1.45pm 19 January 2013
SJFA West Region, Super League, Division One
Whitletts Victoria 2 Kilbirnie Ladeside 2 (att 201)
With much of the country in the grip of snow and ice, and most matches succumbing as a result, today was case of finding any game on a new ground that was going to be played. The west of Scotland had escaped the worst of the weather, and with coastal areas likely to avoid the frost Ayr-based Whitletts was the ideal location to head to.
Whitletts had been scheduled to play away to Kilbirne today, but the fixture was swapped towards the end of the week once it was clear that Kilbirnie's ground had no chance of being playable, while the Dam Park Stadium was likely to be okay. As always on these occasions, it was a relief to see players warming up on the pitch when I arrived.
The club were well rewarded for staging the match, one of only a few non League games to survive in Scotland today. Even the town's senior side, Ayr United, had their Scottish League game postponed, and the resulting crowd, officially 201, was apparently their highest of the season.
Unfortunately they couldn't manage what would have been their first league win of the season, denied by an 80th minute penalty not long after the visitors had been reduced to 10 men following a sending off.
Kilbirnie had opened the scoring with an early goal, but Whitletts fought back to lead 2-1 at half time. Even after Kilbirnie's spot kick leveller the home side had chances to score.
Whitletts only moved to Dam Park recently, following the sudden closure of their former ground. I think the club have long terms plans to find a permanent home, but for now Dam Park is a decent venue. The large elevated stand gives a good view, and there's open terracing on the stand side, and grass banking around the rest of the ground.
On a day when finding a game was a challenge, this was a very good afternoon's football.
SJFA West Region, Super League, Division One
Whitletts Victoria 2 Kilbirnie Ladeside 2 (att 201)
With much of the country in the grip of snow and ice, and most matches succumbing as a result, today was case of finding any game on a new ground that was going to be played. The west of Scotland had escaped the worst of the weather, and with coastal areas likely to avoid the frost Ayr-based Whitletts was the ideal location to head to.
Whitletts had been scheduled to play away to Kilbirne today, but the fixture was swapped towards the end of the week once it was clear that Kilbirnie's ground had no chance of being playable, while the Dam Park Stadium was likely to be okay. As always on these occasions, it was a relief to see players warming up on the pitch when I arrived.
The club were well rewarded for staging the match, one of only a few non League games to survive in Scotland today. Even the town's senior side, Ayr United, had their Scottish League game postponed, and the resulting crowd, officially 201, was apparently their highest of the season.
Unfortunately they couldn't manage what would have been their first league win of the season, denied by an 80th minute penalty not long after the visitors had been reduced to 10 men following a sending off.
Kilbirnie had opened the scoring with an early goal, but Whitletts fought back to lead 2-1 at half time. Even after Kilbirnie's spot kick leveller the home side had chances to score.
Whitletts only moved to Dam Park recently, following the sudden closure of their former ground. I think the club have long terms plans to find a permanent home, but for now Dam Park is a decent venue. The large elevated stand gives a good view, and there's open terracing on the stand side, and grass banking around the rest of the ground.
On a day when finding a game was a challenge, this was a very good afternoon's football.
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