Academy 15s v Queens Park 15s
Ayr United started the game well with Callum Smith the first to test the Queens keeper from 25 yards but his well struck effort was straight down the middle and the Queens Park goalkeeper coped comfortably. The Queens Park no 10 then hit the bar with a drive from the edge of the box. The young Spiders resplendent in a blue and orange ‘irn bru’ kit then took the lead after 10 minutes with an excellent top corner finish by the aforementioned no 10.
However Ayr equalised quickly when Callum Smith threaded a lovely pass through to Reece Craig (pictured) to run on to and he kept his cool to slip the ball past the Queens Park keeper and into the back of the net. After 15 minutes Craig McGuffie drove a free kick wide of the left hand post.
The Queens no 10 who was proving a real thorn in the side for Ayr then got away from his markers but his effort went over. Ayr’s trialist keeper then had to be lively off his line to clear. However the Queens no 10 put them ahead when he beat a couple of players and finished emphatically by smashing the ball high into the Ayr net. Back came Ayr when a trade mark dribble by McGuffie ended in a lovely solo goal. Queens no 4 then hit the post and the no 10 missed a golden chance for his hat-trick before the ref blew for the end of a pulsating 40 minutes.
The first chance of the second half fell to Queens Park when a long clearance by the Queens goalkeeper was collected and flashed just over the top. In the 50th minute Richardson played in Jai Holland who forced a great fingertip save from the Queens goalkeeper who just did enough at full stretch to deny the Ayr striker as he tried to lift the ball over him. Ayr were then unlucky when the ref blew for offside with the diminutive Chrissie Campbell in on the keeper. Campbell had come on wide right and was causing the larger Queens defenders all sorts of problems. He then combined well with Jai Holland to cause panic in the Queens rearguard and an own goal nearly resulted. McGuffie then tested the keeper before Lee Williamson went close from a Jarod Keifer free kick. Both sides were giving everything looking for the win but when the ref drew the game to a close a share of the spoils was about right.
Special mentions to the Ayr wing backs, Paul Miller and Lewis Walker who over the last few weeks have performed very steadily and today was no different. Queens Park have a very good prospect in the very lively no 10. Well done to all players in putting on a very entertaining game for the watching spectators.
