16s v clyde

16's Edge Out Bully Wee

 

The under 16's hosted Clyde at Prestwick on Sunday in beautiful sunny, although windy, weather.

Ayr made their customary slow start whilst Clyde displayed they were up for the challenge and pressed forward in the early part of the game with their nippy players dominating possession.

However, despite Clyde's dominance they did not manage to breach the Ayr backline and gradually the home side made their presence felt. Chances were being created around the Clyde goal with

Sean Robertson putting past the post from close in and Chris  Kelly striking the bar with a long range effort.   

 

A couple of injuries for Ayr leading up to half time meant enforced changes which seemed to cool

their ascendancy and Clyde finished the half on top but the scoreline remained goaless.

Ayr were quick out of the traps at the start of the second half and in the first 5 minutes Mark Shankland had 4 on target attempts which were all superbly dealt with by the Clyde goalie. Although Ayr were

having the bulk of  play Clyde were  breaking from defence with pace and were still a real threat to the Ayr goal.

Halfway through the 2nd period Clyde snatched the lead with a bizarre goal. A free kick from the left was hoisted into the Ayr penalty area which deceived everyone, forwards and defenders alike, and found it's way past Andy Clark in the goal.

 

Clyde's lead was short lived with Ayr snatching an equaliser with a 20 yard effort from Ryan McCubbin which looked like it would be mopped up by the Clyde defence until Adam Fraser, showing great awareness, dummied the ball completely flat footing the opposition and the shot found its way home.

Thereafter play swung from end to end with a few near misses and both goalkeepers being called into action on a regular basis. It looked like the game would end with honours even until Ayr mounted one last attack

which resulted in them  winning a corner from the left. Mark Shankland delivered an excellent ball which was met flush by Neil Slooves who bulleted his header high into the back of the net from eight yards out.

It was the last of the action as the referee blew to end the game as soon as Clyde restarted. 

This was a closely contested and entertaining game played in blustery conditions.  Clyde will feel aggrieved to have lost out right at the death but on the balance of play and chances created, Ayr perhaps just edged it.

Coach John Given said afterwards, "There were a number of fine individual performances from the Ayr team showing good fitness levels and a willingness to work for the full ninety minutes which was rewarded with them grabbing the winner on the final whistle."