YOKER Athletic finally got the second half of the season under way with a win at Ardrossan Winton Rovers on Saturday.

Despite going six weeks without a it being a full 6 weeks since the Whe-Ho’s last competitive fixture — a 0-0 draw against local rivals Clydebank — boss Steven Reilly made only one change to the starting line-up with Mark Maxwell returning in midfield.

The player-boss did not even name himself among the substitutes, while skipper Gary Bissland was suspended.

The visitors started brightly against their opponents who had made sizeable invested in their playing squad in recent weeks; David Crerand looked particularly lively, while Jared Willet was a threat early on for the hosts.

Crerand’s movement and quick feet created two opportunities for himself, but Michael Wardrobe in the Ardrossan goal managed to block both efforts.

Wardrobe was helpless to prevent the game’s opening goal after 23 minutes when Whe-Ho full back Andy Rankin was bundled over by Rovers’ Darren Miller.

John Harvey whipped a superb free kick into Wardrobe’s top right-hand corner. Moments later Richard Henry went close for Yoker but his effort went narrowly over.

Maxwell and Shaun Kelly were beginning to pull the strings in the midfield now as Whe-Ho’s dominance increased and it was Maxwell who started the move for their second goal just before half time.

His delightful turn and crossfield pass sent full back Alan Cairns rampaging forward, after skipping past one man Cairns sent the ball wide to Mark McManus before continuing his run into the opponents' box where he rose to head home the cross and double the Whe-Ho’s lead. Two excellent goals had the visitors in the driving seat at the interval.

The next goal in the game always seems crucial with the score at 2-0 and it was the visitors who got it when Caddis’ deflected effort beat Liam Campbell.

But the Whe-Ho didn’t let this affect them as Crerand restored the two-goal advantage almost immediately following excellent work again from Maxwell, who allowed the frontman to round Wardrobe to walk the ball into an empty net.

Gareth Turner then had a great chance for the hosts but he fluffed his effort. Yoker’s midfield three of Henry, Maxwell and Kelly were intent on ball retention whilst Carson & Harvey in the heart of the defence were intent on not conceding any more goals which saw the game drift out but Cairns had to be replaced by Sharkey when he picked up a knock midway through the second half. Crerand added his second goal to kill the game off with a quarter of an hour remaining when he sprung the offside trap from Henry’s pass to fire home the fourth. The final chance of the match fell to Maxwell who should have done better than firing straight at Wardrobe from 12 yards in stoppage time.

After a long lay-off from competitive action this was potentially a very tricky fixture for the Whe-Ho to return to but they blew their opponents away.

Next up is a home match against league leaders Largs Thistle., the previous encounter between the sides at Barrfields saw Largs take the points with a 2-1 victory. Yoker will be out to avenge that defeat and firmly establish themselves as promotion contenders for the run in. Kick-off at Holm Park is 1.45pm.

YOKER: Campbell, Rankin, Cairns (Sharkey), Carson, Harvey, Henry, Bailey, Kelly, Crerand, Maxwell, McManus. Subs not used: Darryl Jones, Graham, Ramage, Darren Jones.

Primext Ltd man of the match: Mark Maxwell.