The 19s took to the field on Sunday at Prestwick Academy with one eye on next weeks Youth Cup match against Rangers.

After a tremendous start to the match which looked like being a walkover, the Ayr side seemed to take their foot of the gas, allowing Montrose back into the game, eventually losing out on a seven goal thriller.

Ayr had got themselves off to a great start, peppering the Montrose goal with chance after chance with the first goal coming on eight minutes from new Academy striker, Ian Aitken. His strike from 20 yards out was unstoppable as it trimmed the 3G turf, bulging the back of the bottom left hand corner of the net.

It was a changed team that the coaches had placed on the field, with promoted spots for 17s players Cammy Marlow, recent convert Lee Lockhart and new player Ian Aitken. Normal starters Roddy Paterson, Dale Moore, Sean Kelly, Robbie Crawford, JJ Hawjshaw and Gareth Armstrong were all sidelined, whether through injuries or protection for next weeks match which may have altered the balance slightly of the team but Ayr were dominating the match in the early stages with goalkeeper Daryl Jones literally having nothing to do for the first 35 minutes.

Ayr's Scott Johnstone was to add a second for the home side sliding the ball under the keeper after receiving an excellent through ball from the midfield on the half hour mark. It looked like the Ayr side were coasting to victory as they were in total control of the match in every corner of the pitch.

The ball was being controlled, passed, struck and headed with ease and composure in every direction with some excellent play coming from Fisher, McIntyre, Murdoch, Lockhart, Marlow and Aitken to name a few but there had been little to do defensively in the first half but they caught napping with only two minutes to go of the first half.

A rare break up the field for Montrose left Jones exposed in the goal area and when he rushed out to clear a long ball, the attacking striker flicked it over the out coming keeper and into the goal for a little deserved goal for the visiting team. As if that didn't deflate the home side enough, they lost another on the stroke of half time to a simply stunning free kick strike from the edge of the box that was postage stamp and unreachable from the outstretched Ayr keeper.

The teams went in at half time with Montrose feeling like they had won the world cup and Ayr feeling like they had lost a tenner and found a pound.

Ayr started the second half on the front foot again, attacking at every move. Shots from Marlow, Lockhart, Murdoch and Baird all tested the keeper in the first 20 of the second period but the scoreline stayed the same.

Ayr brought on Roddy Paterson and 16s player, Mark Shankland to shake things up a little. This pairing up front unsettled the Montrose defence when they attacked but it was Montrose that were to make the breakthrough and take the lead though with a move down the left, into the middle and bang, a third goal for the away side.

It was a shock to the system for the players to find themselves currently a goal down after dominating the game so much in the time up to now but Ayr were to hit back immediately with a move up the right which was cut back to Aitken who fired in from 6 yards to equalize the match again. This was maybe what Ayr needed to punch themselves back into the match with only 20 minutes remaining.

Paterson tried his luck next from 20 yards but his shot was easily save by the keeper.He then linked up well with Lockhart who played and excellent ball through the defence but an alert keeper rushed out, blocking the strikers effort.

Paterson and Shanklands pace was causing a tiring Montrose defence some problems but the team just didn't seem to be able to make the possession count and the home team were to pay for it as Montrose who had been working their way more into the game scored the winning goal and their fourth of the day after what seemed like a foul on the Ayr keeper.

Ayr tried hard to get the equalizer again, with defender Murdoch making a tremendous interception in his own danger area, breaking out of his own half past midfielders and Montroses' back line before laying off for Paterson whose strong shot was well saved by the keeper. With four minutes remaining, Ayr's last chance came from a corner which went right over the keepers head only to be knocked past the back post by a tiring Aitken.

It was a good all round performance from the Ayr side; On another day they would have scored a bucket load. Lets hope they are keeping them for next weeks Scottish Youth Cup Match against Rangers.

Score Ayr 19s 3 Montrose 19s 4