On Wednesday evening, Ayr United Under 16s travelled to Palmerston Park in Dumfries for a friendly against older Queen of the South opposition. The Honest Men were 2-0 down at half time but showed their resilience to get the score back to 2-2.  

The young Honest Men didn’t have the start to the game that they would have wanted when Queen of the South took the lead after 8 minutes, their left back set up the QOS winger who finished well into the far right corner. The home side doubled their lead four minutes later when a cross was played into the box which was headered in at the back post by their number 14. Ayr created a few chances thanks to creative balls from Milliken to McRoberts and Cullen however the attackers’ efforts went just wide of the post or just over the crossbar and the Honest Men went into half time 2-0 down. Ayr United started their comeback in the 73^rd minute when they were awarded a free kick just inside the half, McEwan took the free kick and the defender’s effort was tipped onto the bar, Hislop was the quickest to react and headered home the rebound. Four minutes before full time and Ayr United got their well-deserved equaliser, McRoberts played the ball to Cullen just inside the box and the winger curled his effort into the bottom right corner of the goal.

A great experience for the Under 16s who got to play in a championship stadium against older opposition. They didn’t start the game as well as they normally do however an improved second half and resilience showed by the Honest Men gave them a draw in Dumfries.

Ayr United Line Up

Ecrepont, Ferguson, McClymont, McNally, McEwan, D Craig, Cullen, Allan, McRoberts, Hay and Milliken

Substitutes

Fraser and Hislop

Ayr United Goal Scorers

Hislop and Cullen

Queen of the South 2 – 2 Ayr United