Football: Lugar bid to blow flag race wide open

Mar 19 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

KENNIE YOUNG insists Lugar will blow the Ayrshire League flag race wide open if they stop leaders Kilwinning in their tracks.

Lugar head to Abbey Park on Saturday, trailing Buffs by seven points but with two games in hand.

And the Rosebank men know their fate will be back in their own hands if they can hand Billy Thomson's team only their fourth league defeat of the season.

Young, Lugar's long serving secretary, said: "If we win, the cat will be among the pigeons. But if we don’t at least draw, I think we could be playing for second place as Kilwinning have the easier run-in.

“It’s a most enjoyable league and with Johnny Anderson and Graham Wark back from long term injuries, our squad is looking good.”

Lugar, who have re-signed striker Michael Hart from Glenafton, looked set for a crunch win away to fellow challengers Hurlford when Boyd Mullen fired them into an interval lead from a free-kick.

But Willie McMahon's team nabbed a hotly disputed injury time penalty through Andy Thomson with Lugar claiming the foul was well outside the box. Craig Muir was sent off for protesting and now misses the trip to Buffs.

TROON saw their promotion hopes killed with a 2-0 defeat at home to Kilwinning. Former Whitletts striker Michael Fulton hit a first-half double to settle a dour game.

Buffs had Callum McGregor sent off in 76 minutes after a clash with Andy Stevenson.

KELLO’S 1-1 draw against Darvel was held up for 15 minutes to wait for an ambulance after Stevie Hislop twisted his knee.

David Jardine fired the Kirkconnel men ahead at the second attempt but Chris Dallas headed the equaliser early in the second-half.

WINTON are right on Kilwinning's heels after edging a1-0 win at CRAIGMARK who are still not out of it with ten games to go.

IRVINE MEADOW will host the game of the day on Saturday when they entertain LARGS in the quarter-finals of the Emirates Scottish Cup.

An early Brian McGinty double earned Meadow a 2-0 win over Glencairn while only the woodwork denied Zander Ryan and Richie Barr.

AUCHINLECK were strangely off colour as theylaboured to a 1-1 draw at struggling Pollok.

Ryan McGregor headed the hosts in front a minute before the interval. Talbot had James Latta sent off with eight minutes to go but scrambled a point with two minutes left when John Boyle turned home a cross from veteran sub Stevie Mallan.

Pollok's David McGeown was sent off right at the death before Adam Strain made a great save from a Tom Nolan free-kick to save Talbot their point.

LARGS missed their fifth successive penalty in a 2-0 defeat at KILBIRNIE who struck through Jamie Longworth and Alain Kinney.

GIRVAN stay fourth in the First Division after a goalless draw at East Kilbride while GLENAFTON, who have signed former Ayr United striker Andy Ferguson, shrugged off a red card for Chris Merrilees to draw 0-0 at home to Clydebank. Ally Semple saved a Gary Lynn penalty late on.

MAYBOLE'S Andy Conkie broke his arm in two places soon after coming on as a sub in a 3-1 defeat by Renfrew.

Martin Reilly got ‘Bole’s goal but boss Peter Leonard claimed: “We’ve a bad run of injuries but will just have to battle through.”

ANNBANK were shocked 4-1 at home by basement team Neilston in a game switched to New Pebble Park.