League Play-Off

Prestwick Park
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Aidan McSwan started the match with the kick off. In the 4th minute, Ken Dinwoodie hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Aidan McSwan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 10th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Ter Lenny fell near the penalty area in the 12th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Prestwick United's protests and gave Ter Lenny a yellow card for diving instead. A collision led to Prestwick United getting a freekick after 13 minutes play. Ter Lenny hit a great ball. 13 minutes into the match, Auchterarder's Ken Dinwoodie broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. After a defensive mix-up in Auchterarder's zone, Kenny McLaine stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Derek McWhannell came out of the goal and Kenny McLaine tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Aidan McSwan in the 22nd minute of play forced Prestwick United's goalkeeper Oliver McRitchie to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 1-0 became the score in the 24th minute when William Stark elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. 27 minutes into the match, Auchterarder's Aidan McSwan sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Oliver McRitchie narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Aidan McSwan fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 29th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Oliver McRitchie having to interfere. 31 minutes into the game, Adam Webster was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Auchterarder's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Prestwick United the free kick. After 32 played minutes Auchterarder got a freekick which was hit by Adam Webster. Kenny McLaines short, quick shot in the 33rdth minute got Derek McWhannell to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. In the 37th minute, Tony McPhedron hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. An unexpectedly hard shot by William Stark in the 40th minute of play forced Auchterarder's goalkeeper Derek McWhannell to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Prestwick United's Oliver McRitchie played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mike McGruder in the 43rd minute of play. If Kenny McLaine had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 48th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 2-0.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. William Stark was the one to do the kick off. William Stark received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 52nd minute. Derek McWhannell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Derek McWhannell took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from William Stark, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Derek McWhannell showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from William Stark, who was totally free with the ball in the 60th minute. If Aidan McSwan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 63rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in Auchterarder's zone, Kenny McLaine stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Derek McWhannell came out of the goal and Kenny McLaine tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. William Stark sent away a hard shot on goal in the 69th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Kenny McLaine came up free with the goalie in the 71st minute, the Prestwick United fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Kenny McLaine couldn't finish the play. William Stark fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 73rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Derek McWhannell having to interfere. Mike McGruder's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 78thth minute, Oliver McRitchie skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. 79 minutes into the match, Prestwick United's goalkeeper Oliver McRitchie had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Mike McGruder. After 80 played minutes Auchterarder got a freekick which was hit by Ken Dinwoodie. If Kenny McLaine had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 84th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. A hard shot 95 in the game by Mike McGruder from a close distance when the talented Oliver McRitchie managed to make a qualified save. Prestwick United's players were relieved. Auchterarder's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.