Lugar Boswell Thistle F.C.

Ayrshire District League

6/3/'10 : WEST OF SCOTLAND CUP - ROUND 2
KILBIRNIE LADESIDE 3 LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 0

In Albania the referee is known colloquially as "the nightingale" ("bilbili"), but Lugar must have left a sunny Valefield thinking that they had just encountered the first cuckoo of spring rather than a nightingale. Every 50-50 decision went the way of the Super League side, two harsh bookings saw Craig Muir sent off in the second half, a Mark Morrison "goal" was disallowed and, to cap a poor display, referee Ewan Anderson denied Andy Rae a penalty which would have brought a red card for David Anderson who had tripped the striker as he ran in on goal.

Nevertheless, Kilbirnie thoroughly deserved their win even though it took them 23 minutes to turn their superiority into a lead. A cross from the right looked to be drifting wide but Lugar 'keeper Andy Leishman decided to go for it and in doing so collided with Jamie Longworth, conceding a penalty. The big man seemed to have redeemed himself when he dived to his right to divert Alan Kinney's spot kick past the post but from the resulting corner the impressive Longworth bulleted a header into the net.

Leishman saves the spot kick.

Longworth heads in the opener from the corner kick.

Five minutes later it was 2-0 when Longworth passed to Kinney and the latter shot for goal. Leishman got a hand to the shot but as the ball rolled towards the goal, Tam McGinn's effort to clear it only managed to help it over the line.

Lugar's best efforts came from Tam McClelland who first shot wide from Dougie Allardyce's lay-off, then brought a save from Paul McCann after good work from Rae on the right. All they had to show for their efforts, however, was a yellow card shown to Alan Orr for a foul on Kinney.

The half ended with Ladeside on the attack again and Longworth ran from a suspiciously offside position to rattle a shot against the base of the post.

Half-time : Kilbirnie Ladeside 2 Lugar Boswell Thistle 0

The introduction of Morrison and Michael Rutherford after the interval brought some much needed pace to Lugar's rejigged midfield and for long spells in the second half the visitors had the upper hand.

Rae and Boyd Mullen both hit shots that were just wide of the target but it was the Blasties who bagged a third goal after they had made their final substitution midway through the half. That third substitute, Mark McRobert, had been on the park for a matter of seconds when he broke from midfield and, spotting the 'keeper off his line, chipped the ball into the top corner of the net.

Rae tries to find a way into the Ladeside box.

Muir's dismissal did not seem to affect Lugar's morale and Morrison had the ball in the net shortly afterwards only to see the offside flag controversially, if predictably, raised.

Lugar had struggled all afternoon to cope with Longworth, and McGinn earned a booking for a foul on him while Ladeside's Robbie Cochrane was cautioned for a foul on the speedy Morrison. The worst foul of the lot, however, came when Kilbirnie's Stevie Miller lunged in on Nicky Faulds, leaving him lying in a heap. The referee produced only a yellow card for this assault but, benign officials notwithstanding, Kilbirnie would have won this tie anyway as their Super League pedigree was clear for all to see.

KILBIRNIE LADESIDE : McCann, McKeever, Smith, Cochrane, Bell, Anderson, Collins, McGuinness, Longworth, Kinney, Miller.
Substitutes - Frew, Kelly, Chang, Boyd, McRobert, McMahon.
LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE : Leishman, McGinn, Orr, Middleton, Muir, Faulds, Rae, Baird, Allardyce, Mullen, McClelland.
Substitutes - Roxburgh, Rutherford, Millar. Morrison, S.Kelly, Wright, McDonald.

13/2/'10 : AYRSHIRE DISTRICT LEAGUE

ARDEER THISTLE 0 LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 3

Lugar made hard work of this victory over Stevenston's basement boys but their reward - rising to the top of the table - was worth all the effort. The visitors missed half-a-dozen glorious scoring chances in the first fifteen minutes alone and it took over an hour before they finally finished Ardeer off with a second goal.

In the first few minutes Tam McClelland robbed Derek Gemmell only to see his shot rebound off 'keeper David Richardson's legs. Andy Rae was next to discover that hitting the goalkeeper was easier than hitting the net as Richardson twice denied the striker from close range.

Having squandered these openings Lugar might have fallen behind when Tony Paton sent in a low centre that Scott Reid fired just wide of the post. A dangerous cross from Sandy Wylie had to be headed clear by Craig Muir before Lugar reasserted their dominance.

Craig Muir heads clear.

Dougie Allardyce put McClelland clear down the middle but Richardson was quick off his line to block the shot. The Ardeer number one was having to play centre-back as much as goalkeeper and he again sprinted from his line to intercept a ball over the top from Darren McMahon aimed for McClelland. The overworked 'keeper then foiled Allardyce's attempt to chip the ball over his head as the home defence again crumbled.

Richardson grasps Allardyce's chip attempt.

Not all the action was around the Ardeer goal, however, and Lee Munro really should have scored after he stole the ball from a hesitant Jamie Baird inside the box but Andy Leishman's first real save of the match was a good one as he got down quickly to divert the shot past the post. Leishman also had to stretch to cut out a tempting cross from Munro and, as the Stevenston side gained confidence, the Lugar 'keeper had to dive to block a Frankie Nolan shot off a quickly taken free kick. Munro then blazed a shot over the bar from six yards after Reid had crossed from the right.

Richardson's respite was brief, however, and he was again in action to block a McMahon shot from Allardyce's lay-off. Even so, there was nothing he could do to prevent Lugar taking the lead five minutes before the interval. This time Rae shredded the home defence with a run down the right and crossed for McClelland to net at the far post and send a relieved Lugar in with a half-time advantage.

Rae sets up McClelland to blast home the opener.

Half-Time : Ardeer Thistle 0 Lugar Boswell Thistle 1

After the plethora of first-half chances the second half was something of a let-down. It took until the 66th minute for a clear opportunity to arise and this time it was seized. Alan Orr took a corner on the Lugar right and, although Richardson managed to punch the first effort away from the head of Nicky Faulds, it only went as far as Craig Muir and he showed his forwards how it should be done by blasting a first-time shot into the net to put Lugar 2-0 ahead.

Muir pounces on the loose ball and slams in the second.

McClelland had the ball in the net again after Muir, in another foray forward, had found him with a well-placed header. Referee Mark McLean this time cut short the celebrations with an offside decision. The official produced a yellow card some minutes later after Richardson had again come out of his area to impede Rae, and the Paisley whistler also booked Sandy Wylie for dissent later on.

The closest Ardeer came to scoring in the second half was when Munro picked up a slack pass from Tam McGinn but Leishman saved well low down to his right.

As the game entered its final minute, super sub Michael Rutherford showed some neat footwork on the edge of the box before striking a fabulous shot into the postage-stamp corner to give Lugar a margin of victory that more accurately reflected their superiority.

Michael Rutherford scored the third.

ARDEER THISTLE : Richardson, Wylie, Kean, Gemmell, Fairbairn, McKinnon, Paton, Montgomery, Reid, Munro, Nolan.

