The Buffs managed to continue their recent strong league form with a narrow home victory over fellow promotion challengers Thorniewood United FC. Bryan Boylan scored the only goal of the game despite The Buffs creating several clear-cut chances throughout the 90.
The game was a fairly slow starter with neither side being able to break each other down on the bobbly surface until Robbie Leighton played a big switch from left back to right wing where The Wood attacker managed to control before taking it past Josh Winton in the left wing back position. The ball was then swung into the box where Daniel Kindlan managed to get across to the front post and fire a header towards goal. Fortunately for The Buffs Kindlan’s powerful header flew just past the near post and out for a Buffs goal kick. The Buffs replied with their own first chance of the game straight after when Bryan Boylan got in behind the right side of the Thorniewood defence before getting to the byline and drilling a low cross into the box. Right wing back Aaron Boyd was the man closest to getting on the end of the cross, but his efforts were defended excellently to stop a near certain Buffs opener. The first massive chance of the game came in the 11th minute when Aaron Boyd hit a first time cross in the direction of Boylan on the edge of the box, Bryan attempted to take the shot on first time but miss hit his effort. The ball then fell loose in the box where Boylan was first to react and latch onto the free ball before taking a touch past, Thorniewood goalkeeper, Josh Lane who had no option but to bring Bryan down, giving The Buffs a penalty. Mark Lamont stepped up to take the penalty, however, for the first time this season his effort was saved well down towards the bottom left corner of the goal. The Buffs didn’t let the penalty miss affect them and kept creating half chances, mainly through crosses from Aaron Boyd and Bryan Boylan down the right and left flanks. Boyd’s impressive start to the game continued and led to the first goal being scored when his low cross from the right side found Bryan Boylan who hammered home into the bottom right corner with a, left-footed, volley.
The Buffs’ energetic first half performance carried on into the early stages of the second 45 which was highlighted when Jack McMahon carried the ball from the edge of his own box all the way to the opposition’s half, beating 2 players on his travels, before passing to Lamont on the left side of midfield. Lamont then returned the favour to McMahon by sliding the striker in behind The Wood defence, Lamont continued his run and was found, once again, by McMahon which allowed Mark to fire an effort towards goal which swerved just high and wide of the top right corner of Thorniewood’s goal. Buffs’ dominance persisted and, substitute, Nathan Lennox had Buffs best chance of the game when Boylan got down the left wing and drove the ball into the 6-yard box where for Lennox to attack. Nathan did get on the end of the cross but his close range effort was tame which allowed Lane to get across and save, brilliantly, with his leg. Despite failing to convert a second, the chances kept on coming for The Buffs and this time it was Boylan’s chance to double his tally for the day when Jack Maccalaman launched the ball into the box from a throw in. Bryan managed to connect well with a header down into the ground however, the ball bounced back up and off the inside of the post and straight back into the grateful clutches of the Thorniewood goalkeeper. The opportunities didn’t end there for The Buffs and in the closing stages both Mark Lamont and Cammy Kerr had one on one chances to finish the game but both midfielders’’ efforts were well saved by, Thorniewood man of the match, Josh Lane. Thankfully the missed chances did not come back to haunt The Buffs as The Wood failed to create much all game with The Buffs, new look 5 at the back, defence performing resolutely throughout.
In stark contrast to last week’s performance, The Buffs put on an excellent all-round display with top performers, Boylan and Boyd performing superbly throughout. Plaudits must also go to the management team for setting the team up so well in a time where The Buffs squad is littered with absences. All focus now turns to next week’s festive derby between The Buffs and Ayrshire rivals Irvine Meadow in a pivotal game for both clubs and sets of fans.
