EK land play-off punch on Annan

LEAGUE Two title contenders East Kilbride got the better of Annan Athletic at K Park last Saturday.

The South Lanarkshire side ran out 2-1 winners, keeping themselves at the table summit and dealing a blow to their opponents’ play-off hopes.

Athletic made a good start to the contest. And they had the best chance of the first half.

From a corner kick, Rhys Breen’s attempted clearance rolled straight to Aidan Smith. Six yards out, he tried to turn and shoot but Lewis Spence made a vital block.

After EK won a free kick in a promising area John Robertson curled a teasing delivery into the box.

Connor Young was quickest to react to the second ball, but he headed over the bar.

At the other end, Josh Dixon’s looping cross almost caught out home goalie Craig Hepburn at the back post.

Sam Young then tried his luck with a low drive from 35 yards. Charlie Albinson scrambled across his line but the ball flew wide.

Kilby were left scratching their heads after failing to open the scoring moments into the second half.

Breen nodded the ball down to Jack Leitch who mistimed his strike. Sean Fagan was next in line and had a crack at goal, but Scott Hooper blocked and Annan cleared the danger.

However, 11 minutes into the second period, the visitors found themselves a goal down.

Sam Young threaded a pass through to Robertson, he turned and fired a low strike, from 20 yards, into the bottom right corner.

The goalscorer almost had a second minutes later. He linked up with Leitch before unleashing a fierce effort, which was blocked and then saved by Keith Watson and Albinson.

Albinson then made a superb reflex stop to keep out Darryl Carrick’s attempted clearance.

Annan then had a couple of corner kicks. The best chance falling to Watson who headed over the bar.

With 18 minutes remaining, Kilby won a free kick 20 yards from goal after Wullie Gibson was adjudged to have fouled his man.

Connor Young made it 2-0 to the hosts after firing the free kick up and over the wall and into the back of the net.

With ten minutes remaining, Athletic pushed forward and they soon pulled one back.

Aidan Smith blasted the ball into the net from close range following a corner kick.

The visitors looked to grab an equaliser in the closing moments.

But Dixon fired his half volley wide and Breen made a perfectly timed tackle to deny substitute Josiah Sowa.