Ayr arrived at a very windswept Methil and dominated the game from start to finish. In the first period with the wind at their backs Ayr pinned East Fife into their own half for the whole of the period and only some wayward finishing and good goalkeeping kept the score down to two goals. Jamie Martin started the scoring direct from a corner kick. Kieran Balfour then hit a 20 yarder into the top corner after being set up by Stuart Gray. Jackson Sivewright was very lively down the right hand side and created several chances which weren’t converted by the strikers.
After a pep talk from coach John Kelly Ayr now playing into the strong wind kept the ball on the ground, passed it around well and were more clinical in front of goal, scored a further ten goals. Ayr’s midfield dominated and played endless through balls to the strikers. Three goals from Jamie Martin, a Robbie Graham ( pictured above ) hat trick, a double from Ryan Spiers & goals from Euan McCance and Ewan McLevy completed the scoring. All goals were well constructed and clinically finished. Goalkeeper Greg Connor was called into action for the first time midway through the period when he was required to make a full length save to his right to swart the on rushing striker. Max Potter came on and slotted well into the back four and was rarely troubled.
In the third period Ayr continued where they left off in the second period scoring a further seven goals. Kieran Balfour completed his hat trick with a penalty after Euan McCance was brought down and a smart finish after a cut back from Ewan McLevy. Euan McCance then scored twice to complete his hat trick, the second being a good penalty box strike. Ryan Spiers then completed his hat trick with a strike from an Euan McCance cut back after a Daniel McAllister shot was parried by the goalkeeper. Headers by Callum Ogston and Daniel McAllister from well struck corners completed the scoring. Centre back Lyle Cameron was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet after narrowly missing when one on one with the goalkeeper. The game finished a great run and cross from Jamie Martin which was unbelievably missed by the five onrushing Ayr attackers who outnumbered the one East Fife defender.
Overall a good team performance in the face of very difficult weather conditions and the fact that Ayr were missing four players; Will Graham, Dylan Robb, Leon Murphy and Taylor Davison.