Substitutes : Crawford, Courteney, Conway.

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE : Leishman, McGinn, Orr, Baird, Muir, Faulds, Rae, McMahon, Allardyce, Mullen, McClelland.

Substitutes : Roxburgh, Rutherford, Fergusson, McDonald, S.Kelly, Millar.

6 /2/'10 : AYRSHIRE DISTRICT LEAGUE

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 1 KELLO ROVERS 0

Diamond debutant Michael Rutherford may have spent little more than ten minutes on the field but it was long enough for the youngster from Johnstone Burgh to grab the vital winner for the home side. For most of the match, however, there was a depressing air of nil-nil about the proceedings as fear of losing seemed to trump the desire to win.

Lugar were slightly the more positive side in the early stages but Kello 'keeper Cammy Menzies was only troubled once when he dived to his right to push a Boyd Mullen drive past the post. Mullen was off target, though, with a shot off Tam McClelland's knock-down, then McClelland himself headed wide from Alan Orr's left-wing cross.

Martin Bell headed out another dangerous cross from Orr but Lugar's only other effort of note came when Andy Rae hit a free kick past the post from the left edge of the box.

Rovers had a penalty claim turned down when Nicky Faulds collided with David Frew, and Lugar had another let-off when Frew was pulled up for offside as he ran on to Kevin Elliot's through ball.

Lugar goalkeeper Andy Leishman's handling was a little suspect as he needed two attempts before he could hold a cross from Elliot but the big man looked a lot more impressive when he blocked a Mark McGinley shot with his foot after Elliot had set up the chance.

Referee Alan Newlands booked one man from each side - Lugar's Darren McMahon for a foul on Weir, and Elliot of Rovers for downing McMahon. For most of the first half, however, the spectators were left wondering why there was so little spirit about a derby that is normally all blood-and-iron.

Half-time : Lugar Boswell Thistle 0 Kello Rovers 0

An early second-half caution for Craig Muir after a foul on Frew did little to enliven things and, as if to relieve the tedium, Menzies then engaged in a spectacularly pointless war of expletives with the Lugar bench only to see a yellow card for his efforts.

Highlights were again few although Liam Fleming came close with a header from a corner and, at the other end, McClelland fired wide from close range. Midway through the half, it took a precise tackle from Muir to thwart Frew after the Kello striker had foxed stand-in central defender Jamie Baird on the edge of the box.

As time marched on Rae headed over the bar from a good position following a corner but then came Mega's managerial masterstroke with the introduction of Rutherford. With seven minutes left, the Lugar substitute took a pass from Orr then showed good close control before shooting low past Menzies.

Rutherford fires home the only goal of the game.

His new team-mates are quite pleased with him.

Suddenly Lugar seemed energised, and McClelland set up a chance for Rae to fire narrowly wide.

Kello almost salvaged a point in stoppage time when a ball over the top found sub Norman Montgomery unmarked but the veteran striker's effort was uncharacteristically tentative and Leishman easily smothered the shot.

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE : Leishman, Faulds, Orr, Baird, Muir, McGinn, Rae, McMahon, Allardyce, Mullen, McClelland.

Substitutes - Roxburgh, Rutherford, Fergusson, Morrison, S.Kelly, McDonald, Millar.

KELLO ROVERS : Menzies, S.Bell, McCluskie, M.Bell, Hyslop, Weir, Elliot, McGinley, Frew, Middlemiss, Fleming.

Substitutes - Livingston, Currie, Montgomery, Thomson, McTaggart, McChesney, Dalzell.

23/1/'10 : AYRSHIRE DISTRICT LEAGUE

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 5 SALTCOATS VICTORIA 2

The District League has finally emerged from its enforced hibernation but almost before Lugar had wiped the sleep from their eyes they found themselves a goal down to a sprightly looking Saltcoats side.

With just eight minutes gone, a seemingly harmless cross was played into the Lugar box but Ayr referee Colin McAlpine spotted Bryan Kelly's bear-hug on James McNally and the official signalled a penalty which no one bothered to dispute. "Tiger" took the penalty himself and sent Andy Leishman the wrong way to give the Seasiders a surprise lead.

"Tiger" nets the opener from the spot.

Vics might have been 2-0 up after Paddy Doherty picked up a misplaced pass but his shot was pushed behind by Leishman. Lugar drew level in the 16th minute when Nicky Faulds hit a shot from the edge of the box that beat goalkeeper Chris Lamb low down to his right.

Nicky draws Lugar level.

Saltcoats should have retaken the lead minutes later when the home side's defensive torpor was again in evidence. A poor kick-out from Leishman landed at the feet of Doherty inside the box but his shot lacked power and when it struck the post the embarrassed 'keeper was able to retrieve the ball and resume normal respiration.

Lugar were now fully awake, however, and a through ball from Jamie Baird only just eluded Andy Rae. Baird then hit a free kick from 20 yards that flew just over the bar, and Tam McClelland shot disappointingly wide after cleverly beating Alex McCall. The burgeoning feud between Kelly and McNally had threatened to get out of hand but the unpleasantness was brought to an end midway through the half when the Lugar defender picked up an injury and limped off to be replaced by the rugged Russell Fergusson.

Lugar eventually hit the front after 29 minutes. Gary Ferguson tried to cut out Rae's pass to McClelland on the right side of the penalty area but the defender completely miskicked and McClelland struck a glorious shot past Lamb and into the net.

Tam puts Lugar in front.

Ferguson's woes continued with a booking for a foul on McClelland, and the full back was again bamboozled by Rae in the 40th minute when the Lugar striker took the ball past him and unleashed a ferocious shot that sent Lugar in at the break with a healthy advantage.

Razor's rasper flies past Saltcoalts Keeper, Lamb.

HALF-TIME : LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 3 SALTCOATS VICTORIA 1

Within five minutes of the restart Saltcoats were back in contention when Ally Patrick hit a free kick from 25 yards out on the left. Leishman seemed to have the shot covered but Craig Muir attempted a clearance and only succeeded in clipping the ball. The deflection was enough, however, to deceive the keeper and the ball went over his outstretched hand into the net.

Craig's deflection gives Saltcoats a lifeline.

Another free kick, from Taylor this time, almost brought Vics an equaliser when the towering Patrick got his head to the ball but Leishman pushed his effort over the bar.

Lugar killed off the Saltcoats revival in the 58th minute when Rae again showed good skill on the right and sent over a cross for Dougie Allardyce to head unchallenged past Lamb.

The referee had shown a commendably sensible attitude to issuing cautions and produced only the second of the match when Darren McMahon tripped Taylor in midfield.

Four minutes from time Lugar underlined their superiority when Allardyce latched on to a long clearance from Leishman and directed the ball past the advancing 'keeper to give the final scoreline a pleasing look from a Lugar perspective.

Dougie's 2nd wraps up the scoring.

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE : Leishman, Faulds, McGinn, Roxburgh, Kelly, Muir, Rae, McMahon, Allardyce, Baird, McClelland.

Substitutes - Morrison, Millar, McDonald, Fergusson.

