Portstewart 2
Kilmarnock FC 5
Report by Stuart McCracken
Scottish side Kilmarnock began their SuperCupNI Minor campaign in style with a 5-2 victory over Portstewart at Castlerock.
Goals from Bailie Frew (2), Logan Montgomery, Tristan McGuigan and Corey Mackay bagged the three points for Killie.
Kenzie Gamble pulled two goals back in the second-half for the Northern Irish outfit, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome of the game.
It was a lighting quick start for Killie who went ahead within 60 seconds when Frew poked home after a wonderful through ball by Montgomery to set the number nine in on goal.
The striker doubled his tally minutes later with a calm low finish past Portstewart keeper, Aston Dallas.
Portstewart nearly got one back in the 9th minute when Gamble fired a free-kick goalwards, but Jamie Morrison was there to get down low to his right and parry wide.
Kilmarnock scored their third within the opening quarter of an hour when Montgomery latched onto the end of a McGuigan through ball to coolly finish.
It got even better for Killie seven minutes later when McGuigan stepped up and beautifully curled a free-kick into the top corner from the best part of 25 yards.
Portstewart came out a different side in the second-half, causing numerous problems for the Kilmarnock defence.
Five minutes into the second period, Gamble broke quickly from a Kilmarnock free-kick to slot home past Morrison.
Unfortunately for Portstewart their hopes of a unlikely comeback went up in smoke in the 46th minute when Mackay scrambled the ball over the line to add Killie’s fifth of the game.
Gamble joined in on the outrageous goals show in the 53rd minute, lobbing the keeper from 35 yards to bag his brace.
The finish cannoned in off the crossbar to the delight of the number ten.
It was all in vain though as Kilmarnock saw out the remainder of the game to pick up their first three points of the tournament.