AYRSHIRE MEN'S HANDICAP LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP - Ardeer, Alton, and Portmann through to knockout stages

 Ardeer Alton, and Portmann have booked their places, alongside Irvine Ravenspark, in the knockout stages of the 2023 Ayrshire Men's Handicap League Championship, following recent fixtures.

In SECTION A, a 4 - 2 away win at Royal Troon was enough to confirm Ardeer's qualification for the latter stages as group winners, despite losing narrowly by 3.5 - 2.5 away to Kilbirnie Place recently..

With just the Kilbirnie Place Vs Kilmarnock Barassie fixture remaining to be completed, present positions in Section A are:-

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
ARDEER	6	4	0	2	24.5	11.5	13.0	16
KILBIRNIE PLACE	5	3	0	2	17.0	13.0	4.0	12
KILMARNOCK BARASSIE	5	2	0	3	12.0	18.0	-6.0	8
ROYAL TROON	6	2	0	4	12.5	23.5	-11.0	8

 In SECTION B, Ayr Belleisle and Troon St Meddans shared the spoils in their two encounters, both teams winning 4 - 2 at home, whilst Alton secured the automatic qualifying place with a 4 - 2 home win over Troon St Meddans and a 5 - 1 away win at Prestwick St Cuthbert.

With just the Ayr Belleisle Vs Prestwick St Cuthbert fixture remaining, present positions in Section B are:-

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
ALTON	6	4	2	0	22.5	13.5	9.0	20
TROON ST MEDDANS	6	2	1	3	17.5	18.5	-1.0	10
PR. ST CUTHBERT	5	2	0	3	13.0	17.0	-4.0	8
AYR BELLEISLE	5	1	1	3	13.0	17.0	-4.0	6

 In SECTION C, Stewarton's 6 - 0 home win over North Beach moved them off the bottom of the table, whilst the destination of the automatic qualifying place will be decided by the final fixture between Auchenharvie 88 and their visitors from Ayr Seafield.

Present positions in Section C are:- 

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
AUCHENHARVIE 88	5	5	0	0	22.0	8.0	14.0	20
AYR SEAFIELD	5	4	0	1	21.0	9.0	12.0	16
STEWARTON	6	1	1	4	14.5	21.5	-7.0	6
NORTH BEACH	6	0	1	5	8.5	27.5	-19.0	2

 In SECTION D, Rowallan Castle's hopes effectively ended with a 4 - 2 home defeat by West Kilbride and in turn Rowallan castle dented Ballochmyle's challenge by beating them 4.5 - 1.5 at Rowallan.

To ensure qualification, Ballochmyle need to win their final match at Routenburn, and hope that West Kilbride lose their final match at home to Rowallan Castle.

Present positions in Section D are:- 

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
WEST KILBRIDE	5	4	0	1	17.0	13.0	4.0	16
BALLOCHMYLE	5	3	0	2	17.5	12.5	5.0	12
ROWALLAN CASTLE	5	2	0	3	12.0	18.0	-6.0	8
ROUTENBURN	5	1	0	4	13.5	16.5	-3.0	4

In SECTION E, Prestwick St. Nicholas drew 3 - 3 away to Caprington, and need to win their final fixture away to Moorpark to ensure qualification, after Annanhill traveled to Moorpark and secured a 4 - 2 victory recently.

Present positions in Section E are:- 

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
ANNANHILL	6	4	0	2	20.5	15.5	5.0	16
PR. ST NICHOLAS	5	3	1	1	17.5	12.5	5.0	14
CAPRINGTON	6	2	1	3	16.0	20.0	-4.0	10
MOORPARK	5	1	0	4	12.0	18.0	-6.0	4

 In SECTION F, Troon Welbeck beat Troon Portland away from home by 3.5 - 2.5 but a defeat by the same margin at home to Portmann ensured that it was Portmann who secured the automatic qualification place.

With Redburn and Troon Portland still to meet home and away, and Troon Portland to play Portmann at home, present positions in Section F are:- 

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
PORTMANN	5	3	2	0	18.5	11.5	7.0	16
TROON WELBECK	6	3	1	2	18.5	17.5	1.0	14
REDBURN	4	1	1	2	11.5	12.5	-1.0	6
TROON PORTLAND	3	0	0	3	5.5	12.5	-7.0	0

 In the home and away knockout stages, Ardeer will play either Annanhill or Prestwick St Nicholas, Alton will face Portmann, Irvine Ravenspark will play either Auchenharvie or Ayr Seafield, and West Kilbride or Ballochmyle will play the best runner up from all the sections once fixtures are completed.

The four quarter final ties are due to be completed by the 6th of August.