Troon can complete the fairytale comeback

Mar 6 2009 by Mike Wilson

JOHN REDMOND insists shock troops Troon can complete a fairytale comeback by sneaking promotion through the back door.

A stunning 3-0 win at Kello has pushed the Portland Parkers to within a point of the once runaway leaders.

Now with only four games to go, Troon can yet grab a promotion spot if they win them all.

And Redmond says if they beat Dalry at home on Saturday to go top, the Troon bandwagon will take some stopping.

And the bookies believe him. Early season title odds of 66/1 have been trimmed to 9/2 and the cash is flowing in.

Goals from John McDonald, Scott Chatham and Gordon Inglis swept Troon to victory at Kirkconnel to keep up their remarkable hot run.

Troon were without a league point when Redmond answered an SOS call to return for a second stint in October. Since then, they have won 11, drawn one and lost only twice.

Redmond said: “I am so proud of the players who have given me everything. It’s the nucleus of the team who lost the first four league games before I came back.

“The commitment and attitude has been tremendous. It’s the players who have done it, not me, and to win 11 games out of 14 in any league is a great achievement.

“Goalie Darren Johnson has been immense and has been turning games for us but all the lads have played their part.

“All we can do is win our last games against Dalry (home and away), Craigmark (away) and Irvine Vics (home) and hope that other results go our way. But all our promotion rivals have still to play each other so it’s wide open.”

LUGAR, who are bookies’ favourites, suffered their seventh draw, when they were held 2-2 at home to Whitletts. Now despite only one defeat, they fear they could be caught.

Secretary Kennie Young said: “I hope the draws aren’t the rock we perish on but we’re still in the driving seat.”

Raymond Buchanan headed home a corner to put Vics ahead but Tam McLelland levelled with a penalty just before the break after Steven Lynch handled. Andy Rae beat the offside trap to put Lugar in front but Vics rocked them in injury time when Buchanan nodded his second.

Vics boss Jim Geddes said: “There are still five teams in with a promotion shout and if we’re one of them then great.

“Scoring right at the death means the point feels like a victory but the good thing is we haven’t lost.”

CRAIGMARK boss Lawrie Dinwoodie says they are still in the promotion hunt after beating Winton 3-2 but have a huge backlog of games to make up.

Dinwoodie claimed: “We are definitely not out of it but the worry is we have a small squad and injuries could catch us. Our three goals were stunners but we fell asleep in the second-half when Winton were the better team.”

Lloyd Murphy and Scott Dinwoodie fired ‘Mark ahead but Stevie McAvoy got one back just before the break. Winton then drew level but Murphy rocked them with a free-kick winner.

In the First Division, ANNBANK made it three wins in a row and took their goals tally to 11 with a 2-0 victory at home to East Kilbride.

Delighted boss Steph McMillan said: “The boys have sky high confidence and fear no one. They’re creating nine or ten good chances in every game.”

Jim Wilson headed home a Tommy Sloan cross a minute after the interval. With five minutes to go, sub Dwayne Hyslop set up Mick McCann to round the keeper for the second.

Fellow sub Ian Connolly, who was on the park less than four minutes, was dismissed for two yellow cards.

CUMNOCK squeezed past MAYBOLE 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the Ayrshire Cup. A Graham Wilson header put ‘Nock ahead but Paul Kerr equalised at the break.

Into spot-kicks and Joe Hayes, Gareth Campbell, Wilson, Stuart McDonald and David McInally all counted for Cumnock. Kerr, Alan Love and Stuart Peacock replied for ‘Bole but the tie was lost when Andy Stevenson fired over.

AUCHINLECK made it eight wins on the spin when they edged past LARGS 2-1 thanks to a Sean McIlroy double but had Stuart Davidson dismissed for two bookings. John Paul Dow counted for the hosts.

Boss Tommy Sloan said: “The first-half was a bit disappointing but the second-half was much better. We want to keep the momentum going against Hurlford in the Ayrshire Cup on Saturday but I’m disappointed it’s not a league game with the Scottsh Cup the following week.”

GLENAFTON keeper Chris Fahey was the hero with three penalty saves in a 3-1 spot-kick win over Ashfield after a goalless draw. Despite having a man sent off, Ashfield could have won it but missed a late penalty. Spot heroes for Glens were Chris Zok, Jamie Doyle and Willie Howie.

GIRVAN boss Billy Thomson blasted referee Ross Haswell for awarding a hotly disputed penalty in their 1-0 defeat by IRVINE MEADOW.

Thomson said: “Even Meadow boss Chris Strain, who is a friend of mine, said it wasn’t a penalty and they weren’t looking for one. Scott McGilp stood his ground behind Brian McGinty but the award was a penalty which McGinty put away.

“We had the best player on the park in Michael Moffat who sent the keeper the wrong way but hit the inside of the post. Then he forced a Gordon Banks type save from Michael Wardrope late on.

“Darren Mitchell was also superb - it’s the best we have played in my time here but it was ruined by a poor decision.”