SALTCOATS VICTORIA : Lamb, McCall, Ferguson, Patrick, Wilson, Taylor, Munro, McColgan, Doherty, McNally, Jones.

Substitutes - Kennedy, Renton, Vause, Donald, Hocknull, Weir.

12/12/'09 : AYRSHIRE DISTRICT LEAGUE

WINTON ROVERS 2 LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 0

It was not so much a jaggy bunnet as a crown of thorns for Lugar's new manager after a performance that was, by common consent, absolutely dreadful. Winton were down to ten men as early as the 18th minute when Andy Rae cleverly took the ball past Phil McGrath and, after an attempt to pull the striker's jersey failed, a blatant trip brought him to earth on the edge of the box. Glasgow referee Craig Young immediately produced the red card for the ex-Stranraer defender but Boyd Mullen blasted the resultant free kick wide of the post.

Lugar failed to make their numerical advantage count and home 'keeper Ross Stewart was seriously troubled only once when a Rae shot struck a defender and looped over Stewart's head. Fortunately for Rovers, Kevin Ireland was backing up and cleared the ball off the line.

Boyd Mullen then played a good pass through to Rae but a tremendous and timely tackle by George Bonner extinguished the danger. Rae then set up a shooting chance for Darren McMahon but there was no power in his effort and Stewart saved comfortably.

Winton were lively on the counter-attack and Bryan Kelly earned a booking for a foul on the tricky John Gallagher. Stewart then had a couple of routine saves from Mullen and Rae off corner kicks but in the 41st minute the home side broke the deadlock. Adam Scott raced in on goal and, although Andy Leishman pushed his shot on to the bar and over, Keir Milliken's flag kick was headed over his own goal line by Baird.

HALF-TIME : WINTON ROVERS 1 LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 0

Lugar's two strikers had often been isolated by a deep-lying midfield in the first half, and the introduction of an additional front man after the break resulted only in three men being isolated rather than two as the midfield continued to misfire.

Rovers were still the more dangerous side and Leishman had to push a Gallagher shot out for a corner after Ireland had put over a good cross. Lugar's frustration was apparent and, after a caution for dissent, Rae saw a second yellow card for hauling back his namesake John Rae. Things got worse still for the visitors when John Anderson lashed out in retaliation against Milliken but as the official had not seen the initial assault it was the Lugar player who was shown a straight red card.

David Roxburgh and Craig Muir also picked up bookings for fouls on Scott and Gallagher, as did Winton's Ireland for simulation, but it was Rovers who clinched the points six minutes from time. Lugar's nine men were struggling to cope with anything going into the box by this stage and when they failed to deal with a centre from Milliken, Gallagher gleefully thumped home the loose ball to give his side a deserved win on bitterly cold afternoon.

WINTON ROVERS : Stewart, Rae, Jones, McGrath, Bonner, Muir, Ireland, Gilmour, Scott, Gallagher, Milliken.

Substitutes - Reid, Paton, McGeady, Paton, Lundy, McMillan.

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE : Leishman, Faulds, Anderson, Muir, Roxburgh, Kelly, McMahon, Baird, Rae, Mullen, McClelland.

Substitutes - McGinn, McDonald, Fergusson, Millar, Allardyce, Davis, Morrison.

28/11/'09 : AYRSHIRE DISTRICT LEAGUE

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 2 DARVEL 1

Last season Lugar's results against the league's lesser lights were often unimpressive so, despite an indifferent performance, the result of this match will be all that matters to fans of the Jaggy Bunnets. Lugar dominated for most of the first half but laboured vainly on a sticky surface. Darren McMahon gave Andy Rae several half-chances but one went wide while Scott Henderson in the Darvel goal dealt comfortably with the others. Rae than laid the ball off to Boyd Mullen on the edge of the box but again the shot was held by Henderson. Rae came within inches of connecting with a cross from Mark Morrison then Morrison himself headed a Mullen cross just over the bar.

Darvel's only effort of note came when Chris Dallas sent Alex Hampson away down the right but his square ball was better than Adam Black's slipshod finish which was well off target. Mullen of Lugar saw a yellow card for a vitriolic reaction to a tackle from behind by Ian Bonner and Mullen could only limp on for a few minutes before being replaced by Lauchlan Millar.

Lugar ended the half on top, as they had been for most of it, and Tam McClelland hit a shot over the crossbar from the edge of the box.

HALF-TIME : LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 0 DARVEL 0

Five minutes after the restart Darvel caught Lugar with a real sucker punch. Hampson hoodwinked the defence with a clever pass to Dallas whose shot from the edge of the box whistled past Andy Leishman and into the net.

Lugar responded with a McMahon shot that Henderson touched on to the post but Darvel were dangerous on the counter-attack and Dallas fired wide off an Ian McCreadie pass.

The home side drew level when, by accident or design, Jamie Baird lobbed the ball into the goalmouth from 30+ yards and, to everyone's surprise, it cleared the towering Henderson before dipping in under the bar. If intentionally done, this was an incredible piece of skill. If not, it was merely incredible.

John Anderson was booked for a challenge on Henderson as the 'keeper came out to dive at his feet, then another lob from Baird just cleared the crossbar. Lugar pushed forward for the winner and a corner from Baird on the left was headed towards goal by Bryan Kelly only for McCreadie to pop up on the line and clear the danger.

Another break from Dallas gave Dean Black a chance for Darvel but he blasted his shot over the bar and, with 87 minutes played, Lugar made them rue that miss. Morrison ran down the right past the tiring defenders and centred for McClelland who gave his marker the slip momentarily and clipped the ball neatly past Henderson. John Dunlop was booked in stoppage time for a foul on McClelland and when referee Rodney Marshall finally blew for time Lugar's relief was as evident as Darvel's despair.

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE : Leishman, Morrison, Anderson, Muir, Faulds, Kelly, Mullen, Baird, Rae, McClelland, McMahon.

Substitutes - McDonald, Millar, Fergusson, Roxburgh, Davis.

DARVEL : Henderson, Johnston, Dunlop, Taylor, Bonner, A.Black, D.Black, McCreadie, Hampson, Roy, Dallas.

Substitutes - Hislop, Whittaker, Scott, Gallagher, Uppal, Otigbah, Reid.

7/11/'09 : AYRSHIRE DISTRICT LEAGUE

IRVINE VICTORIA 0 LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 1

After recent reverses Lugar would have taken any scruffy old win, and a scruffy old win is exactly what they got on the Cunninghame coast where the temperature was more Baltic Sea than Black Sea. The home side must be wondering how they contrived to lose this match, however, as they had more than enough chances to take something from the game.

Rod Lennox had a shot saved early on by Andy Leishman then a Scott Hayes cross was headed over the bar by Sean Kennedy. Lugar came close when a centre from Andy Rae was headed over by the diving Tam McClelland. They came closer still when Jamie Baird's free kick was played back across goal by Lauchlan Millar to John Anderson but his header was well saved by Robert McGoogan.

Millar gets on the end of Baird's free kick.

The Westenders raced to the other end immediately and Kennedy fired over the bar from the edge of the box.

