Dean Keenan was the 'Talk of the Troon' after gunning down Super First Division title rivals Beith with a deadly double.

The former Ayr United and Morton star fired home two stunning free-kicks to knock the stuffing out of the Cabes.

Additional strikes by David Gillies, Scott Chatham and an own goal left Johnny Millar's side high and dry in a thrill-a-minute encounter at Portland Park.

Troon now have a commanding 11-point advantage over their Bellsdale Park rivals after the 5-2 victory, although Beith have four games in hand.

Keenan, though, revealed how he had been out of luck so far this season from free-kicks, despite practicing them in training. He said: "I've had a few attempts from free-kicks that have hit the post so the boys have been giving me a bit of stick.

"I practice them in training and thankfully I managed to get a couple against Beith, so I'm pleased, and obviously it's great to get them in a game of this significance. This time the first one hit the post and went in!

"Seriously though, we knew that Beith were strong favourites for the title so it's a great win and keeps us up there challenging.

"I thought it was a great game for the supporters. Both teams really contributed although the final score probably flattered us a bit."

Supporters were still filtering into the ground when Beith took the lead after just 15 SECONDS.

Troon keeper Darren Johnson hauled down David McGowan in the box and Andy Reid calmly stroked home the opening goal from the spot.

The home side levelled on 22 minutes when Gillies headed home a Keenan free-kick, and Beith's Zander Ryan hit the ball past his own keeper two minutes before the break as the home side took the lead.

Keenan extended that advantage 10 minutes after the break from 25 yards and the game was over as a contest on the hour - following one of the most bizarre goals of the season.

Troon broke up the park but the opposition players thought the referee had blown for a foul and stopped playing. Scott Chatham didn't and walked the ball into the empty net, and bedlam broke out when referee Craig Napier correctly awarded the goal.

Almost from the restart Paul Frize reduced the leeway with a 22-yard drive and then Troon's Tony Murphy was the victim of a harsh red card when he got involved in a 'handbags' incident with the Beith full-back.

But the 10 men ploughed on and Keenan almost tore the rigging off the upright when he thundered home a free-kick with 10 minutes remaining, after Beith's John Sheridan had been sent off for a last-man challenge on Calum Hardie.

Keenan said: "After losing such a sloppy early goal, and going down to 10 men, we showed tremendous character to get the win, but we have a great bunch of boys here.

"This was our biggest game of the season and it was a great advert for Junior football. We've managed to get ourselves into a good position in the league but nothing has been decided yet.

"There are three teams in the mix, and I wouldn't discount Maybole, so just to be involved is brilliant and our only thought is to keep the momentum going.

"I still think whoever finishes above Beith will win the league."

Gutted Beith boss Johnny Millar said: "It's so disappointing but I can't have any complaints because the best team won on the day. We were second best to everything and got exactly what we deserved.

"Funnily enough I don't think the early goal helped us, and I felt that their keeper should've been red-carded for the last-man challenge, as we had a player sent off later on for the same thing."