18’s Match report v Dundee
Following last week’s close reversal away to Dundee United the home side welcomed the other Dundee team from across Tannadice Street. Conditions were almost perfect as the game kicked off at Cumnock. Ayr were keen to make amends from the previous week however it was the away side who dominated proceedings for the majority of the first half. Dundee were passing the ball quickly and Ayr struggled to match their movement all over the pitch. Home keeper Laughlan Kirkland came to Ayr’s rescue with a superb finger tip save onto the post from a free kick just outside the penalty box. Kirkland again came up big with a great save from a 1 on 1 situation. Ayr were causing Dundee some problems through Brian Connor who twice did well on the left side only to see no takers from his dangerous cut backs. However, it was the away side who broke the deadlock when a cross from Ayr’s right hand side which could have been better defended was turned in from 12 yards out. The Dundee No 10 who had a ‘free role’ and was causing Ayr all kinds of problems was now picked up by Ayr captain Andrew Heaney in a man marking role. This allowed Aaron Miller to play slightly further forward and this paid off when Ayr levelled after 40 minutes. Paul Smith zipped in a free kick from the left and Miller stole in to side foot home.
Half Time : Ayr United 1 Dundee 1
Ayr returned for the second half with a renewed determination and took the lead with a well worked goal. Kaylum Ferguson did well to work the ball to Paul Smith and his pass found striker Brian Connor who made no mistake from 10 yearns. However a game which ebbed and flowed from end to end was about to produce a number of goals. Firstly Dundee equalised with a huge slice of good fortune. The ball was worked out left and the winger’s overhit cross sailed into the top left hand corner of Kirkland’s goal. Ayr made their first change replacing full back Lewis Nohar with Reiss Kasule. As Dundee continued to probe they took the lead minutes later. As Ayr failed to push out properly from a Dundee attack their winger was played onside and his cut back was fired home from 12 yards. Ayr replaced midfielder Aaron Miller with Ryan Hannah in an effort to inject fresh legs. This change was to pay dividends in the closing stages of the game. With eight minutes left on the clock Ayr found an equaliser when Hannah played in striker Sam McKee with a pass some 22 yards out from goal. McKee took a good first touch, steadied himself and hammered an unstoppable shot past the Dundee keeper. Ayr then replaced the injured Brian Connor with Alex Dean. With the game now in stoppage time Ayr scored a late winner. A free kick was awarded on Ayr’s right hand side. Ayr’s playmaker Paul Smith whipped in a curling cross which was superbly headed home by Ryan Hannah from some 10 yards out.
Full Time : Ayr United 4 Dundee 3
Ayr’s Head Coach John Crawford was delighted with the team’s resilience in the second half which turned the game round. Crawford said, ‘In the first half we were outplayed by the better side but hung in during difficult periods., In the second half we kept a much better shape and got closer to our opponents all over the pitch. The players fought hard for each other and were rewarded for their efforts and willingness to go the distance in this game’.
Ayr United :
Kirkland, Nohar, Jeanes, Bilham, McFadyen, Smith, Miller, Heaney, Ferguson, Connor, McKee.
Subs : Hannah, Dean, Fraser, Kasule.
