Killie totally dominated the first half in this reserve league fixture. A fixture that had to be delayed by 50 minutes as the united bus had seemingly broken down on the way to Rugby Park. And not, as some wag in the Sports Bar suggested, a rouse to get the fans to spend money in that particular establishment!

Once underway, it really was all Killie with JOHNSTON and DARGO working well off each other. Billy Dodds was brought in to add some significant weight to the visitors’ back four. But even his not inconsiderable tonnage could keep the rampant Killie attack at bay.

Three minutes in, and after some good work down the right, DARGO crossed in for JOHNSTON, but the makeshift Killie striker’s effort was held well by Colgan. Two short minutes later, and once again JOHNSTON created a glorious opportunity to give us the lead. This time he went for a curling shot which came crashing off junction of post and bar, just as the 30 or so home fans were about to acclaim a goal.

Over the course of the next few minutes, the visitors managed to restrict us to the odd half chance. That was until 12 minutes, and a free kick taken by McGREGOR was played to JOHNSTON. JOHNSTON created a gap to throw over a cross for DARGO who was bundled to the ground in the box. The ref waived away the appeals for the penalty, much to the disgust of the gathered crowd.

Killie however, were not to be denied the lead and in 15 minutes we got the breakthrough the play up until then, richly deserved. A great surging run by the full of energy DARGO saw him burst through the united defence and into the right hand side of the box. With no United player able to get a good challenge in, DARGO shrugged off what little resistance there was, and buried the ball past Colgan and into the back of the net via the post, from an acute angle.

On the 20 minute mark it was almost two. Good interplay between the dynamic duo of DARGO and JOHNSTON resulted in Killie getting a corner. Played in from the left by MASTERTON, the ball was eventually bundled to the edge of the box where it fell kindly for McGREGOR. The young full back wasted no time in dispatching a thunderous dipping volley toward goal. Unfortunately it failed to dip enough, and ended up just going behind for a goal kick.

Moments later and McGREGOR was again tormenting the visitors. This time a lung bursting run down the right flank ended with the youngster crossing into the box. DARGO peeled off his man to meet the ball. He controlled the ball well to bring it down, before cracking off a shot toward the goal. The United keeper had other plans though, and got down smartly to save the diminutive striker’s effort.

United’s only real period of pressure in the opening half came in a five minute spell, just after the half hour mark. They huffed and puffed at the Killie back line, but in the end they failed to blow our house in. And Killie played out the remainder of the half with the lion’s share of possession and half chances. Half time 1-0.

The second half got underway in a rather hefty April shower which resulted in a greasy surface that made the pitch very slick in places. Clear cut chances in the opening exchanges of the second half were at a premium. Indeed the first real chance came by virtue of a Kilmarnock free kick after DODDS was bundled over just outside the box.

The wall held up well at the resultant free, and the ball was hoofed clear. Just prior to the next goal, and the effervescent DARGO could have been away and clear, but with the pitch having received a good soaking by that time, the ball just fizzed off the greasy surface and through to the keeper.

Just over a minute later, and United broke up the pitch to level. The ball made its way to the left hand side where William Easton was on hand to lash the ball past SMITH and into the net.

On 66 minutes neat build up play eventually saw DODDS get himself into space to have a go at regaining the lead for us. He unleashed a thunderbolt from outside the box, which unfortunately was rising all the way towards goal, and in the end, screamed over the bar before crashing into the seats in the empty Moffat stand.

Three minutes later and the energizer bunny that was DARGO was replaced by CAMPBELL, who picked up where DARGO left off, and made himself a pest to the visitors. He burst down the right and knocked in a ball for MURRAY to latch on to. MURRAY wasted no time in dispatching a daisy-cutting snap-shot toward the United goal, which once again, the United goalie had to get smartly down to turn round the post.

Moments later, and CAMPBELL himself had a bash at restoring our lead. He received the ball about 25 yards out, and promptly cut inside before unleashing a curler which just cleared the top of the bar to go for a goal kick.

Just as it appeared that the game would end level, a moment of hesitation in the Killie defence let the visitors in to pinch all three points. Unfortunately the key incident happened behind one of the Rugby Park pillars. But going by the reaction after what appeared to be United number 12 McDonald getting the vital touch to knock the ball in off the post, It looked like SMITH and WILD were none too chuffed with one another.

Man of the match for us was DARGO. With honourable mentions going to his partner in crime JOHNSTON, and also to McGREGOR.