There followed a period of stalemate until just after the half-hour mark when a 25-yard free was held low down by Leishman while McGoogan was in action again as he dived to cut out another cross from Rae. This brief spell of end-to-end action culminated in the only goal of the game after 41 minutes. Baird sent a free kick from the right towards the far post and although McGoogan got a touch on Anderson's header, he could not keep Lugar's top scorer from adding to his tally.

Anderson heads the only goal.

1 nil to Lugar

Vics almost equalised straight away when Chris Affleck's pass sent Kennedy clear and his shot struck the top of the bar. Lugar ended the half on top, though, and McGoogan had to save a Nicky Faulds header off Baird's corner kick, then the 'keeper dived to save a 30-yard drive from Baird as the half drew to a close.

Half-time : Irvine Victoria 0 Lugar Boswell Thistle 1

Lugar might have added a second goal just after the break when McGoogan blocked a shot from McMahon then recovered to save McClelland's follow-up effort but the home side had the best chances of the second half. At times only Leishman stood, like Horatius on the Sublician Bridge, to repel the invaders. The big 'keeper dived twice to push away shots from Lennox then he touched a Scott Hayes thunderbolt on to the bar and over. From the flag kick, he clawed Gareth Timoney's header out from the top corner. In between, Mark Morrison found Baird with a long, cross-field pass but McGoogan, taking his cue from his opposite number, kept the shot out.

When Leishman was not defying their best efforts, Vics proved incapable of hitting the target. Lee McCrae, Hayes and Kennedy all failed to find the mark and Kennedy's miserable luck continued right to the end when he had another shot parried by Leishman and, with the goal gaping, he blasted the rebound wide. By this time the words "cow", "backside" and "banjo" were being mentioned by the disgruntled home fans.

Referee Sean Carr had resolutely refused to produce a card even in the face of some muscular challenges but in stoppage time he finally booked Lugar sub Willie McDonald for a foul on Affleck, by which time it hardly mattered.

IRVINE VICTORIA : McGoogan, Hayes, McCrae, Campbell, Timoney, Affleck, Connell, Kennedy, Lennox, Gilhooley, Gillies.

Substitutes - Cunningham, Adam, Seymour, Prentice, Flannigan.

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE : Leishman, Morrison, Anderson, Millar, Muir, Faulds, McMahon, Baird, Rae, McClelland, Roxburgh.

Substitutes - Allardyce, McNeill, Fergusson, McDonald, Davis.

31/10/'09 : AYRSHIRE DISTRICT LEAGUE

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 0 TROON 1

The gloomy atmosphere around Rosebank deepened following a Hallowe'en horror show in which Lugar lost their second successive home game to a rather ordinary Troon outfit. With both sides struggling to find the net in recent weeks it wouldn't have taken a sybiline oracle to forecast that one goal might settle the issue but for the first hour it seemed as if even that might be beyond both teams.

In a barren first half the main talking points concerned whether the three ex-Lugar players in the Troon ranks had returned to perpetrate some black magic on their former colleagues and when Ricky Hanvey and Paddy Cleland linked up to create an opening for Gary Robertson it looked as though they had. Robertson's shot was off target but, even so, he still looked more sprightly than he had during his spell at Rosebank. Ronnie Davis in the Lugar goal dived to turn away a shot from Stephen Abbott then Troon 'keeper Darren Johnson had to do likewise to deal with a Mark Morrison effort. Johnson had to save again when Andy Rae and Morrison stretched the defence left then right before Rae's shot was finally blocked. John Anderson did well to cut in from the left before shooting over the bar but the best chance fell to Troon defender Jonathan Baillie when he headed wide of the post off a corner on the left.

Half-time : Lugar Boswell Thistle 0 Troon 0

The second half started with a volley from Hanvey that whizzed just over the bar but thereafter Lugar began to dominate without really threatening the Troon goal. Their best efforts were a shot from Jamie Baird that cleared the crossbar after good play from Morrison and Dougie Allardyce, then a solo run from Rae that ended in a similar fashion.

Against the run of play Troon grabbed the decisive goal in the 59th minute. From a free kick about 25 yards out on the right, Rhys Galloway hit the ball across the face of the goal and it sneaked in low at the far corner.

Galloway's free kick sneaks in

Lugar continued to have plenty of possession and an Allardyce cross had to be knocked behind for a corner by Mark Quirk then from a Morrison cross, Craig Muir sent in a powerful header that Johnson did well to hold under the crossbar. Troon were more dangerous on the break, however, and Robert Forde ran on to a through ball from substitute Jamie Wilson only to send his shot over the bar. Davis had to block a Cleland shot with his foot and another Troon raid ended in a booking for Muir after he fouled Abbott. Referee James Carberry had few problems with this match although he did lose patience with Robertson for delaying a free kick and the official resorted to the yellow card again.

Lugar might have salvaged a point in stoppage time when a Russell Fergusson pass split the defence but Rae's shot slipped past the post with Johnson beaten.

Full Time - Lugar 0 Troon 1

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE : Davis, Morrison, Anderson, Millar, Muir, Fergusson, Mullen, Baird, Rae, Allardyce, McNeill.

Substitutes - Roxburgh, McClelland, McMahon, McDonald, Leishman.

TROON : Johnson, Friel, Quirk, Chatham, Baillie, Abbott, Hanvey, Cleland, Robertson, Forde, Galloway.

Substitutes - Mitchell, McMaster, Carmichael, Wilson, Hastings, Patterson.

25/10/'09 : AYRSHIRE DISTRICT LEAGUE

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 1 KILWINNING RANGERS 4

Lugar's good league run hit the Buff-ers after a disjointed performance in difficult conditions. The wind was strong throughout and, towards the end, heavy rain added to the home side's misery but there really was no excuse for what was a pretty abject showing from Lugar.

Boswell's best chance of the first half came in the opening minutes when a Jamie Baird free kick was beaten out by goalkeeper Fraser Stewart. Stewart then blocked Dougie Allardyce's follow-up shot and finally held on to Andy Rae's header. That might have been an indication that it was not going to be Lugar's day and that impression was confirmed when, after 16 minutes, Buffs took the lead.

Tommy Sloan picked up the ball on the left and, as the defenders backed off, he struck a shot from outside the box that flew into the top corner, leaving Andy Leishman stranded.

Sloan makes his run to goal

Lugar tried to put this behind them and Rae just failed to make contact with a cross from Tam McClelland. John Anderson then sent in a ball from the other wing that Allardyce headed just over the bar. There was little to choose between the teams until the 43rd minute when Michael Fulton became something of a Nemesis to his old club. Despite the attentions of two defenders, Fulton found space in the box to direct a shot into the bottom corner to put Kilwinning 2-0 ahead.

Fulton makes it 2-0

The Bunnets found a way back into the match on the stroke of half-time, however, when Darren McMahon sent the ball into the penalty area for Rae to chase. Stewart came out of his goal to challenge but seemed to pay more attention to the striker than to the ball which sailed past both of them and into the net. The careless custodian appealed to the referee that Rae had been offside but the official was in no mood to spare his blushes and the goal stood.

