CLUBS across Ayrshire have been adding the final touches to their squads as the big kick-off for 2024-25 draws ever closer.
Most of the area’s West of Scotland Football League teams played their final pre-season friendly matches on Saturday, and now it’s back to the training ground this week ahead of the opening round of league matches on July 27.
A busy start to the season will see six rounds of league games played in the first two-and-a-half weeks of the campaign – and with everyone eager to make the best possible start, here’s our final look at the pre-season action and the ins and outs across Ayrshire before the serious business begins.
It’s been a quiet last few days at Beith Juniors, with no new signings since the confirmation of Fraser Malcolm’s arrival from Caledonian Locomotives on July 11, while the last friendly action for Chris Strain’s side was a 5-0 win away to Rutherglen Glencairn on July 17.
Auchinleck Talbot’s final friendly also ended in a 5-0 win, with Thorniewood United put to the sword at Beechwood Park on Saturday; included in their line-up for the game was 18-year-old goalkeeper Corey Armour, who has featured as a trialist throughout the Bot’s pre-season games and was confirmed on Sunday on a season-long loan from Kilmarnock.
Cumnock Juniors’ new-look squad also ended their pre-season programme with a big home win on Saturday, Josh Jack and Jamie Conn each scoring a double in a 6-1 defeat of Ardrossan Winton Rovers at Townhead Park, with Dylan Dykes and Sean McCluskey also on target.
Troon confirmed the capture of versatile 25-year-old Nathan Baird on Friday after his release by Darvel; the former Ayr youth player was named as a substitute for the Portland Park side’s 3-2 win at Penicuik Athletic the following day, with Dean Fulton, Dario Viviani and a trialist also on the scoresheet.
Largs Thistle have resisted the temptation to make too many changes to the squad that finished last season so strongly, and a 3-1 win at home to Petershill on Saturday made it five wins from five pre-season games for Stuart Davidson’s men, with Will Sewell scoring a double and Blair Devine completing the win.
Glenafton announced the signing of midfielder Stephen McLelland from Maybole and striker Michael Mullen from Hurlford the day before their last friendly game, a 6-1 defeat of Lugar at Loch Park on Saturday; the Blair Park side completed their pre-season programme with a 2-2 draw against Kirkintilloch Rob Roy on Saturday.
Junior Cup winners Darvel, who saw off Bo’ness at Recreation Park on Saturday, have recruited former Motherwell, Falkirk, Annan and Stranraer defender Cammy Williamson for the new campaign, though club captain David Syme has moved on after signing with Clydebank for a club record fee.
Kilwinning Rangers confirmed three new faces on Sunday in the shape of centre-half Lawrence Hendry, former Bonnyton Thistle full-back Declan McFadyen, and well-travelled striker Evariste Bembo, who moves to Buffs Park from Cumbernauld United but who has previous Ayrshire experience with Kilbirnie Ladeside and Ardeer.
Irvine Meadow, who have added defender Dean Currie to their squad for the new season, defeated not one but two North Ayrshire sides at the weekend, lifting Kilbirnie Ladeside’s James Glen Memorial Trophy with a 4-3 win over the host club at Valefield Park on Saturday and a 2-1 defeat of Dalry Thistle in the final the following day.
Ardrossan Winton Rovers’ defeat at Cumnock on Saturday followed a 1-1 draw away to Hurlford three days earlier, though following Saturday’s match at Townhead Park the club confirmed the arrival of former Morton winger Aiden Duffy ahead of their league opener at Kilwinning.
Whitletts Vics, with a new-look squad including former Ayr and Glenafton striker Michael Moffat and well-travelled goalkeeper Darren Johnston, have also added former Girvan man Connor Yair and ex Maybole defender Lewis Kirkwood to their line-up, while staying in South Ayrshire, Maybole rounded out their friendly fixtures with a 3-1 win over Bonnyton Thistle in Kilmarnock on Saturday.
