THREE second half strikes secured all three points for the 10-man Seasiders at Boswell Park on Saturday - and keeps them firmly in the title fight.
Lugar Boswell Thistle 2
Girvan FC 5
Girvan had to play for an hour with a man down as Scott McGilp was shown a straight red card for violent conduct.
The early stages of the game were fairly quiet, with neither side creating any clear open
ings - but that all changed after 18 minutes when the game burst into life.
Kevin Biggart's corner from the right was missed by everyone in the six-yard box and fell to Scott Clelland on the corner of the area.
Clelland had enough time to bring the ball down and curl a superb effort in the far top right hand corner to put his side in front.
However, their lead lasted all of 30 seconds. Some determined play from former Maybole striker Michael Fulton sent Campbell McCluskie clear on goal and he fired past Stuart Robertson to bring the sides level.
Both sides were defending pretty high up the park. Girvan's pacy frontline were getting plenty of chances to get in behind the Lugar defence and their second goal came from one of those.
A long punt up the park from Danny Cunningham was misjudged by Craig Muir and Michael Moffat raced through on goal and shot between the legs of Boswell 'keeper Derek Gall to restore Girvan's lead.
On the half-hour mark, Girvan's task was made difficult when McGilp was ordered off following an altercation with Kris McDonald.
McGilp reacted angrily to McDonald's late challenge and raised his hands at the left-back, leaving the referee with no option but to send him off.
Despite this setback, Girvan still looked the better side and were creating the better of the chances, but with Girvan playing with just three at the back there was always room for Lugar to create.
They almost drew level a minute before half-time when Mark Morrison cut in from the right and unleashed a left-foot drive that looked to be sailing into the top corner but this was superbly palmed away. Billy Thomson's men were glad to hear the ref blow for half-time as their hosts were starting to pile on the pressure in search of the equaliser.
But it was the same story in the second half and this time Lugar would draw level.
Eight minutes into the second period, Thistle equalised with an excellent strike from McCluskie.
Morrison broke quickly down the right and cut the ball back along the edge of the 18-yard box and this was met on the run by McCluskie, who left Robertson without a chance as he fired his side level.
McCluskie almost completed his hat-trick after 55 minutes, but his 20-yard effort flew off the bar and the sides remained level.
Dominic Booth, a late replacement for Jim Leitch - who failed a fitness test - was taken off after 62 minutes and a trialist brought on as Girvan looked to get back into a game they were in danger of losing at this stage.
Thomson's men managed to get their noses in front with 20 minutes to go through Darren Mitchell.
Robert Patterson's cross wasn't cleared by the Lugar defence and Mitchell managed to muscle his way into space before firing past Gall.
As Lugar pushed for a third equaliser, Girvan put the game beyond doubt when Moffat scored a fine solo goal.
He collected the ball just inside the hosts' half and headed straight for the penalty box. His pace managed to get him in between two defenders, who were scared to bring him down, and he fired a left-foot drive into the net to seal the three points.
The scoring wasn't finished there, though, and number five arrived with 12 minutes remaining.
Moffat again broke away for Girvan and this time slipped in Biggart, who stroked home from close range.
The victory keeps Girvan in the hunt for the title and more importantly leaves the outcome in their own hands. They sit five points behind leaders Hurlford Utd with a game in hand, but still have to face them at Hamilton Park.
Girvan are at home to Irvine Victoria on Saturday and, once again, three points will be vital in their push for the championship.
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