The game was hastily switched in the morning after the Vale was deemed unplayable and having not played for two weeks Ladeside were desperate for some action.However , moving the match was a potential banana skin.....if they lost , the cry would have been ........we fricken shouldnae have bothered.But they didnt lose , in fact The Blasties put up a gutsy , determined performance on a heavy surface and came away with an excellent win against the only team they failed to beat in the league last season ( 2 draws ) and on the only park in which they failed to score on.
Maybole were first to show and Ladeside keeper McCann had to pull off an outstanding save to deny them in the opening minute.Ladeside playing with the driving wind and rain at their backs in the first period were soon on the attack and The Bole were continually pressed back.
On 14 mins Ladeside were denied a stonewall penalty following a push in the box , then from a corner Anderson had a netbound effort well saved by the home keeper.Ladeside continued pressing and got their reward on 21 mins when an Erskine shot from another corner fell to McGuinness to rifle the opening goal high into the net.
Anderson , who was revelling in the difficult conditions , had a great run and cross but there were no takers , then on 33 mins , The Blasties doubled their lead.Longworth picked up the ball and strode forward before placing a shot from the edge of the area low into the net for a well taken 16th goal of the season.
McCann then had to produce another excellent save before Kinney had a goal chopped off for an infringement and on the half time whistle , the Ladeside support -- huddled together in the shed closer than they are likely to admit to their women folk -- warmed their hands applauding their team from the field.
Rankine replced Erskine at the break signaling that Maybole , now playing with the wind , were bound to be on the front foot....and so it proved to be.
The more the pitch cut up , the more the match became a midfield battle.Passing was almost impossible and although Maybole had by far the upper hand , The Blasties defence held firm.Quigley and Smith remained calm and collected and McCann dealt with anything that came his way ( which was a fair bit ) with confidence.
The introduction of ex - Medda and Cumnock hitman Paul Kerr -- who apart from bitch slapping him -- has been almost unplayable at times in his career , gave the home fans ??????? fresh hope , however , Quigley did a job on him.
The Bole had a good few shots on target and on another day things might have been different but Ladeside never looked like conceeding and in the final minute they stung the home side with a third.
Following excellent work on the left Kinneys powerful shot was too strong for the keeper and he couldnt prevent the ball from going through his hands and into the net.
A superb all round performance from Ladeside in extremely difficult conditions , Maybole are no mugs and not many teams will leave Ladywell with full points.
TEAM -- McCann , Collins , Smith , Quigley , Harvey , Anderson , McGuinness , Gray , Erskine , Kinney , Longworth.
SUBS -- Davidson , Rankine , Caldwell , Miller , Cochrane.

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