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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Colin Paterson

Girvan 0 Irvine Victoria 3: Dougie MacDuff proud as Seasiders swept away

Dougie MacDuff last night saluted his midweek marvels after Irvine Victoria got their season up and running at Girvan.

Goals from John McLaughlan, Shane Jackson and Gerard Clark earned Vics their first West of Scotland League Third Division victory of the season.

Defender Michael Lennox was sent-off to complete a miserable night for Girvan who have opened the campaign with back-to-back defeats.

But for Westenders chief MacDuff, it was an evening to savour as his side got off the mark ahead of this Saturday's home clash with Lesmahagow.

He told Ayrshire Football News: "I'm absolutely delighted to come here on a Wednesday night, keep a clean sheet and score three goals. This is a massive score for us.

"The first goal came at the right time and I'm over the moon for John as well as that was his first start.

"My boys went about their business really well and they stuck to the task asked of them. I can't praise them any more than I'm doing but we know it's only three points."

The gaffer added: "We have plenty of energy and experienced players in key areas. Once the boys get up to speed, we will hopefully see a lot more from them, and some better quality."

Girvan and Irvine Victoria face-off at Hamilton Park (Ayrshire Football News)

Vics came close to the opener after just two minutes when Bobby Colligan rattled the post from a free-kick.

Midway through the first half, Vics keeper Owen McCallum denied Mark Curragh at his near post and got behind a Kieran Balfour effort before the visitors took the lead.

A corner caused chaos in the Girvan box with McLaughlan bringing a sense of order when he fired a low shot into the net.

The Seasiders squandered a great chance to equalise in the 62nd minute when Dylan Pooler lofted Andrew Kerr's ball over the bar.

Lennox walked in the 78th minute for a second bookable offence and two goals in the space of two minutes wrapped up victory for MacDuff's men.

First, Ciaran Walsh surged into the area and squared for Jackson who finished in style with Clark's low drive from distance then finding the bottom corner for 3-0.

Girvan travel to Bellshill Athletic this weekend in desperate need of a positive result after falling flat in their opening two games.

Boss Matt Maley said: "We are bitterly disappointed. I thought we would get a better reaction following Saturday's defeat [at Finnart] as we had prepared well with training on Monday night. But we didn't stick to the principles we had worked on."

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