Off-Form Ayr win against Promotion Rivals: Ayr United 2-0 Brechin City

 In the Previous two games, at home to Livingston and East Fife, Ayr United had Conceded 7 with out scoring.

Bannigan opened the scoring.

The Defence was altered after a disastrous two-games, where the reliable Eddie Malone and Martyn Campbell partnership was reintroduced and experienced Jim Lauchlan replaced Jonathan Tiffoney who dropped to the bench, after picking up a niggle in the 4-0 defeat at home to East Fife. Bannigan moved to the left wing as Willie Easton, started a suspension and Alan Trouten returned from a three match suspension. Ryan McCann, was still not available after picking up a Back injury. However, Andy Rodgers was now available for selection again after returning from a hamstring injury. Brechin City looked to enlarge the gap between Second and Third place sides, starting the Forward partnership of McAllister and former Ayr player McKay, on loan from Kilmarnock.

McLaughlin scored the second.

Early on it looked like the flood-gates would once again open on the Somerset Park turf. As the visitors bossed the opening ten minuets. Ayr eventually started to play and put pressure on the Brechin City defence. Just before the Break, Loanee from Partick Thistle, Stuart Bannigan put Ayr United in front, after January signing, Michael Moffat, supplied the ball.

After the Break, Ayr kept the pressure on, testing Ayr Legend, Craig Nelson, in the Brechin goal on many occasions. Michael Moffat once again crossed the ball in for Ayr's only ever-present, Scott McLaughlin, headed the ball past Craig Nelson. Ayr continued to dominate the second half with visitors hardly testing David Crawford in front of the Away support.

AYR UNITED: Crawford, Lauchlan, Smith, Malone, Campbell, Trouten, Willis (Tiffoney- 83), McLaughlin, Moffat, Roberts (Rodgers- 83), Bannigan

Unused Subs: Robertson, Trialist, Jones

BRECHIN CITY: Nelson, McLean, Cook, McLaughlan, Moyes, Janczyk (Kirkpatrick- 64), Fusco (Redman- 25), Molloy, McKay (McKenna- 53), Byers, McAllister

Unused Subs: Scott, White

Referee: Gary Hilland

Attendance: 1,092

Update

International Call-Up!!!
19 Year old Right-Back, Jonathan Tiffoney has been selected to Represent Scotland Under-21's in a closed door friendly. The last out-and-out Ayr United Player to get called up for the Under-21's was Gary Teale, who later made 13 appearances for the Scotland first team after a move to Wigan Athletic in the Premiership.

Top-of-the-Table-clash
Livingston are the visitors at Somerset Park on Saturday. Livi are four points ahead at the top of the table, but have played won more game.

Buddies Victorious: Ayr United 1-2 St. Mirren

A packed Somerset Park watch as SPL outfit pass to the Quarter-Finals of the Scottish Cup.

Ayr United went behind early on when former Kilmarnock and Inverness striker, Craig Dargo scored for the Paisley club. After Going down Ayr looked like giving Saint Mirren a game. Saints Striker, Michael Higdon, miraculously stayed on the park after only receiving a booking for a red-card offence. Dargo doubled Saint Mirren's lead seconds before the Break.

Ayr look to be lifted i the second-half, and hard work payed off when a cross from the right-wing was handled by a Saint Mirren player in the area. Mark Roberts converting his twelfth penalty kick of the season and bring Ayr back from the dead. It wasn't to be for Brian Reid's Honest Men, when the large away support cheered referee, Euan Norris's whistle.

Stats:

Possession(%)

 Ayr United 53--47 Saint Mirren

Shots (on Target)

Ayr United 8 (5)--(7) 14 Saint Mirren

Fouls

Ayr United 9--17 Saint Mirren

Corners

Ayr United 3--4 Saint Mirren

AYR UNITED: 1. Crawford, 2. Tiffoney, 3. Malone, 4. Lauchlan, 5. Campbell, 6.McCann, 7. Robertson, 8. McLaughlin, 9. Bannigan, 10. Roberts (pen 58), 11. Smith

Unused Subs: 12. Woodburn, 14. Kelly, 15. Patterson, 16. Moore, 20. McWilliams (GK)

SAINT MIRREN: 1. Gallacher, 2. van Zanten, 5. Mair, 6. Potter, 14. McGregor, 17. McAusland, 8. Thomson, 11. Goodwin, 9. Dargo (7, 45) (45. McLean-75), 10. Higdon (33. Mooy- 90+2), 19. McGowan (7. Murray- 81)

Referee: Euan Norris

Assistant Referees: James Bee, Gary Sweeney

Fourth Official: Crawford Allan

ATTENDANCE: 5,997

Other Reports: BBC Sport, Kick Talk Podcast, stmirren.tv

Saint Mirren: Match Preview

Saint Mirren make the short trip down to the Ayrshire Coast on Saturday, a fixture that has already been contested this season in the form of a pre-season friendly.

The Last time the clubs met in a competitive match was in August 2009, a League Cup meeting in which Saint Mirren won 2-0. Ayr United haven't beat 'The Buddies' in a competitive fixture since February 2004.

Saint Mirren are currently second bottom of the SPL, four points ahead of Hamilton Accies, who currently have a game in hand over the Paisley club.Ayr United go into the fixture with a better run of form than 'The Saints' and have already taken one SPL scalp in the Scottish Cup defeating Edinburgh club, Hibernian, who defeated Saint Mirren on Wednesday night.

Ayr will be with out long-term injury sufferers Bobby Donnelly and Dean Keenan. But have brought in experienced Centre-Back, Jim Lauchlan, who played against Stenhousemuir. Brian Reid will be down to the bare-bones in terms of attacking players, with Mark Roberts the only established striker available, with Andy Rodgers (Groin) doubtful and Michael Moffat cup-tied. Both Willie Easton (Hamstring) and Stuart Bannigan (Back) are also doubtful.

Saint Mirren will be without former Honest Man, Gareth Wardlaw (pictured) due to injury and it is unlikely the only other former Ayr Man (Craig Samson) will feature.

It is reported that Saint Mirren have almost sold their allocation of 3,000 tickets. Although, The Scottish Sun had reported that the tickets for the game have already been started to be forged. The whole of the Main Stand has been sold out and it's likely the Somerset Road End will soon follow Suit.

Former Saint Mirren player, Mark Roberts (pictured), netted his twentieth goal of the season against Stenhousemuir and his hoping to keep  it up when he plays against his old side. The only other ex-Buddie in the Ayr team is defender, Eddie Malone, who played an important part in taking the Hibernian game to a replay, in which the Honest Men won. But most famously he was the player who scored the winner for Clyde in their historic cup win over Celtic 5 years ago.

Ayr United where victorious in their last match, at home to Stenhousemuir. But finished the game with only nine-men, after Alan Trouten was given a straight-red and Jonathan Tiffoney a second booking, after only recieving one. Saint Mirren haven't won a game since their last cup outing which they won convincingly by 6 goals to one. Ayr United are currently unbeaten in 2011 and conceded only 5 goals and are currently second top of the Second Division, behind Livingston.

Tops of for the Honest Men.

Soft drink company, AG Barr, have announced a deal, in which an SFL club could win a possible £10,000 from handing in Irn-Bru bottle tops to certain places (The Paper Hut, Main Street and Bestway Basra, Whittlets Road in Ayr). The Competition will last until the 7th of May 2011.