the Lugar half almost deceived his opposite number Rhys Russell but the home 'keeper did better in beating out a Ross Paul drive for a corner.

This spell of Lugar pressure culminated in the opening goal after 33 minutes when Kris Stewart headed in a deep cross from Scott McIntyre.

Russell then had to kick clear a low centre from McIntyre as Stewart ran in.

A quick break from defence led to a Stewart shot that Russell pushed past the post but from the corner Lugar scored again in the 41st minute. Perry Uppal's shot was cleared off the line by Ross Seaton but the ball fell to Scott Clelland at the angle of the box and he underlined his position as top scorer with an exquisite shot to the top corner.

The last action of the half produced a third goal when Gilmour sent a free kick from the right to the far post where Dunlop headed cleanly into the net.

Three minutes into the second half Stewart battled for what seemed a lost cause on the left but he won the ball and, although the cross was partially cleared, Scott McIntyre placed a magnificent shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.

McIntyre's departure with what looked like hamstring problems seriously unsettled the Bunnets' defence and Darvel began to find openings down their left flank. Midway through the half they pulled a goal back when substitute John McCormack exploited just such an opening and fired a low shot past Davis.

Referee Craig King had a relatively quiet day with only Paul of Lugar and Darvel's Chris McKie fouling their way into the book on an afternoon when the dirtiest thing was the weather.

Lugar had opportunities to add to their tally but Clelland, Steven Nisbet and sub Alan Baird all missed chances on the break as Darvel pushed forward. Back-to-back wins, however, should do wonders for Lugar's confidence.

DARVEL - Russell, Seaton, McNeil, McKie, Cameron, Murphy, Hastings, Scott, Lynn, McEwan, Walker.

Substitutes : McCormack, Caldwell, McDonald.

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE - Davis, S.McIntyre, Gilmour, I.McIntyre, McLauchlan, Dunlop, Uppal, Paul, Stewart, Nisbet, Clelland.

Substitutes : Elstob, Fairley, Baird, Sharpe, Conroy, Gibson, McDonald.