Games OFF!!!

Ayr United Vs East Fife has been Postponed due to the Referee strike.

The SFA have managed to draft in foreign Referee's from abroad to officiate all 6 SPL matches, 1 SFL match and the Alba Challenge Cup final. Ref's have been brought in from The Netherlands due to Scottish referee's going on Strike due to 'fear for there own personal safety'. 

Ref- Dougie McDonald

The strike amongst officials was prompted when during a league fixture between Dundee United and Celtic referee Dougie McDonald (What some would say- Correctly) overturned a penalty that he had just given the Glasgow club. Which prompted the anger of Celtic Manager, Neil Lennon, who refuses to apologise to McDonald.

Andy Rodgers wonderstrike for Ayr United vs Sunnybank (November 2010)

Possibly one of the best goals every to be scored at Somerset Park!!

The goal was scored by Andy Rodgers, it was Ayr's Fifth of the game, Rodger's second and fifth of the season.

Thanks to whoever filmed this!

Ayr head to the Capital

Today the draw for the Fourth Round of the Scottish Cup was made and Ayr where drawn against SPL, Hibernian. The ties will be played on the week commencing 8th of January 2011.

Hibs boss, Colin Calderwood told the clubs online Television channel, "They are the one club in Scotland i was associated with a Boys Club. It's a nice tie for myself and I'm looking forward to it. There's a bit of excitement even just sitting watching the Draw and because of the association i had playing with them for two or three years at boys club level, I'm pleased we've got them".

When asked when Scott Taggart will help inform him on the current situation of Ayr United he said, "Probably not too much, but obviously we'll ask Taggs about the situation, we've got time to watch them and the normal procedure, we'll do our homework".

Hibs gaffer, Calderwood is the second person to take charge of the Leith club this season. The other, another former Honest-man John 'Yogi' Hughes who played for Ayr at Hampden in the famous Cup semi-final win. Hughes was a guest of the SFA for the draw, pulling the balls from the hat along with former Dundee and Dundee United defender, Lee Wilkie.

Here is the full draw-
Aberdeen v East Fife

Dundee United v Ross County

Queen of the South v Brechin City or Annan Athletic

Montrose v Dunfermline Athletic

Greenock Morton v Airdrie United or Beith

Falkirk v Partick Thistle

Berwick Rangers v Celtic

East Stirlingshire v Buckie Thistle

Rangers v Kilmarnock

Hibernian v Ayr United

Stenhousemuir or Threave Rovers v Stranraer

Hamilton Academical v Alloa Athletic

St Mirren v Peterhead

Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Elgin City

Dundee v Motherwell

Honest Men too Good for Junior Sunnybank

Ayr United played Sunnybank off the field as Ayr United where kicked off the field.

Sunnybank where the first of the sides to pose a threat, however Nicky Gordon knocked the ball straight at United keeper, David Crawford. At the other end, Ayr where now piling the pressure upon Sunnybank keeper, Lee Sweeney, who was to deny Andy Rodgers the opener. The first goal came late on in the first half, when loanee Stuart Bannigan met an Alan Trouten cross. Before the half had finished Sunnybank had conceded a penalty, easily converted by Mark Roberts.Within ten minuets of the kick-off a solitary pitch invader made his way from the Away end to the pitch, where he would wave his scarf and make his way back to the Railway end. It took until the final quarter of an hour before anything happened, young Jonathan Tiffoney was brought down in the Area by Sunnybank's Nicky Gordon. The penalty was once again taken and scored by Mark Roberts. Only a few minuets later Sunnybank where down to ten men when Willie Steel was sent off for receiving his second yellow card off the match. Only a minute later Sunnybank where reduced to nine men when Steven Bartlett was shown a straight red card for an incredibly late challenge on the Ayr United goalkeeper. Brian made his first substitutions in the 82min when he brought on Ross Robertson and Alistair Woodburn, who had just returned from injury, in place of Ryan McCann and Alan Trouten. A few minuets later Reid used his last sub when he brought on 16-year-old débutante Shaun Kelly for Scott McLaughlin. It was 86mins into the game before Andy Rodgers got his first goal, from a Bannigan cross, Better was yet to come when Ally Woodburn swung the ball and was met by Andy Rodgers who performed the most spectacular over-head kick that beat keeper, Sweeney.

AYR UNITED:

Crawford, Tiffoney, Easton, Malone, Smith, McCann (Robertson- 82), Trouten (Woodburn-82), McLaughlin (Kelly- 84), Rodgers (86, 90), Roberts (45, 74), Bannigan (44)

Unused subs: McWilliams and Moore

SUNNYBANK:

Sweeney, Thompson, W. Steel, Clark (M. Bartlett- 88), Douglas, Adams, Greig, Fettes (Shand- 45), S. Bartlett, Gordon, C. Steel, McAllister.

