Inverness 17s v Academy 17s
Ayr United 17s endured the long journey to Inverness for their second league game of the season and it was Ayr that started the match on the front foot and had three fantastic chances to open the scoring through Roy Barr, Ryan Nisbet and Michael Wardrope but unfortunately none of them were able to find the back of the net.
Inverness took the lead in the 20th minute with their 1st attack of the match. A cross from the left found their number 6 who rose unmarked to head into the net leaving James Hart with no chance.
Ayr reacted well to going a goal behind and the inform Inverness keeper produced a fantastic save from Michael Wardrope’s free kick to keep the home side in front.
However Inverness increased their lead when a poor clearance by the Ayr defence allowed the Inverness player a free shot at goal just inside the box and there number 7 despatched it just inside the far post again leaving James Hart with no chance of saving it.
Ayr were still the team creating the most chances but were finding it difficult to get past the Inverness keeper. However Ayr got the goal that there excellent play deserved, when a corner cleared by the Inverness defence, fell straight to the right foot of Steven McCreadie (pictured) who unleashed an unstoppable volley from 25 yards into the postage stamp.
Ayr started the 2nd half just like the 1st and again had three chances inside five minutes through Ryan Nisbet, Michael Wardrope and Alan Forrest but again they were thwarted by the Inverness keeper.
Ayr weren’t going to be denied an equaliser and it came through a fantastic passage of play involving Alan Forrest, Steven McCreadie, Sean McKenzie and Michael Wardrope which resulted in Michael Wardrobe beating the keeper from a tight angle.
The game began to open up and Inverness were always a threat but James Hart, Aiden Keegan, Reece Lapham, Craig McCracken and Ross Campbell coped with everything that Inverness through at them. Ayr pushed on and looked as though they were going to get the next goal but they just couldn’t find a way past the Inverness keeper for the 3rd time of the afternoon.
The game ended with no more goals being scored and after a hard fought and very physical match manager Andy Willock said ‘all things considered, after the long journey, losing 2 sloppy goals and losing 2 players to injury in the 1st 30 minutes it was pleasing to see the fight and spirit shown by the boys today.’