Small glimmer of hope for Lugar as McMahon's cross hits the net.

Half-time : Lugar Boswell Thistle 1 Kilwinning Rangers 2

Lugar's brief rally was killed off three minutes into the second half when the Abbey Park men scored their third goal. Sloan got in behind the defence on the left and crossed for Ben Lewis to head in a simple goal at the far post. It was hard to believe that Lugar had only conceded four goals in their previous seven league games as Buffs created further opportunities. Leishman pushed a header from Chris Wozencroft over the bar then the ex-Talbot player again tested the 'keeper with a low shot. Gavin Brown fired wide from a good position then Leishman had to dive at Fulton's feet after an error by Lauchlan Millar had allowed him through. Millar made up for this a few moments later by scrambling the ball off the line after a header from Lewis had squirmed out of Leishman's grasp.

Lewis was not to be denied, though, and in the 67th minute he fired home his side's fourth goal from inside the box to complete a disastrous day for the home side.

Lewis wraps it up

There was little of note in the remainder of the match, for which referee Steven Kirkland was no doubt grateful. He only booked one player in the course of the game and even that seemed harsh as Baird's first-half foul on Brown looked fairly innocuous.

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE : Leishman, McClelland, Anderson, Millar, Fergusson, Faulds, Mullen, Baird, Rae, Allardyce, McMahon.

Substitutes - Morrison, McNeil, Muir, McDonald, Roxburgh, Davis.

KILWINNING RANGERS : Stewart, Grant, Houston, Blair, Wozencroft, Mitchell, Lewis, Brown, Fulton, Monan, Sloan.

Substitutes : Ferris, Kirkwood, Hutson, Haswell, McDougal.

New Coin Automatics Cup

17/10/'09 : WEST OF SCOTLAND CUP - ROUND 1

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 1 BENBURB 0

This turned out to be less of a cup tie and more of a war of attrition in which four players had to leave the field with injuries and another was sent off near the end. The Bens may not have been the most skillful side to visit Rosebank but they were certainly well versed in the black arts of simulation, late tackles and pressurising the referee.

Kirkconnel referee Alan Daubney had the cards out almost immediately as Mark Morrison reacted to a crude lunge by Bens' defender Andy Crossey. Both were booked. A similar clash later resulted in both players having to be substituted but not before Scott McNeill had also been cautioned for a thumping challenge on Crossey.

Amid all this a football game almost broke out and a move involving Morrison, Andy Rae and Dougie Allardyce ended with Allardyce shooting wide.

Lugar had a penalty claim turned down when Robert McMillan seemed to handle the ball and then visiting goalkeeper Andy Heafey did well to hold a swerving, left-foot shot from Morrison. Andy Leishman in the Lugar goal only just kept out a shot from Kevin McGlinchey at the second attempt and John Tinney headed wide from Allen Mackenzie's cross.

Lugar lost John Anderson to injury after a high tackle that the referee missed and, as the half drew to a close, substitute Tam McClelland's cross was headed past the post by Allardyce.

Half-time : Lugar Boswell Thistle 0 Benburb 0

Early in the second half Allardyce had a shot that came off the crossbar but Lugar had a couple of alarms too. First, Lloyd Kinnaird's cross was headed wide from a good position by Mackenzie then a miscued clearance by Brian Kelly had to be scrambled off the line by Lauchlan Millar.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 56th minute when Lugar won a controversial penalty. Allardyce was brought down by Marc Elliott and, with the visitors claiming that the tackle took place outside the penalty box, the referee. who was well up with play, pointed to the penalty spot. Tam McClelland kept a cool head and sent Heafey the wrong way to put Lugar into the lead.

Frank Lovering's side had their chances to draw level but only rarely got their efforts on target. A shot from Steven Waddell was blocked by Millar then a long-range drive attempt by McMillan landed on the roof of the net. Leishman did have one important save to make from a Mackenzie header but both Tinney and Mackenzie again missed with headers from inside the six-yard box. Lugar's best chances fell to Rae, who had a shot blocked by McMillan, and McNeill who took an air-shot at an Allardyce cross.

The second half brought bookings for Lugar's Boyd Mullen and McClelland as well as Bens' Anthony O'Neill (all for dissent) then McMillan saw yellow for a late tackle. The visiting forwards had been diving like a fleet of submarines in search of a penalty and when O'Neill literally hurled himself at Kelly in stoppage time, the Lugar defender reacted angrily and was sent off. Lugar held on for what may prove to be a Pyrrhic victory.

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE : Leishman, Morrison, Anderson, Millar, Kelly, Faulds, Mullen, Baird, Rae, Allardyce, McNeill.

Substitutes - Fergusson, McClelland, McDonald, Davis.

BENBURB : Heafey, Kinnaird, McMillan, Imrie, Elliott, Crossey, Mackenzie, McGlinchey, O'Neill, Waddell, Tinney.

Substitutes - Donnaghy, Watson, Thomson.

10/10/'09 : AYRSHIRE DISTRICT LEAGUE

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 3 ARDEER THISTLE 0

After their Scottish Cup disappointment Lugar needed to display Ian Dowie's favourite quality of "bouncebackability" and, in terms of the result at least, they showed it.

The outcome was never really in doubt as the Bunnets took the lead after just four minutes and they never relinquished control thereafter. A harmless looking ball into the box should have been booted for many a mile by Sandy Wylie but his half-hearted clearance went straight to Nicky Faulds and he gratefully struck the ball into the net.

Nicky Faulds (6) slams in the opener.

Ardeer tried to respond but, apart from a free kick by Martin O'Keefe that Lauchlan Millar headed behind for a corner, there was little to trouble the home defence. Lugar had the ball in the net again when a shot from Andy Rae was pushed out by 'keeper David Richardson to Tam McGinn and, although he knocked the rebound into the net, referee Ronnie Strain deemed him to have been offside when Rae hit the original shot.

McGinn's "goal" was deemed offside.

The second goal was delayed only until the half-hour mark when Rae crossed from the left and Allardyce headed the ball back across the goalkeeper and into the net. There should have been more goals as Faulds headed a corner from Mark Morrison over the bar then Allardyce hit the post after good play from Rae and Tam McGinn. A Boyd Mullen free kick to the far post was headed over the top by John Anderson and Ardeer's efforts at being competitive resulted only in a booking for Tony Paton after he fouled Anderson.

The Stevenston side's injury woes, which had begun when Derek Lamb was hurt during the warm-up, continued when both Frankie Nolan and Derek Gemmell had to be replaced before half-time. Nolan appeared to twist his ankle as he kicked the ball and this led to some hilarity among the home support but it just proves that, when you're at the bottom of the league, anything that can go wrong probably will.

