SUPER LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION

KILSYTH RANGERS 1 CUMNOCK 7

CUMNOCK kept their title dreams alive by emphatically brushing Kilsyth aside with a thumping 7-1 win on Tuesaday night.

Despite what was at stake for Cumnock they got off to the perfect start as they scored the opening goal in the 7th minute. Ray Montgomerie’s shot from the edge of the box managed to creep into the bottom left hand corner of the net despite Andy Carlin getting a hand to the ball.

Slight hesitation from Corey Pearson prevented him from equalising in the 12th minute. Paul McBride managed to dribble past Jonathon Lindsay before laying the ball off to Pearson. Instead of striking the ball first time he hesitated allowing Graeme Shepherd to narrow the angle and block Pearson’s shot with his chest.

Sean McKenzie, making his first start of the season, should have doubled Cumnock’s lead three minutes later. Aiden Malone played an inch perfect ball over the top of the Kilsyth defence, sending McKenzie through on goal. However, his shot with his weaker left foot was tame allowing Carlin to get down to his right and hold.

McKenzie made amends in the 17th minute by scoring Cumnock’s second of the game. Malone managed to turn his defender in the box before slipping the ball through to McKenzie who managed to stay calm and round Carlin before rolling the ball into the empty net to double the lead.

In-form youngster Keir Samson almost continued his goal scoring run in the 23rd minute. The ball rebounded to Samson at the edge of the box who then struck a vicious shot just over the bar.

Shepherd produced his best save of the game in the 29th minute to retain Cumnock’s two goal lead. Pearson struck a free-kick from 25 yards down the right hand side of the goal which Shepherd managed to acrobatically tip over the bar.

The last clear cut chance of the half fell to Malone in the 39th minute. Keiren Wood won the ball back on the half way line before releasing Samson down the right wing. Samson’s low, hard cross was struck wide of the left hand post by Malone.

Cumnock done exactly what was required from them in the first half as they acquired a comfortable lead whilst keeping a clean sheet at the other end. The second half would prove to be an even better performance from the ‘Nock in which they scored five more goals.

Shepherd had to be alert at the start of the second half to deny Michael McGee dragging Kilsyth back into the game. McGee struck a powerful shot through a host of players which Shepherd saw late but the ‘keeper managed to get a hand to the shot and gather the ball at the second attempt.

Wood almost tripled Cumnock’s lead in the 52nd minute. Josh Watt managed to pick out Wood at the back post with a corner but his close range header went straight at Carlin who managed to block.

The game kicked into life in the 74th minute when McKenzie scored his second of the game. Poor defending from Kilsyth allowed McKenzie to have two shots at goal with the second one beating Carlin and into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Two minutes later and Malone had increased Cumnock’s lead to four. Montgomerie’s free kick from the right hand side found Malone whose diving header from 12 yards landed in the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Malone then scored Cumnock’s third goal in four minutes. A long free-kick found Samson at the back post and his shot, which looked to be going in, was bundled over the line by Malone.

Montgomerie scored his second of the match in the 87th minute. Montgomerie managed to disposes McGee at the edge of the box before sliding the ball past Carlin and into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Just a minute later and Del Esplin grabbed Cumnock seventh goal of the game. Samson’s throw in was dummied by substitute Paul Quinn and an untracked Esplin latched onto it before striking the ball across goal and into the net.

John McKeown's side produced a stand out performance in a must win game.

Nock now need to win their two remaining league games to win the title, starting with a trip to Shotts Bon Accord on Saturday.

CUMNOCK - Shepherd, Wood, Crawford, Lundie, Lindsay, Esplin, Samson, Montgomerie, Malone, McKenzie, Watt.

Subs; Lowe, Scott, Quinn, Ronald, Johnstone.