League

Kilbirnie
Spectators: 6934 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1934, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Willie McGruer got the match started through his kick off. Phil Dobbie fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 3rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Wally Crum having to interfere. Aaron McIan made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Barry McClure in the 6th minute of play. Aaron McIan took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Willie McGruer, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When the match clock showed 12 minutes, the score became 0-1 when Phil Dobbie sped through Kilbirnie's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Wally Crum. An unexpectedly hard shot by Willie McGruer in the 16th minute of play forced Alva's goalkeeper Aaron McIan to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Jake Brebner came up free with the goalie in the 18th minute, the Alva 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 Jake Brebner couldn't finish the play. Kenny Haws sent away a hard shot on goal in the 22nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 28 minutes, Willie McGruer mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Kilbirnie and the Alva players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 28th minute, Willie McGruer hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Wally Crum stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Kenny Haws's shot from short distance in the 29th minute. Alva's Aaron McIan proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 32nd minute of the match, managed to save Alva from getting a goal against them. With a little luck, Alva's Aaron McIan got control of the ball when Fraser Cariston tried to sneak it across the goal line. With an all-out effort, Kilbirnie's Aaron McIan threw himself towards the right post 39 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Willie McGruer, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Wally Crum showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Phil Dobbie, who was totally free with the ball in the 47th minute. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Phil Dobbie was the one to do the kick off. Kenny Haws recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 55th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After 56 minutes of play, Kilbirnie's Willie McGruer made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Aaron McIan was left in no man's land by his defense there! After 59 played minutes Kilbirnie got a freekick which was hit by Fraser Cariston. When Angus Petrie fell near the penalty area in the 60th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Alva's protests and gave Angus Petrie a yellow card for diving instead. After 60 played minutes Alva got a freekick which was hit by Angus Petrie. Aaron McIan came out of the goal in the 63rd minute to try and stop a shot by Kilbirnie's Willie McGruer. But to his dismay, Willie McGruer quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-1. Kilbirnie's Willie McGruer got his second yellow card of the match in the 68th minute. The referee ordered Willie McGruer off the ground. After a rather tough play, Kilbirnie's Willie McGruer got a free kick in the 69th minute. 71 minutes into the match, Kilbirnie's goal looked a bit too open when Phil Dobbie came free, but Wally Crum reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Through an outstanding action, after 76 minutes, Wally Crum successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. After 77 minutes, Barry McClure mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Kilbirnie and the Alva players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 77th minute, Barry McClure hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In a very dangerous position, a player in Kilbirnie fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 78th minute. Penalty! Kenny Haws fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 86th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Wally Crum having to interfere. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Barry McClure in the 92nd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Aaron McIan prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 94 minutes into the match, Alva's goal looked a bit too open when Barry McClure came free, but Aaron McIan reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Troy McKellachie's late challenge caught a Alva's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Troy McKellachie helped the player get up and apologised. In the 96th minute, Troy McKellachie hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. Alva walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.