Inverness 15s v AUFA 15s
Ayr Utd 15s made the long trip to Inverness and came out the blocks quickly to take the game by the scruff of the neck straight from kick off. Ayr’s one and two touch football on the deck was a joy to watch as chance after chance was created. After 5 minutes Lee Williamson won a header which Jai Holland got on the end of but unfortunately he couldn’t keep his volley down.
Inverness did test the Ayr trialist keeper twice from long range but he dealt with these efforts comfortably. Lee Williamson again got forward and hit a 25 yard drive straight at the Inverness keeper. After 20 minutes David Richardson curled a free kick which looked as though it was going in the top right corner but it went narrowly wide.
Ayr continued to press and after 25 minutes Jai Holland ( pictured ) saw another effort from the edge of the box go over the top. At this point Ayr were in full flow and they created another great move when the keeper fed the right back who played it into midfield before a through ball to Holland saw him take on the last defender but as the Ayr parents got ready to applaud a fantastic goal the Inverness keeper reacted to tip his close range shot round the corner of the post. However Ayr were not to be denied and after 30 minutes they got the goal their played deserved when a great free kick delivery by Jarod Keifer was side footed on the volley by David Richardson. The Inverness keeper parried the first effort but Richardson was first to it to fire home the rebound.
After 35 minutes, a break in the play for an Ayr injury saw the Inverness coach call over his whole side to the touchline for a ‘pep talk’ and this seemed to galvanise the ICT boys. However Ayr again started strongly with Craig McGuffie causing Inverness problems and having a couple of good efforts on goal. Ayr nearly paid the price for not having put the game out of sight when a ‘stramash’ inside their 6 yard box saw a couple of great blocks keep Inverness out. Ross Thomson then went close for Ayr when his 25 yard looping shot went just over the top.
Inverness did equalise when a free kick for speech play (the Ayr player having shouted “Out” !) was crashed off the bar and finished from close in. However Ayr were not to be denied and a cross into the box was finished at the far post by Lee Williamson. In the last minute, another great delivery from Jarod Keifer was headed superbly into the net by Jai Holland.
All in all it was a game of contrasting styles. Ayr played out from the back on the deck while Inverness relied on set plays and were very direct. Their main weapon being long throws from their No4 in a ‘Rory Delap’ style. The Ayr Centre backs were immense throughout the game and Jarod Keifer
is forming a very solid partnership at the back with Lee Williamson.
The Boys look forward to the visit of Queens Park next week and this performance should give them bags of confidence going forward.
