Spectators at Lindsay Park on Sunday afternoon were treated to a fantastic match between Crosshouse 12 Community Football Club 2012s and Troon FC 2012s. Troon had previously won the last two meetings between the team’s last season. Crosshouse managed to pick up a crucial first win of the season in style as they battled to the bitter end to secure all three points in a 1-0 win.
It was Crosshouse who kicked us off and they did so strongly as Aiden Goody and Jamie Deas combined well to test Troon early on. Even out of possession Crosshouse were brave as Michael Clarke applied pressure to the Troon backline from the beginning.
Troon responded well as they took their turn to apply pressure to Crosshouse. The first attempt of the game came from Troon’s Alfie Dewar who saw his powerful effort saved valiantly by Corey Ball. Troon’s continued onslaught led to some heroic defending from Clarke as he made multiple fantastic tackles and blocks to deny an opener. Troon came close to finding an opener as Kaiden Fulton saw his shot trickle just by the post.
Crosshouse struck early as just after the five-minute mark, Muir twisted and turned in the box cleverly before drawing a foul and winning his team a penalty. Kayden stepped up and rifled his penalty in the bottom corner to fire his side into a well-deserved lead.
Crosshouse’s goal didn’t go without response as Troon pushed for an immediate equaliser. Harvey Wood had two fantastic efforts at goal, but they were met with two equally fantastic saves by Ryan Forde. Forde didn’t stop there as he dove brilliantly to claim a looping corner into his six-yard box.
Troon continued to pile on the pressure as Wood wiggled through the defence before releasing his shot just off target. Crosshouse defended magnificently as Max Muirhead held the line with two strong lunging tackles to dispossess his man. The Troon attack just peppered the Crosshouse goal with strikes as Kaiden Fulton and Wood just fell short of hitting the target.
Crosshouse managed to gain some momentum as the half progressed, with a great run from Jai Nisbet who flashed the ball across the box, but it was unmet by a teammate. They continued to push and hit Troon on the counter but found the final ball through cut out very cleverly by Parker Telfer.
Crosshouse’s spirit didn’t falter as their two frontmen Kayden Muir and Nisbet both made fantastic darting runs passed the Troon defence but just couldn’t quite test the keeper.
Troon made a final push in the last five minutes of the first half as a deflected effort forced Ball into a clearance off his own line. Troon’s Kole Leighton channelled his inner Ronaldinho as he pulled off a fantastic roulette to make it past his man and put a ball into the box. Wood was next up to try and equal the scoring as he beat two defenders and hit a thunderous effort that looked surely goal bound but just skimmed the top of the bar to end out the first half.
Troon took their strong finish in the first half with them into the second half as Telfer dispossesses his man and sets his team up for the counter. As Troon broke forward Wood found himself in acres of space allowing him to unleash a powerful shot towards the goal, but it was dealt with excellently by Ball.
Olli Neville saw action in both boxes as he nearly got Troon back into the game with his looping header just wide of the post and then to track back the length of the pitch to stop Crosshouse from going clean through on goal. To top it off Neville showed fantastic skill to beat the Crosshouse press and fire his team up the pitch in a crazy few minutes for the defender.
Crosshouse began to find their footing again as Nisbet ran up and down the flank giving it his all, his efforts were rewarded as he won a free kick. Nisbet swung a great ball into the box but none of his teammates could get there in time. The pressure was followed up by Bryson as attempted to double the scoring but just couldn’t quite find the target.
The Troon backline was on great form as Neville along with his counterpart Telfer masterfully dispossessed the oncoming Crosshouse attackers. Forde continued Troon’s solid defensive play as he pulled off an outrageous save to tip Bryson’s thunderstrike onto the bar and out for a corner.
Troon pushed hard to try and salvage something from the match as they entered the last ten minutes of the match. Telfer’s piercing runs down the left flank helped carry his team forward and try to carve out a chance. Crosshouse dug in though as Ball batted away multiple attempts.
It looked like Troon might finally find the back of the net as the ball fell into the box for Fulton, but his headed attempt agonisingly just flew wide of the post. Fulton gave it another go as his fantastic effort just missed the top corner. With the last few seconds of the game Wood collected the ball on the edge of the box, he went on to beat four men in an outrageous run and with the last kick of the game released a shot goal bound, Ball dived courageously across the goal and managed to scramble it away to clinch the win for Crosshouse.
Crosshouse Magic Moment:
Crosshouse’s magic moment has to go to Jamie Deas whose creativity and drive managed to win his team a penalty that ultimately won his team the game. Deas was responsible for a historic win for Crosshouse
Crosshouse Man of The Match:
Crosshouse’s man of the match was Jai Nisbett. Nisbett was a constant threat on the wing and showed great intelligence to push his team forward and to try and craft chances for his teammates.
Troon Magic Moment:
Troon’s magic moment came from Ryan Forde. Forde pulled off a cracking save to keep his side in the game. A save that surely must go down as one of the best this season by some stretch.
Troon Man of The Match:
Troon’s man of the match was Ryan Forde. Forde showed great leadership to command his box and to claim multiple difficult balls into his box. Forde showed a breadth of outstanding saves during the match and made it difficult for the Crosshouse attackers.
Crosshouse 12 Community Football Club:
18 Corey Ball GK
2 Lewis Thomson
3 Aiden Goody
5 Oscar Dudgeon
6 Max Muirhead
7 Charlie Bryson
9 Kayden Muir
11 Jai Nisbet
15 Jamie Deas
49 Tyler Phillips (C)
88 Michael Clark
16 Arran Tosh
17 Harrison Greevey
Troon FC:
21 Ryan Forde GK
2 Rhys Mcquaid
4 Parker Telfer
5 Olli Neville
10 Harvey Wood (C)
11 Kole Leighton
14 Alfie Dewar
15 Jack Lynch
18 Kyle Paton
19 Kaiden Fulton
20 Jack Keenan
3 Matthew Jones
7 Dylan Lawrie
8 Eden Carmichael
9 Riley Black
17 Taylor Cochrane
25 Robbie Gilgalon