Unused Subs: McKenzie, Carrol

Ref: J. Beaton

Attendance: 1,069

Aberdeenshire Minnows set for Somerset Park

Coming off the back of a league defeat away to Dumbarton, Ayr United will face Junior side Sunnybank in the Scottish Cup. Sunnybank defeated Third Division high-flyers Albion Rovers to progress to the Third Round of the Scottish Cup. A victory for either team will see progression to the Fourth Round, in which the SPL teams enter. The Last time Ayr faced an Non-League team was in November 2009 when Brian Reid's men ventured to Banff to face Highland League Side Deveronvale, In which Ayr United won by a single goal to nil. The last time a Non-League team visited Somerset Park was in December 2008 when Dundee Junior side, Lochee United, Who had equalised in the dying minuets of the Fixture at Thompson Park to take the tie into a Replay visited and where to leave with out victory as they where comfortably beaten 3-1, a game in which the attendance was over the 2,000 mark.

Sunnybank FC are a Junior team from Aberdeen who where formed in 1936 and play there home games at Heathryfold Park. Last season they won the North & Tayside Cup and finished Champions of their respectable League, The North Region Super Division, Which enabled them to qualify for the Scottish Cup. An Interesting Fact about Sunnybank is, Just like there city counterparts, Aberdeen FC, They have never had the misfortune of relegation. The club recently faced another Ayrshire club, Craigmark Burntonians who they beat 9-4 away from home, in the Scottish Junior cup, a tournament they won in 1954, When they beat Dundee junior side Lochee Harp at Hampden Park, In front of a crowd of over 22,000 strong. 

Ayr United will once again be with out Long-Term injury sufferers Bobby Donnelly, who has only made one appearance since singing from Airdrie in the summer and Dean Keenan who has now been ruled out for the rest of the Season. William Easton and Alistair Woodburn  are both also doubtful as well, Danny McKay will not be able to feature as his parent club Kilmarnock don't want him cup tied.

Ayr are bookies favourites to win at 1/6 and long-shots Sunnybank at 9/1 to win. 

Away to Dumbarton- INFO

Tomorrow Ayr United take the trip to West Dumbartonshire, to take on 'Sons of the Rock' Dumbarton. Here is an insight on getting to the Strathclyde Homes Stadium.

By Car:
The journey from Ayr to Dumbarton should take little over an hour (Traffic Depending), with it being roughly 50 miles away. The ground is situated under 'The Castle-Rock', which dominates the Sky-line of the town, Therefore it is fairly easy to find your way to the ground once you have made it into the town. Simply Follow the signs for 'The Castle'. There is a fairly large car-park in front of the stadium it's self which costs only £1 to park for the duration of the game.
By Train:
The Journey by train takes little under two hours. To get there requires getting the train from Ayr to Glasgow Central and taking the short walk across the city to Glasgow Queen Street to get the train to Dumbarton East. The 12:43 train from Ayr gets you into Glasgow at 13:35 and the Train leaves for Dumbarton at 14:36. For more information visit The Scotrail website.
By Bus:
The Ship Inn are running a bus from The Pub itself and leaves about 12 o'clock.

Where To Drink?
The nearest Bar to the Stadium is located at the ground it's self, which welcomes all fans. The Bar will open at 12:30pm and last orders will be at 2:45pm.
What is the ground like?
The ground consists of one large stand with the capacity of 2,025 opened in 2000. The Away support is segregated in to the corner of the stand.

Admission Prices: 
Adult: £12
Concessions: £6
Programme Cost: £2

Miller set for Ayr?

As rumours circulate amongst supporters about Brian Reid's Former colleague heading to Somerset Park on a short term deal, Reid admitted that Miller could receive a short-term deal (28 days) as he is going abroad again.

Stats:
Club Career:
Rangers (1993-99) 83 apps- 10 goals
Leicester City (loan) 4 apps- 0 goals
Watford (1999) 14 apps- 0 goals
Dundee United (2000-2003) 118 apps- 17 goals
SK Brann Norway (2004-06) 52 apps- 14 goals
Lierse Belgium (2006-08) 33 apps- 12 goals
Brisbane Roar Australia (2008-09) 30 apps- 8 goals
Gold Coast United Australia (2009-10) 12 apps-1 goal
International Career:
Scotland (2001) 1 app-0 goals

United face a trip to 'The Sons'

Ayr head up to Dumbarton for their Second Division Match, and find themselves Third in the League, only one point from top. As Dumbarton find them self at the foot of the Table.

This Fixture rearly disapoints with the last time the two clubs met at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium Ayr left with a Five-Four victory, However earlier in the Season (2005-06) Dumbarton convincingly beat Ayr by a six goal margin. In fact the last competitive match in which the two clubs met that ended goal-less was in April 1993. The previous meeting this season at Somerset Park ended up with the home side taking all three points when Paul Maxwell put the ball in his own net. Interim Sons Manager Alan Adamson said "Ayr are a good side and are challenging at the right end of the table. And in Mark Roberts they have the Division's top scorer and we will need to warey defensively. Ben (Gordon) is out so we will have to re-adjust our back-line." However his Opposing Number Brian Reid admited "We have been hit badly by injuries and on saturday were down to only 16 players with a couple of youngsters on standby."

Ayr will go into the Match without Bobby Donnelly and Dean Keenan (Who has now been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a torn Cruciate Ligament) , who both are suffering with long term injuries. Alistair Woodburn and Willie Easton (Who took an ankle-knock in the week) are also doubtful. Dumbarton will also be missing Capatain Ben Gordon through suspension and former Raith Rovers and Queens Park Man Derek Carcary with a groin injury.