PURE BR17LIANCE


Friday night football returned for the Ayr United Football Academy under 17s side as they travelled to Scotland national stadium Hampden's little brother, Lesser Hampden.

In the shadow of its illustrious neighbour, the 17s dominated a match that pitted them against a team that had won 3 out of 3 so far this season in the league, so it was always going to be a tight affair.

Ayr looked stronger going forward and it was always going to Ayr that scored first, as it was hard to remember any real threat to Ayr's keeper Kinniburgh throughout the full 90 minutes of play due mainly to some great defensive play from Ayr's midfield and defence with Lee Lockhart, JJ Hawkshaw, Jack McClymont and Dean Marshall all playing their part is stopping any potential trouble from the home side.

Scott Aiken's speed was causing the Queens Park defence trouble throughout and on 24 minutes he received a inch perfect pass from Andrew Muir but his shot breezed past the post. Declan Milligan was next for a chance at goal and he managed two opportunities in a minute when he was one on one with the keeper but his first chance went bouncing past the woodwork and his second being nicely saved the the home goalie.

Cammy Marlow, who was strong in midfield in this match and bossed the area well then played a brilliantly timed lob over the Queens defence for the whippet like Scott Aitken to run on to, but the home sides best player, their keeper, was alert to it and ran from his area to clear the danger.

It was Dean Marshall who next had a pop at goal after a superb pass from Andrew Muir. Marshall tried lobbing the goalie from 18 yards out but the keeper somehow managed to tip the ball over the crossbar to keep his side in the match.

A minute before half time, Scott Aitken nearly broke the deadlock after the ball deflected into his path but again the Queens goalie was equal to it, saving well, and right before the half time whistle, Ayr had yet another chance. Some 10 or 11 passes were made by the Ayr side and just when it seemed the ref would blow his whistle, Andrew Muir noticed his opponents keeper off his line and tried an audacious 35 yard lob which just drifted over the bar, sending the teams into the break still at nil nil.

The second half started as the first finished, with Ayr on the attack and they should have taken the lead after an early whipped in corner was met about 3 yards out by Scott Aitken, but he was taken by surprise by the ball and the deflection off his leg bounced over the bar.

However, Ayr's dominance paid off shortly afterwards, as an obviously practised training ground goal kick play by the Queens backfired, with the ball falling to Cammy Marlow who fired into the back of the net to give the AUFA side the lead they deserved.

Steven Hutchison was pinging balls about with ease and played Scott Aitken in again but the ball broke off him and into the hands of the goalie.

20 minutes were remaining in the match and although Ayr were dominating, their back line had to be alert at all times as the Queens were confident on the ball and quick on the break, but it was Ayr who were making the opportunities to score and some nice diagonal passing from Deci Milligan and Lee Lockhart ended with an out stretched leg from Scott Aitken just being unable to connect with the excellently crossed ball.

Aitken had another chance minutes later after a nice defence splitting lob from Deci Milligan. As the keeper rushed out to block, Scott Aitken tried nicking it past him but the ball agonisingly drifted the wrong side of the post, leaving the youngster thinking he was never going to score in this match.

However, his perseverance paid of, as an inch perfect cross over the top by midfield wizard Lee Lockhart, was met by the unmarked Aitken 10 yards out from the back post, and he drilled home to give the Ayr side a 2 - 0 lead going into the last 10 minutes.

Lee Lockhart was next to try his luck from distance after he twisted and turned his way into space, and from 25 yards out pinged an effort that was brilliantly saved again by the inform home goalie. Ayr's last effort of the night came from Deci Milligan who received a route one ball from Ayr keeper, Steven Kinniburgh. Deci tried to catch the Queens goalie out by firing in from 25 but his effort glided past the post.

This was an superb performance from the Ayr players against a team that included a Scotland under 17 player, fully deserving all 3 points from this tie to keep up their 100% win rate so far in the league.

Manager Allan Paul was beaming when talking afterwards about the players, saying, "What a solid performance tonight, a great squad of 17 players who as a unit got the job done, well done to 'every' single player tonight , I'm proud of you all."

Final score from Lesser Hampden, Queens Park 0 Ayr United 2

The 16s were also in action of Friday night against a Queens Park 16/17s side at Toryglen and were undone by two early goals and another Queens superb goalkeeping display.

Ayr lifted themselves to the pace of the game, they came back very well and imposed themselves on their older counterparts.

Sean Robertson was first to test the Queens goalie and this was quickly  followed by a Mark Shankland volley which Ayr took confidence from. This lead to the AUFA side starting to play some good possession football and as the half grew to a close a good move ended with Kelly flashing a shot across goal.

The second half started with Ayr again taking the game to Queens with Adam Fraser, Mark Shankland  and Calum Sands all going close , but for all their good play the Ayr team couldn’t find a way past their hosts keeper.

As the game ended it finished on a sour note when a bad tackle by one of the Queens Park players saw Ayr keeper McLatchie requiring stitches on a knee wound.

Coach Davie White Said “ This was a challenging game for the Ayr players. The coaching staff were disappointed in the organisation of the game, which saw the Ayr players receive no warm up facilities prior to the game. This aside though the players showed real courage in their all round play both physically and with their determination to get on the ball. The team showed they can compete against older players and the coaching staff respect the players efforts tonight.

Ayrs 15s had to make a torturous trip to RAF Lossiemouth to play their match against Elgin but came away with a comfortable victory. The performance was nowhere near the high standards of recent weeks but considering the long journey and early start, the boys can be pleased with the result.

Ayr got off to the best start possible when Ryan Nisbett scored after only 15 seconds after a mistake from the Elgin keeper left him with an easy tap in. Nizzy then turned provider for the second as he sent Steven McCarrison through on goals to round the keeper and finish well. The third was similar, a Nisbett through ball was well finished by McCarrison.

The front three of Nisbett, McCarrison and Filippi where causing the Elgin defence all sorts of problems with their pace and interplay. Nisbett then scored his second and third of the game with a 25 yard drive and a clever chip over the Elgin keeper.

Although well in front in terms of goals, Ayr where struggling to get into their usual passing game with Elgin always looking dangerous on the counter attack. The journey seemed to be affecting a couple of the Ayr players who were nowhere near their usual high standard. Cameron Taylor in goal had to be alert and did well to stop a few Elgin attacks. He could do nothing about Elgins goal however, when he was beaten by a great 25 yard strike.

The set back seemed to spur Ayr on and Jason Filippi finished well to restore the advantage. Sean Ewart then got on the score sheet with a cracking 25 yarder into the corner of the net. McCarrison was unlucky not to add to his tally before Filippi scored his second and Ayr's 8th of the day with a crisp finish from 12 yards out.

Elgin deserve full credit for the way they battled all the way to the end, they never let their heads drop and fought for every ball and eventually got the reward their play deserved via an unfortunate OG from Shaun Vance.

Coach and mentor, Neil Duffy enthused at the end "The Ayr strikers where thankfully on top form with excellent performances from Nisbett, Anderson, McCarrison and Filippi. Cameron Taylor in goals had a good game with one cracking save in particular. The good thing about this team is that even without hitting top form they still comfortably ran out as clear victors. That is now 23 goals scored in the last 3 league games which is all credit to the way the team play."