Half-time : Lugar Boswell Thistle 2 Ardeer Thistle 0

The second half was much the same as the first as Lugar created, and spurned, several good opportunities to boost their goal difference. Mullen sent over a good ball that Rae headed goalwards but Richardson saved well. Allardyce then sent Rae clear but this time Richardson dived courageously at the striker's feet to grab the ball. Substitute Alex Hampson tested the 'keeper from long range as did Allardyce from close in but it wasn't until the 78th minute that Lugar added the third goal. It was all so simple that the mystery is why Lugar didn't do it earlier and more often. Allardyce sent Morrison haring away down the right and his centre was perfect for Rae to shoot past Richardson.

Andy Rae wraps it up.

In a second half flurry of cards, Darren Quinn and Craig Fairbairn of Ardeer were booked along with Mullen, Faulds and Rae of Boswell. By the end of the match both teams had been reduced to ten players as, first, Lugar sub Darren McMahon was shown a straight red card for what may have been abusive language then Wylie, booked earlier for a foul on Mullen, saw his second yellow card for simply laying the boot in Hampson as the latter jumped for a high ball.

It was a ragged ending to an unsatisfying match but Lugar will be at least be happy that they have returned to winning ways.

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE : Leishman, Morrison, Anderson, Millar, Kelly, Faulds, Mullen, Baird, Rae, Allardyce, McGinn.

Substitutes - Hampson, McNeil, Fergusson, McMahon, Davis.

ARDEER THISTLE : Richardson, Gemmell, M.O'Keefe, Thornhill, Fairbairn, Wylie, Nolan, Patterson, Quinn, Paton, P.O'Keefe.

Substitutes - McKinnon, Kean, Wason, Little, Lamb.

3/10/'09 : SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP - ROUND 1

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 1 GLENROTHES 3

Two goals in two minutes midway through the first half put Glenrothes on the road to victory on a wild and wet day at Rosebank. It might have been different if Lugar had been awarded an early penalty after Tam McGinn skipped past several defenders only to be crudely felled by Paul McBride. Referee Kevin Graham may be a fan of Jonas Eriksson who officiated at the Rangers-Sevilla game because he shares his propensity for turning down what look like blatant penalties. Two more Lugar claims in the first half were similarly treated.

McGinn turns into the box

McGinn is sent crashing to ground.

Glenrothes wingers Lee Duffy and Greg Meikle set up a couple of chances for Benny Andrew but only when they decided to cut out the middle man did they make the breakthrough in the 24th minute. A cross-field ball from Duffy reached Meikle on the left and his shot beat Andy Leishman at the near post.

Lugar clearly hadn't learnt their lesson and within a minute it was 2-0. Another cross from the right was allowed to go all the way through to Meikle who again fired the ball into the net. The visitors continued to create chances but Lugar almost got back into the game when a 25-yard drive by McGinn was turned past the post by goalkeeper Clive Guppy.

The referee's spelling ability was tested when he booked Ryan Juskowiak for delaying a free kick but the next caution, when Dougie Allardyce fouled Mark Buist, wouldn't have posed the same challenge.

Lugar grabbed a lifeline in first-half stoppage time when Jamie Baird hit a deep corner from the left. Allardyce, at the far post, knocked the ball back to Bryan Kelly who placed a shot past Guppy from close range to put Lugar in a more hopeful mood at the break.

Allardyce takes down Baird's corner and puts it back in to Kelly

Kelly slams home his first Lugar goal to lift the spirits.

In the second half, Lugar pushed Tam McLelland farther forward and brought McGinn deeper to counteract the menace of Meikle. As a result, the home side were more of a threat and they were desperately unlucky not to equalise when Andy Rae got on the end of a cross from John Anderson only to see his downward header bounce over the bar.

The visitors made the tie safe, however, after 70 minutes. Former Raith Rovers man Ryan Blackadder appeared to foul Baird in winning possession but he was allowed to run on down the right before picking out Sam Buchan on the far side with an accurate pass. Buchan duly gave Leishman no chance with a low shot into the corner.

Meikle almost completed his hat-trick with a shot that struck the post after Andrew had robbed McGinn but while there were no more goals, there were plenty of cards. Baird of Lugar and Buist of Glenrothes were both booked then Boyd Mullen was lucky only to see yellow for petulantly kicking out at Buchan. Incredibly, though, he did exactly the same thing only minutes later with the inevitable result that Lugar were reduced to ten men.

Towards the end, Glenrothes 'keeper Guppy was injured after he dived at the feet of sub Mark Morrison and, in the ensuing unpleasantness, Morrison and Rae of Lugar as well as Andrew of Glenrothes were all cautioned. The Fifers had to bring on their substitute goalkeeper Jamie Roberts but they had few problems in seeing out the closing minutes.

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE : Leishman, McLelland, Anderson, Millar, Kelly, Faulds, Mullen, Baird, Rae, Allardyce, McGinn.

Substitutes - Morrison, McMahon, McNeil, Hampson, Fergusson, Davis.

GLENROTHES : Guppy, Buist, Seely, Juskowiak, McBride, Fortune, Duffy, Blackadder, Andrew, Buchan, Meikle.

Substitutes - Simpson, Rae, Burt, Roberts.

26/9/'09 : AYRSHIRE DISTRICT LEAGUE

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 5 WINTON ROVERS 0

Winton's last visit to Rosebank resulted in a heavy defeat and, as the "Colemanballs" column in "Private Eye" magazine might say, Saturday was deja vu all over again for them. Actually it was worse than that because last season's 4-0 collapse was largely self-inflicted whereas this was a 5-0 demolition job by a superior team.

Winton re-organised their defence more than once to no great effect yet Lugar themselves made a shaky start with little understanding apparent between Lauchlan Millar and 'keeper Ronnie Davis. A pass-back put Davis under pressure and the ball was only just scrambled clear. Lugar got over this, however, and a long ball from Tam McLelland found Andy Rae and Dougie Allardyce in suspiciously advanced positions but the strikers got themselves in a bit of a tangle and Allardyce's shot was eventually blocked by the legs of visiting 'keeper Ross Stewart.

Both Rae and Jamie Baird came close to scoring before the opening goal arrived after 17 minutes. From a free kick 25 yards out, Baird rejected the obvious options and squared the ball to Tam McGinn who crashed an unstoppable drive into the top corner.

Jamie Baird watches as McGinn's shot hits the net.

Tam celebrates the opener.

Two minutes later it was 2-0. Allardyce harried Martin Graham into an error on the left side of the box, Rae pounced on the loose ball and from a tight angle he shot low into the far corner of the net.

All the visitors could muster in reply was a free kick from John Gallagher that went over the bar and a cross from Jamie Paton that drifted wide after Davis had misjudged the flight of the ball.

Lugar's third goal came after 31 minutes when Rae chased a speculative ball into the box and through sheer persistence got in a shot that Stewart blocked. Winton were unable to clear their lines and John Anderson was on hand at the far post and he hooked the ball into the net for his fifth goal in six games.

Rovers almost got a goal back when, from another short pass-back, Davis overestimated his footballing skills and gave Gallagher the chance to hit a shot that came back off the post.

Half Time score Lugar 5 Winton 0

In a week where the spotlight was firmly fixed on referees it was refreshing to note that Saturday’s match official was almost invisible, he allowed the game to flow and only intervened when he really had to. Rovers defender John Rae was the only name that went into referee Graham McNeillie's book for repeated infractions.

