Difference in Divisions Reversed, As United Trounce Vics!

AYRSHIRE CUP

Darvel Vics 2 Stewarton United 6

As the rain broke form to dampen the pitch at Pennyburn on Saturday morning, Darvel may have been forgiven for thinking it was an omen for their own break in form, which has seen them rooted to the bottom of the first division.  However, it was Stewarton who looked like the top flight team as the third division outfit continued their impressive unbeaten record to progress to the next stage of the Ayrshire cup.

The visitors stamped their intentions on the game early with a McNaughton chance that was well saved by the Vics keeper.   The on form United striker was played through by Lavery, and as he bore down on goal he was stopped only by the keeper who saved well at his feet; from the rebound Lavery could have benefited from his own exploits, but yet again the keeper did well to lunge in front of the striker to save with his feet.  It was evident however that this was only the calm before the storm, as almost instantly United went in front.  On 6 minutes a long kick forward by Wilson in the United goal caught the Darvel defence napping as it bounced kindly to McNaughton who coolly took it in his stride to slip under the onrushing keeper with his right foot.  In the following exchanges it was clear that United felt the game was theirs’ for the taking as they continued to press forward with suitable menace.  However, on 10 minutes the visitors defence lost concentration as an attack, which screamed offside, saw Darvel almost pull level if it had not been for the quick footwork of Wilson in goals.  It was all action now as United persisted with their attack on the Darvel goal.  On 14 minutes, a low ball across the 18 yard box from Lavery picked out the onrushing Currie who coolly rounded the keeper to slot home only to be deemed offside by the ‘involved’ referee.  United had yet another chance to increase their lead on 16 minutes as old-fashioned fight from McNaughton and  McArthur saw the winger create a chance, however McArthur blasted wide when it seemed easier to score.   Where the home side did not seem inadequate however, was the aggression field, as time and time again they kicked and punched their way into tackles.  This brought a determination from United who were not to be outfought, however consistently there was a threat of the game boiling over.  For all their pressure and determination though, United were almost made to pay as on 36 minutes their defence went to sleep allowing a dangerous ball from the left across the face of goal, only for the Darvel striker to smash over in haste.  This could have changed the remainder of the game, however moments later United were awarded a penalty as Lavery was stupidly bundled over in the box, and from 12 yards McNaughton slotted the ball away low to the keepers’ right.

United looked to capitalise on this as even captain Hamilton was compelled to add to the score-line.  The big defender broke well after making a good tackle and raced down the left flank towards goal.  As he cut in to his favoured right foot, he was clearly overwhelmed as an over-ambitious right footed attempt almost broke for a throw-in on the opposite side.  Stewarton were looking for the half-time whistle, but as their minds’ wandered Darvel were fortunate enough to be awarded a penalty when sriker Scobie was clearly offside, yet the ball was deemed to have hit McDowell’s hand when clearly hitting his thigh; the Darvel #10 dispatched well down the centre.  Determined not to let this be the turning point of the half, Srewarton burst forward again, and in the dying moments of injury time were awarded a free-kick; a fine delivery from Scott Thompson on the right was flicked on by the consistently impressive Lavery to find Currie, who headed to the back post to score United’s 3^rd.

Into the second half and it was more United pressure!  After 5 minutes Taylor threaded through Lavery who avoided the Vics offside trap and neatly chipped over the outwards bound Darvel keeper, who was subsequently yellow carded for falsely remonstrating that Lavery was offside.  Soon after McArthur also lobbed the keeper only to hit the post and it was clear Darvel had no more to offer.  From a rare Darvel attack, Dickson made a great tackle on the United left; however the left-backs’ efforts were to be his demise as his studs caught in the grass and the young defender seemed to twist his knee awkwardly in a manner that screamed ligament damage.  As United looked to regroup, they again pressed and a short-corner was picked up by the reinstated Thompson who smashed a right-foot drive into the far left corner.  Darvel were a B-team training outfit at this point, and moments after the re-start, a Hamilton clearance was met by player-manager Boyle who coolly rounded the keeper to slot home United’s sixth and atone for his previously embarrassing miss.

Darvel were fortunate enough to catch United off-guard as in the 88^th minute a long ball by the keeper evaded the United defence for Scobie to control well and drill under the backtracking Wilson in the United goal.  Despite this consolation, Darvel were embarrassed by a team 2 divisions below them, yet it was not without precedence as United carried forward their strong reputation to belittle the home-team.

By Fraser Wilson