On a wet morning in Prestwick, Stirling were the visiting team to play Ayr United Football Academy under 15's.
Ayr started poorly in the first period and got away to the worst possible start after only four minutes. A long ball up field from the Stirling defender caused confusion between Howie and Hart which resulted in Howie fouling the Stirling striker on the edge of the box. From the resulting free kick the Stirling player stepped up and put his shot into the top corner of the net. Ayr just couldn’t get into there usual pattern of play and for all their possession, failed to threaten the Stirling goal in the first period.
After a change of formation and a few stern words from coach Willock, Ayr came out flying in the second period. Within five minutes they had created good chances to get the equaliser through an Ahern header and two shots from McCarrison which failed to hit the target. Further chances came and went through Keegan, Nisbet and McCarrison with the latter lobbing the goal keeper but watched his shot come back off the post. It was just a matter of time before the goal came and it did seven minutes before the break when some nice play between Keegan and McCarrison set up Ahern to finish well from nine yards out. Stirling were still a threat on the counter attack and it was a tremendous save from Hart in the last few moments of the period that kept Ayr on level terms.
In the third period Ayr continued to press the Stirling goal with Fillipi firing a shot from 20 yards just wide of the post before Wardrope hit a free kick that made the Stirling goal keeper produce a wonderful save, tipping his effort onto the bar which then landed at the feet of Fillipi but unfortunately he put it wide with the goal gaping.
The second goal did come and it came from a good run down the right by Fillipi who crossed to Anderson whose shot at goal was saved by the keeper, however a lively Nisbet was on hand to tap in at the back post to give Ayr the lead. Ayr continued to press for the third goal but Fillipi and McCarrison failed to stretch their lead with decent chances from inside the Stirling box.
Coach Andy Willock said afterwards "The boys struggled to get into their usual style of play in the first period but afterwards they played some excellent attacking play and should have won the game with a more convincing score line. Howie, Vance and McCarrison played really well."
Report by Jamie McCrae
Picture of Steven McCarrison
No comments:
Post a Comment