Winton’s defenders were all at sea and their efforts to halt Lugar were as vain as attempting to stem the tide at Ardrossan harbour. Andy Rae had two more chances early in the second half before McGinn netted goal number four with a low shot from McLelland's pass after 68 minutes.

Anderson and Allardyce each tried their luck before Winton, in a rare sight of goal, again hit the upright with a header from Gallagher off Paton's cross.

Three minutes from time Lugar confirmed their status as promotion contenders with a fifth goal. Sub Alex Hampson started the move and a quick interchange between Anderson and Rae left the latter clean through and he gave Stewart no chance of avoiding the final embarrasment of a 5-0 scoreline.

Andy Rae wraps it up.

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE : Davis, McLelland, Anderson, Millar, Kelly, Faulds, McGinn, Baird, Allardyce, Rae, Mullen.

Substitutes - McNeil, Hampson, Fergusson, Leishman.

WINTON ROVERS : Stewart, Paton, McMillan, Graham, Bonner, Muir, Rae, Gallagher, Scott, Hamilton, Milliken.

Substitues - R.Nolan, Reid, Breen, J.Nolan, Bellew.

12/9/'09 : AYRSHIRE DISTRICT LEAGUE

SALTCOATS VICTORIA 0 LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 3

The brilliant Stevenston sunshine was in complete contrast to the Stygian gloom of Darvel a week earlier and, while the football was not always dazzling, Lugar will be happy to have beaten a team that frustrated them twice last season.

Right from the start Saltcoats looked vulnerable to pace down the flanks and, with ten minutes played, Mark Morrison sprinted away down the right and cut the ball back for Tam McGinn who side-footed the ball into the bottom, right-hand corner of the Victoria goal.

McGinn gets the opener.

Lugar continued to press and Jamie Baird sent Morrison away again but this time the cross was headed away for a corner by Stephen Renton. Brian Kelly drew a good save from home 'keeper Chris Lamb with a shot from distance then Boyd Mullen hit the side net after a corner from Baird. Lamb was in action again to save a header from Tam McLelland off another Morrison cross but Morrison blotted his copybook somewhat with a caution for a needless foul on Pat Docherty.

Worse was to come for Morrison in the 37th minute when Vics were awarded a penalty. Morrison and Docherty again tangled as they jumped for a high ball and, when the latter hit the deck, the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Stuart Moodie's spot-kick was just about Victoria's only shot at goal in the first half and even that came back off the post to preserve Lugar's fragile advantage. Minutes later Chris Jones crashed to earth in search of a second penalty but referee Jamie Paterson - who bears a passing resemblance to Boris Johnson - this time booked the forward for simulation. While he was doing this, a scene that was more akin to a Boris Karloff horror show was taking place in midfield where Niall Kennedy unwisely picked a quarrel with Baird and in no time a dozen players were involved in an unseemly fracas. When the dust settled there were yellow cards for the two original antagonists, Kennedy and Baird.

Lugar needed a second goal and, seven minutes into the second half, they got it. John Anderson displayed both skill and tenacity in the box to control an awkwardly bouncing ball and outwit his marker before shooting past Lamb at his near post. Gary Taylor of Vics earned a booking for whacking the influential Baird from behind then Lugar's Kelly saw yellow for a swipe at Docherty but the nearest Saltcoats ever came to getting back into the game was when Ronnie Davis had to punch away a free kick from Taylor.

The visitors underlined their superiority after 65 minutes when McLelland fed Morrison and his cross was headed in strongly by Anderson.

Anderson wraps up the scoring with the head.

Lugar substitute Andy Rae announced his return from suspension with a curling shot that Lamb held under the crossbar but, from the spectator's viewpoint, what was lacking in the final, stultifying quarter was any credible threat from the home side. Equally, though, Lugar seemed to lack the desire to boost their goal difference and the last twenty minutes were little more than a stroll in the sunshine.

SALTCOATS VICTORIA - Lamb, Munro, Renton, Yule, Moodie, Taylor, Kennedy, Alexander, Docherty, McNally, Jones.

Substitutes : McColgan, McCulloch, Patrick, McCall, Young, Vause, Weir.

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE - Davis, Morrison, Anderson, Mulgrew, Kelly, Faulds, McGinn, Mullen, McLelland, Baird, Allardyce.

Substitutes : McNeil, Millar, Hampson, Rae, Robertson, Leishman, Fergusson.

5/9/'09 : AYRSHIRE DISTRICT LEAGUE

DARVEL 1 LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 3

When former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Seamus McDonagh left Bolton Wanderers to play in the U.S.A. for a club in Wichita, an American reporter asked him what he thought of the place. His reply, "It's not quite the end of the world but I can see it from here," will strike a chord with anyone who witnessed this dismal match on a damp day at Darvel where the neighbouring cemetery provides little to lighten the atmosphere.

In fairness, though, the first half was rather better than the second and, for half an hour at least, the home side looked capable of causing an upset. They survived an early scare when goalkeeper Alastair McGhee dropped the greasy ball following a free kick from John Anderson but McGhee looked much smarter when he pushed Alec Hampson's header over the bar after a good cross from Boyd Mullen. Darvel were unlucky when a Chris Taylor shot crashed back off the post and, when the ball landed at the feet of Davie Kirkland, referee Joe Lawson blew for offside. Kirkland then sent in a header off Andy Hislop's cross only to see Andy Leishman make the save. Chris Dallas was next to test Leishman with a low drive, then Dallas again stabbed the ball wide after Kirkland had won an aerial duel with the 'keeper.

Lugar replied with a Jamie Baird free kick that McGhee turned behind for a corner but it was Darvel who took the lead in the 25th minute. Kirkland again won the ball in the air and knocked it down for Hislop to strike into the bottom, left-hand corner of Leishman's goal. Lugar responded to the wake-up call and Tam McLelland ran through a static defence only to be thwarted by the diving McGhee.

The equaliser came in the 31st minute when Mark Morrison, starting his second spell at the club, sent over an inch-perfect cross for Boyd Mullen whose close-range header gave McGhee no chance. Suddenly Lugar were in complete charge and in the 34th minute, after good lead-up play, McLelland laid the ball back to Graham Wark on the edge of the box and he hit a peach of a shot into the net to give Lugar the lead. Baird was the boss in midfield at this stage and, with 37 minutes played, he threaded a pass through to Anderson who fired past McGhee for Lugar's third goal.

The game might as well have ended there because the second half was very much in keeping with the weather. There was no lack of effort from the two sets of players but only a shot from Wark at one end and a header from Ian McCreadie at the other threatened to spark the game back to life. Darvel looked as if they didn't believe they could score again and Lugar cruised to victory which, given the difficult conditions and the absence of two main strikers, was probably as much as they could have hoped for from this game.

DARVEL : McGhee, Roy, Taylor, Sloss, Dunlop, Bonner, McCreadie, Miller, Hislop, Kirkland, Dallas.

