AYRSHIRE DISTRICT LEAGUE

KELLO ROVERS 2 ANNBANK UNITED 1

ANNBANK have been something of a bogey team toRovers over the past few seasons and so the Kirkconnel fans were relieved to finally get a victory over them.

The game was played on a good surface on a bright Spring day and it has to be said that the football reflected this. It was a very good game between two evenly matched teams playing some really good football.

Rovers made a sluggish start by losing a goal in just under two minutes when their defence got caught in a muddle. Victory at this stage seemed a long distance away though in fairness the Rovers rallied and struck the crossbar at the Gas Works End almost immediately.

On 22 minutes the Rovers got a corner and when the ball was swung over Hyslop leaped magnificently to powerfully head the ball high into the corner of the Annbank net.

Just two minutes later the home fans saw Kello go in front following a most impressive ten pass movement that saw Hampson freed to drive low into the corner of the net. Both teams continued to play good passing football but with no further scoring up until half time.

The Rovers started brightly in the second half and were undoubtedly on top. However, an Annbank player was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle and the game turned on its head.

With nothing to lose Annbank began to throw players forward and the Rovers instinctively fell back to defend the lead they had.

Annbank had the majority of possession in the final half hour but Rovers held firm and defended well.

Soaking up the Annbank pressure, Rovers began to play on the counter attack and broke free on several occasions but they hung to record a hard fought victory.

Rovers are now sitting in fifth position in the league with games in hand over all the teams above them.

They now need to refocus and go again when they welcome highflying Irvine Vics to Nithside Park on Saturday with a 2pm kick off.

KELLO ROVERS - Dunsmuir, Weir, Kilpatrick, Hyslop, Bennie, Hill, Paterson, Smith, Pagan, Shaw, Hampson.

Subs; Ballantyne, Irving.