S.A.F.L Division Two

Millerston Thistle  (1) 2  Inverkip Thistle  (1) 3

After last weeks first League defeat of the season at home to East Kilbride the Kip really needed to get something from this game to keep them in with the promotion pack.  The Kip got of to a lively start and played some excellent football in the first 20 minutes.  They went ahead when the ball came over from the left and fell to Cassidy who drilled a low shot which the keeper had no chance with, 1-0 to the Kip.  Millerston came into the game the more the half went on and looked dangerous at corners and long throws, although the Kip had a couple of half chances to go further ahead, one from Aitchie which just didnt sit right for him, the Millerston pressure just before the break paid off when they struck right on the half time whistle.

The Kip regrouped at half time and came out fired up, and looked the hungrier team.  They took the lead when the ball was headed out from a corner and Cassidy blasted a shot which shaved the guy on the posts head on the way into the roof of the net, 2-1 to the Kip.  Again the Kip had chances to go further ahead with a couple of shots from Mckinlay and a Miller Free kick which came of the underside of the bar, but they couldn't get that all important 2 goal lead.  That cost the Kip and again Millerston managed to get level against the run of play as they didn't really threaten all second half. An angled shot from the edge of the box which McConnachie had no chance with sneeked in at the back post, 2-2 game on.  Within minutes the Kip were ahead for a third time and it was Cassidy again with the eye for goal completing his hat-trick.  Aitchison "fired in" (none of this floating corners in pish), as he put it, which ricocheted of a defender and Cassidy was fastest to react sliding the ball home over the muddy goal mouth, just making it over the line despite the efforts of the defender on the line, 3-2 the Kip and surely now the 3 points.  There was a few shaky moments with debutant Jim Miller collapsing in a heap with cramp (must be something about left backs breaking down).  Also the ref went down when a Millerston defender laced the ball of his dial which nearly knocked him out (Big Tony came to the rescue with the magic sponge).  With in minutes the ref gave a decision against us with Tony screaming from the sidelines "you got concussion Ref" , poor geezer.

It was starting to get dark now but the Kip managed to hang onto earn a well deserved 3 - 2 victory.

There was a hunger to win and it was a great effort and result with it being the last match before the xmas break and with us leap frogging Millerston in the League Table, it keeps us in the hunt for promotion.

McConnachie, McLean, Leisk, McDermott (Murphy 80), Miller (Mains85), Gault, Mckinlay, Mckinnon, Aitchison, O'Rourke (McDonanld (85) Cassidy.

Subs not used: Hughes, Dougan

"Match Report by Shuggy Mckinlay Keevins"