Ayr 15s travelled to Leven for their game against East Fife with Ayr's class shining through in the end but to East Fife's credit, they never gave up. Both sides continuing to pass the ball about whenever they could and fighting right until the end in a good spirited match without a bad tackle to be seen.

Ayr opened brightly with the front three of Filippi, Anderson and McCarrison always a danger. The opener came after 15 minutes when an excellent cross from Wardrope found Liam Anderson at the back post who knocked it back in for Steven McCarrison who finished well. Jason Filippi added the second soon after with an excellent finish, using his pace to break free from the defence.

There where further chances for Ayr who were camped in the East Fife half for most of the first period with Liam Anderson, Allan Forest and Mick Wardrope all having efforts saved well by the keeper.

The second period saw more of the same. A Fillipi header was cleared off the line, Mick Wardrope had a penalty saved while Sean Vance blazed over from 15 yards with the pressure eventually telling with a cracking 25 yard free-kick from Allan Forrest which flew into the top corner.

The third period opened well for Ayr when McCarrison ran through on the keeper and finished well with a clever dink over the keeper. Michael Wardrope then missed from 3 yards when it seemed easier to score. McCarrison completed his hat trick after a great Ayr move which was started from the back and ended with a great cross from Anderson ending with a fine header from McCarrison.

Coach Neil Duffy said afterwards "This was a good work out for the boys on a heavy pitch. They could have scored more but the pleasing aspect was that they continued to pass the ball about all the way to the end rather than trying to get their name on the scoresheet with selfish play. The back four of Howie, Vance, Campbell and Ewart / Brown defended well and helped James Hart to a welcome clean sheet. Willock, Wardrope and Forrest dominated the midfield while the front three worked their socks off from start to finish. Overall a good team performance on a heavy grass pitch."

Roy “of the Rovers” Barr too hot to handle at home to East Fife.

The Ayr United players were looking to work on the areas identified for development and also put into practice the coaching points delivered during the previous weeks training sessions.

Ayr started the game well with some crisp passing and work rate on and off the ball. This was rewarded after only eight minutes when some good build up play between Declan Adam and Roy Barr ended with an unfortunate hand ball in the box by the East Fife defender. The referee pointed to the spot and Roy Barr made no mistake with a very well taken penalty.

Seven minutes later it was Barr again who controlled a very good pass from Ryan Wilson to score his second of the game. Ayr’s head Coach Gary Gibson had asked the players to work on their corner kicks with front post positioning a point discussed. It paid off in 18 minutes when a well delivered corner from Aiden Connor to the front post allowed Barr to send a crashing header into the net to complete a “Roy of the Rovers” 18 minute hat trick.

Ayr’s work rate and passing continued during the second period and Sean McKenzie, who replaced the hard working Ryan Wilson added his first of the game. The trialist collected the ball on the right and moved forward beating two players before playing a great pass to on fire Barr who’s first time delivery was inch perfect for Sean McKenzie to slot home.

The second goal of the game for Sean McKenzie was again created by great movement by Roy Barr who took on two players on the right before squaring the ball across the box for his new strike partner to finish off a good move.

East Fife came back into the game by closing down the Ayr players and not allowing them any time on the ball. Decision making and good passing was identified to the Ayr team at the start of the game by the coaches and again the level of both dropped during this period of play, however to the credit of every single player they did realise this and during the next period worked very hard on improving both areas.

That period saw the two teams trying to establish a foot hold on the game with the players from both teams working hard on and off the ball and playing some good football to the delight of the watching crowd despite the bone chilling wind sweeping across Prestwick Academy.

The 4th period saw an Aiden Conner shot deflected into the away teams net off the head of the unlucky East Fife defender but there was no mistaking the quality of the next goal when Aiden Conner collected the ball in his own half on the left.

He side stepped two players and continued his run into the East Fife half before beating another player and playing a fantastic pass to Sean McKenzie, who took one touch and finished low into the bottom corner with the goalkeeper having no chance.

Credit where credits due and defensively, today Ayr were strong, with Reece Lapham and Lee Willamson ensuring no way through for East Fife. Donnie Campbell played at left back, looking focused, comfortable and his distribution of the ball was superb.

Midfield again at periods of the game lost its shape and the work rate does need to be higher among the 4 players in that area. Positives for this area is the closing down and breaking up of the play from Declan Adam and Lewis Nielson but at times is a delight to watch.

Upfront, man of the Match Roy “of the Rovers” Barr was outstanding and his hard work after a 4 to 5 week lay off now starting to bear fruit. Ryan Wilson and Sean McKenzie also had good games, with the latter working very hard to ensure that no-one has time when he’s about. Oh and he scores goals too…
 
Head Coach Gary Gibson commented after the 90 minutes "We're very pleased that areas of development, which the team have been working on for the last 6 or 7 training session, are now becoming part of the teams play on a very regular basis. The areas of decision making, taking responsibility and patience on the ball is also improving every week."

Squad today;
Lewis McMurdo, Sean Robinson, Craig Bova, Reece Lapham, Lee Williamson, Blaine Swift, Aiden Conner, Declan Adam, Jordan Bruce, Roy Barr, Ryan Wilson, Sean McKenzie, Donnie Campbell, Lewis Nielson, Trialist, Trialist.