Substitutes - Richmond, Johnston, Gallagher, Scott, Kelly, Uppal, Parker.

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE : Leishman, Morrison, Anderson, Mulgrew, Fergusson, Kelly, Wark, Mullen, McLelland, Baird, Hampson.

Substitutes - McDonald, Millar, McNeil, Robertson, McGinn, Davis.

29/8/'09 : AYRSHIRE DISTRICT LEAGUE –

CRAIGMARK BURNTONIANS 1 LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 0

Lugar's list of players injured or otherwise unavailable for this match was almost as long as the list of those who were available. Craigmark's fitness concerns were fewer although Lloyd Murphy started the game on the bench. The early exchanges yielded few clear chances although a good turn from Scott Caldwell on the edge of the box provided him with an opening but his shot went wide of the target. Lugar's closest thing to a goal was when Lauchlan Millar headed Jamie Baird's free kick past the post from a good position.

The home side had a great chance to take the lead from the penalty spot after 16 minutes play. Brian Kerr ran clear through the middle only to be upended by Bryan Mulgrew and for a moment the visitors held their collective breath as referee Sean Carr reached for a card. Their respiration resumed on sight of the yellow card and they could breathe more easily still after Andy Leishman dived to his right to save Scott Dinwoodie's penalty. A few minutes later Dinwoodie fired over the bar after Darren Tallen had set up the opportunity.

Mulgrew get's a foot in but a penalty is given.

Penalty save by Andy Leishman.

Craigmark 'keeper Stephen Douglas did well to hold a shot from Baird, then Lugar had a penalty claim dismissed when another Baird free kick was parried by Douglas and Scott McNeil seemed to be pushed over as he chased the rebound. Caldwell almost put the home side in front off a Gary McNeill corner but Millar was on hand to clear the shot off the line. Alec Hampson did have the ball in the net for Lugar before half-time but the referee had already blown for offside and the half ended goalless.

The second half continued much as the first had done but the deadlock was broken in the 58th minute when Lugar made an awful mess of defending a corner on the right. With no defender on the far post, the diminutive Martin Lawrie was allowed a free header which he placed in the top corner to give Craigmark the lead.

Lawrie heads home the only goal of the game.

Kerr should have added a second goal when a poor header back to his keeper from Baird left him one-on-one with Leishman but the 'keeper came off his line quickly and done enough to put the forward off his shot and it went safely wide.

Lugar pushed forward for the equaliser and McNeil sent John Anderson away down the left but his shot was blocked by McNeill. Allan Hamilton gave the home side a fright when he sliced a cross from substitute Willie McDonald over his own crossbar then a free kick from McNeil curled just wide. Another free kick from Baird flew just beyond the diving Anderson and, with time running out, Douglas did well to block a McDonald shot on the edge of the box as the forward ran in on goal. Craigmark substitute Jordan Marshall should have settled the issue when he ran from a suspiciously offside position only to shoot tamely wide but in the end it didn't matter as Craigmark had already done enough to secure the points.

CRAIGMARK BURNTONIANS - Douglas, Philliips, Lawrie, Hamilton,

Cargill, Dinwoodie, McNeill, Tallen, Caldwell, Kerr, Cuthbertson.

Substitutes : Marshall, Murphy, Donnelly, Dempster, Monaghan, Morton, Holland.

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE - Leishman, Mullen, Faulds, Millar,

Fergusson, Mulgrew, Anderson, Baird, Hampson, McNeil, Wark.

Substitutes : McDonald, Davis.

More pics of the game at -

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/kennie1878/20090829Craigmark1Lugar0?feat=directlink

22/8/'09 : AYRSHIRE DISTRICT LEAGUE

TROON 2 LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE 2

More pics of the game at -

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/kennie1878/20090822Troon2Lugar2?feat=directlink

For the second successive week, Lugar gave themselves a second-half handicap with another red card for retaliation as the referee, with only club linesmen in attendance, noticed the second part of an incident, having completely missed the first part.

Troon made the better start to the match and a move involving Robert Forde and Bruce McMaster ended with the latter firing over the bar from the edge of the penalty area. Forde then sent in a dangerous corner that Andy Leishman held under the crossbar.

Lugar gradually established a grip on the game and took the lead after 26 minutes. Former Lugar player Ricky Hanvey earned a yellow card for delaying a free kick in midfield and, from that free, Jamie Baird lofted the ball into the danger area. Nicky Faulds headed the ball back for Craig Muir who placed his header beyond 'keeper Darren Johnson and into the net.

Muir's headed goal.

A quick break from defence almost brought a second goal when Brian Kelly sent Dougie Allardyce clear and his shot was turned over the bar by Johnson.

Allardyce then set up Willie McDonald for a shot that flew just wide.

Troon 'keeper Johnson (clad in a charming shade of pink, much to the amusement of the visiting fans) had plenty to do at this stage as Lugar were in complete control of things. He saved a header from Nicky Faulds after John Anderson had sent over a deep cross from the left, then he had to punch a free kick from Baird away for a corner. As the half ended, a another Faulds header looped over the bar with Johnson beaten.

Troon looked more business-like after the break and Jonathan Baillie should have done better with a free header from Hanvey's left-wing corner. The game's pivotal moment came following a corner for Troon when Muir foolishly responded to a piece of puerile provocation from Baillie (he pulled his jersey over his head as he ran past) and, once again, a Lugar player was shown a red card while the instigator of the incident walked away unpunished. In fairness, Baillie's action probably deserved no more that a yellow card and a hundred lines but, with the ball still in play, Muir's reaction resulted in a red card for him AND a penalty to Troon which Hanvey duly converted to level the scores.

For five minutes or so after this Lugar defended far too deep and Troon gained in confidence. That confidence was punctured, however, in the 66th minute when sub Alec Hampson pounced on an error by Baillie and sprinted off down the right wing. Hampson then switched the ball to the opposite side where Graham Wark hit a screamer of a shot from the edge of the area that flew into the far corner of the net.

Baird picked up a yellow card for a foul on Hanvey but, in truth, the ten men were not under serious pressure at this point. Nine minutes from time, though, Troon substitute John McDonald hit a snap shot from the edge of the box into the bottom right-hand corner of Leishman's goal to give Troon an equaliser they barely deserved. Leishman pushed another McDonald effort over the bar late on but Troon's search for a winner produced only frustration. Referee Steven Kirkland booked Troon subs McDonald and Mark Gardner for speech play in the closing minutes as Lugar comfortably held on for a point that could easily have been three.

TROON : Johnson, Walker, Galloway, Muir, Baillie, Chatham, Clelland, Forde, McMaster, Carmichael, Hanvey.

Substitutes - McDonald, Gardner, Miller, Scott, B.Mitchell, G.Mitchell, Patterson.

LUGAR BOSWELL THISTLE : Leishman, Faulds, Anderson, Mulgrew, Muir, Kelly, Wark, Baird, Allardyce, McDonald, McGinn.

Substitutes - Hampson, Millar, McNeil, Mullen, Robertson, Davis, Fergusson.

Report by Martin Rogan