George Bonner has signed for the club from Saltcoats Vics. All at the club would like to welcome George back as he previously played for us in the 2008-09 before joining Winton Rovers and then Saltcoats.

Ardeer Thistle have received a bye in the first round of the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup and will host either Girvan or Whitletts Victoria at Ardeer Stadium in the second round.

Ardeer Thistle 1 Kello Rovers 1

A late Martin Shaw free kick secured a point for Kello and prevented Ardeer from making it three wins on the trot.

The playing surface aside, conditions at Ardeer Stadium were horrendous with swirling winds and occasional spells of heavy rain making it difficult for both teams to play quality football. The home side were against the prevailing wind in the first half but were the more impressive of the two teams early on. Scott Reid had the best goalscoring chance in this period but his effort was blocked by Kello goalkeeper Ronnie Davis. However, Reid was then to turn provider for the opening goal in the 20th minute when his fine pass played in John Colligan who smashed a powerful strike high into the net. Ardeer were then able to defend well and restricted Kello's chances to equalise. The away side did waste a clear opportunity when a header at the near post from a short corner missed the target but came closest when David Jardine beat two defenders before firing a shot just wide.

Conditions did not improve in the second half and the game deteriorated as several players picked up bookings within minutes of each other, stemming from an off the ball incident involving Scott Reid and Kello left-back Darren Biggart. Ardeer didn't really create much more in the way of chances, but thanks to a combination of fine defending and a couple of good saves from Scott Cochrane they looked likely to hold on for the win. However, when a foul was given against Ardeer just outside their penalty area at the end of regulation time, Martin Shaw's well struck free kick gave the goalkeeper no chance and the game ended in a draw.

While it was disappointing to see a late goal deny Ardeer victory, results have improved in recent games and the team are working well as a unit. Manager Peter Kean expects the players keep the good run of form going and return to winning ways in the scheduled fixture at home to Annbank United next weekend.

Ardeer Thistle 2 Lugar Boswell Thistle 1

The margin of victory should have been higher as Ardeer triumphed 2-1 over a poor Lugar side at Ardeer Stadium.

Alarm bells should have been ringing in the Jaggy Bunnets defence early on as John Colligan was played through on goal within the first couple of minutes, but his first touch let him down badly and the chance was squandered. In the fifth minute, David Gregory bundled the ball home from a few yards after a mishit shot fell to him but the goal was rightly disallowed for offside. Ardeer were in firm control of the game and Greg Kean, whose trickery was causing Lugar all sorts of problems, shot wide of goal before seeing a much better effort later in the half tipped on to the crossbar by Jon Lopez.

As half-time approached it looked increasing likely that the game would be scoreless at the break, despite Ardeer's best efforts. However, this changed when the home side were awarded a penalty in the 44th minute. With regular spot kick taker Scott Reid suspended, top goalscorer John Colligan stepped up in his place. His penalty, hit low in the centre of the net, wasn't the best but it beat Lugar keeper Lopez who picked a side to dive to.

Colligan made it 2-0 ten minutes in the second half from close range to score his seventh league goal of the season, with the assist being provided by Greg Kean. A third goal for Ardeer looked as if it would kill the game and they made a couple of substitutions in the middle of the half in search of this, with Niall Kennedy replacing David Thomson and Daryl Kean making way for debutant Frank Gibson. Within this period, Lugar hit the crossbar with a long range effort but the match official had already stopped play for an earlier foul committed by Ardeer.

Greg Kean then came close to scoring the goal his fine performance deserved, being played in by strike partner Colligan the beating a defender before missing the target with his right foot shot when one-on-one with Lugar keeper Lopez. The goalie was then called into action again to stop Frank Gibson's goalbound header. Despite not being able to further increase their lead, Ardeer's victory seemed safe as Lugar found if difficult to get past the home defence. A setback was then suffered when right-back Kevin Ramsay almost ruined his birthday celebrations by conceding a penalty. It did seem a rather dubious penalty award as his foot seemed to make contact with that of a Lugar player in a 50-50 situation but referee Craig Walker adjudged it to be a foul. Scott Clelland hit the spot kick well to Scott Cochrane's right to get a goal back for Lugar but that was to be the last one of the match with the final scoreline being 2-1 to the home side.

