Academy 15s v Hamilton Accies 15s
Ayr United 15s entertained Hamilton Accies 15s at Prestwick Academy on Sunday afternoon and it was Accies who were first to threaten in the 5th minute when their centre half rose highest at a corner but nodded just wide of the upright. Shortly after Louis Kerr in the Ayr nets got down well to save another header from a corner. Accies were making the most of their height advantage at set plays at this point and after 19 minutes the Accies number 10 flashed a volley just past the post from inside the box. Shortly after the same player forced Louis Kerr to smother well from a 20 yard free kick.
Craig McGuffie had Ayr’s first effort on goal in the 24th minute when he struck a free kick wide of the target. Right at the end of the first half Jarod Kiefer, Ayr’s centre back did extremely well to keep the scores level when he put his body on the line to make a great goal saving block deflecting a goal bound effort over for a corner. Accies had enjoyed the bulk of the play in the first half but Ayr had stayed compact, worked extremely hard for each other and didn’t allow Hamilton to break them down too often.
Eight minutes into the second half saw Accies create another chance when their no 7 hit a good effort from 20 yards but Louis Kerr had it covered as it whizzed past the post. After 12 minutes a Hamilton corner was fizzed to the back post and the excellent delivery was powered into the net with a firm header by the no 8. After 25 mins Ayr’s right back, Connor McMillan, (pictured) , who was having a terrific game put in a last ditch goal saving tackle unfortunately injuring himself in the process. Reece Craig then headed a goal bound effort off the line as Ayr grafted to stay in the game. With 5 minutes left to play a strong powerful run down the right hand side by Accies resulted in their midfielder being clipped in the box. The resultant penalty was buried well leaving Lewis Kerr with no chance. Ayr kept fighting and in the last moments Craig McGuffie was played through on the keeper, as he ran through the Accies centre back took him out from behind and was duly shown the red card for a professional foul. The award was only a free kick right on the edge of the box. Richardson tried to curl one but the Accies wall deflected the shot up and over the bar.
After the game Graeme Neill, the 15s manager, commented “The boys could not be faulted for their attitude and commitment as they competed well against a really top quality Accies team. They just have to have more belief in themselves and if they can do that next week against Motherwell then they will hopefully get some reward for their good play.”