Craigmark have confirmed the signings of Cammy Marlow as player-coach and Shaun Murtagh, while Muirkirk chalked up an impressive 4-2 win away to newly-promoted Vale of Clyde in their last pre-season game on Saturday.
Kyro Crawford scored four goals as Irvine Vics retained the Sheena Thomson Memorial Trophy on Saturday with a 6-1 win away to Saltcoats Vics, while Ardeer Thistle also won on the road at the weekend, defeating St Peter’s 4-2.
Dalry Thistle secured third place in Kilbirnie Ladeside’s pre-season tournament on Saturday, with the Jags’ new-look squad, including former Beith and Winton frontman Peter Haggerty and ex East Kilbride and Bonnyton player Simon Millar, seeing off Knightswood 5-1 in Sunday’s play-off.
Girvan’s pre-season fixtures were completed against top Ayrshire amateur side Knockentiber on Saturday, with Euan Smith scoring both the goals for Dean Keenan’s men in their 3-2 defeat.
Lugar Boswell Thistle have confirmed the retention of most of the squad that secured promotion from the Fourth Division last season, with Ewan McIver, Lauchlan Kirkland, Liam Miller, Robbie Hannah, Conan Mackin, Adam Lowe, Andy McAllister, Kyle McCulloch, Jackson Stevenson and Kieran Oliver all signing up for another season at Rosebank Park, while Ryan McLean, formerly of Cumnock and Girvan, has been added to the Jaggy Bunnets’ line-up for the new campaign.
Marc Walker bagged a five-goal haul on Saturday as Eglinton recorded an impressive 7-1 win away to Maryhill, while Kello Rovers’ new arrivals include Greg Miller, who returns to Nithside Park after a spell playing in Australia, as well as Callum Muncie, Ryan Lynch, Jack Hannah and Ross Ballantyne.
The first two rounds of WoSFL matches for Ayrshire’s clubs over the coming week-and-a-bit are as follows.
Saturday, July 27 (2pm)
Premier Division: Auchinleck Talbot v Darvel, Beith Juniors v Shotts Bon Accord, Benburb v Cumnock Juniors, Drumchapel United v Hurlford United, Glenafton Athletic v St Cadoc’s, Largs Thistle v Johnstone Burgh, Troon v Pollok.
First Division: Irvine Meadow v Petershill, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Ashfield, Kilwinning Rangers v Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Maybole Juniors v Thorniewood United.
Second Division: Bellshill Athletic v Muirkirk Juniors, Bonnyton Thistle v Whitletts Victoria, Craigmark Burntonians v Cambuslang Rangers.
Third Division: Ardeer Thistle v Dalry Thistle, Girvan v Wishaw, Glasgow United v Lugar Boswell Thistle, Irvine Victoria v Kilsyth Athletic.
Fourth Division: Carluke Rovers v Saltcoats Victoria, Kello Rovers v BSC Glasgow, Royal Albert v Eglinton.
Tuesday, July 30 (7.30pm unless stated)
Premier Division: Beith Juniors v Drumchapel United, Darvel v Glenafton Athletic, Hurlford United v Benburb, Johnstone Burgh v Auchinleck Talbot.
First Division: Ashfield v Kilwinning Rangers (8pm).
Wednesday, July 31 (7.30pm unless stated)
Premier Division: Cumnock v Largs Thistle (7.45pm), St Cadoc’s v Troon (8pm).
First Division: Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Arthurlie (Valefield Park), Renfrew v Irvine Meadow (8pm), Rutherglen Glencairn v Kilbirnie Ladeside, St Roch’s v Maybole Juniors.
Second Division: Maryhill v Bonnyton Thistle, Muirkirk Juniors v Lanark United, Whitletts Victoria v Craigmark Burntonians.
Third Division: Dalry Thistle v Glasgow Perthshire, Irvine Victoria v Girvan, Lugar Boswell Thistle v Ardeer Thistle.
Fourth Division: Eglinton v Easterhouse FA, Saltcoats Victoria v Kello Rovers.
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