Overall, it was a very good team performance for Ardeer who avenged their 6-1 defeat at Rosebank Park earlier in the season. They now have two victories in a row (albeit seven weeks apart) and will be hoping to extend their winning run in the scheduled home fixture against Kello Rovers next weekend.

Ardeer Thistle F.C. would like to thank those who attended their Race Night & Disco at Potters. The main Christmas raffle prize of a £100 drinks hamper was won by Michelle Hutton.

Assistant manager Jack Cree has left Ardeer Thistle. Joanne and Una McKenzie have joined the committee.

The club are hosting a race night and disco at Potters on Saturday 17th December at 7pm. Entry is free with donations to the club welcome. A Christmas Raffle will take place on that evening, with prizes on offer including a £100 drinks hamper. Tickets are £1 each and are available to buy from all committee members.

Ardeer Thistle F.C. would like to thank Stevenston Post Office for their recent sponsorship of £450 for a new set of strips and also two local businessmen for their donations which will help improve the club's financial circumstances. We are grateful to all businesses and individuals who have provided sponsorship this season and ask that any other parties interested in doing so contact us regarding.

Ardeer Thistle 3 Darvel 1

Ardeer returned to winning ways as they comfortably defeated Darvel in a basement battle at a wet and windy Ardeer Stadium.

The prevailing wind was with the travelling side in the first half but Ardeer were not disadvantaged by this and opened the scoring on five minutes with a fine goal. Greg Kean collected the ball outside the box and beat two defenders before firing powerfully into net. His acrobatic celebration may have matched the quality of the goal itself had he not made a mess of the landing. The goalscorer was then one of two players substituted due to injury early in the half along with debutant centre half Andy Gray, with Kevin Thomson and Craig Stirling replacing them.

Despite the changes, Ardeer remained settled and John Colligan doubled their lead in the 22nd minute. He was well placed in the penalty area to receive a fine pass from the left flank and shot from a tight angle past the Darvel goalkeeper. David Gregory's close-range toepoke from a corner on 33 minutes effectively sealed victory but the home fans were hoping to see some further goals from their team. It looked as if Ardeer were going to be awarded a penalty just before half-time when Niall Kennedy went down in the box but Liam Butler booked the player for simulation. From a distance it appeared as if the player had possibly made the most of a legitimate foul but the official thought otherwise and Darvel were given a free-kick.

A single long-range effort was just about all Darvel had to show from the opening 45 minutes but they did display some improvement in the second period. However, Ardeer goalkeeper Scott Cochrane was first called into action to prevent an own goal being scored when he had to tip a wayward Jamie Donnelly header wide of goal for a corner. Darvel's consolation goal came in the 66th minute after they were awarded a soft free kick on the right hand side of the park, with Chris Affleck being harshly booked for the foul. The delivery from the free kick was good and the Darvel number 5 headed the ball high into the left corner of the net.

The goal seemed to give Darvel some hope of a fightback but they never truly threatened to reduce the deficit any further. It looked as if Ardeer had increased their lead shortly afterwards when Scott Frew beat the keeper from close range but the goal was disallowed for offside after the ball had taken a massive deflection off a Darvel defender.

Ardeer will be quite satisfied with the 3-1 victory which extends the gap between them and the bottom two teams in the league. Weather permitting, a home tie against Kello Rovers await them this week and the squad will be looking for revenge for the 6-0 defeat inflicted upon them by the Kirkconnel side on the opening day of the season. Daryl Kean is doubtful for that fixture after suffering a leg injury against Troon and Scott Reid  should serve the second game of his two match suspension for his red card in the same fixture.

Ardeer Thistle JFC 17s are presently top of the Paisley & District YFL having nearly completed the 1st half of the season.
The youth side have some exciting local talent on show and play quality touch football.They have scored 68 goals and conceded 27 in 13 matches in all cup competitions and are looking to secure trophies come the end of the season.
You can follow the teams progress by clicking the follwing link:-

www.clubwebsite.co.uk/ardeerthistlejfc/218297/Fixtures

Ardeer Thistle will now play Maybole Juniors at Ladywell Stadium on Saturday 5th November as original opponents Annbank United have a rescheduled tie away to Kello Rovers in the Scottish Junior Cup.