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| Brechin's Trinity Road Stand |
Ayr set off to Angus knowing they may be returning on Wednesday to face Forfar if the results went right. However Brechin City required at least a point to secure a play-off spot, which looked certain until there recent run of form. Brian Reid's Ayr started with out Mark Roberts, Jonathan Tiffoney and Ryan McCann being rested and the usual pairing of Martyn Campbell and Eddie Malone where not available due to injury, which saw the untested pairing of Chris Smith and Bobby Donnelly at the back. Andy Rodgers started after scoring two of Ayr's three goals against Airdrie at home the previous Saturday, with Michael Moffat, who got the other.
Ayr Started with Alan Martin in nets, Willie Easton at Left Back, Jim Lauchlan at Right Back with Bobby Donnelly and Chris Smith playing as Centre-half's. Stuart Bannigan, who recently returned from a suspension and toe injury, played on the left of the midfield, Hibs loanee, David Crawford started on the right wing and former Airdrie partnership of Scott McLaughlin and Alan Trouten making up the midfield. Andy Rodgers and Michael Moffat, who is believed to be watched in recent games by a scout from St Mirren, starting up front. The bench featured three Ayr United Football Academy players, all of which came on.
As the teams came out for the kick-off, so did the sun. The hosts had the majority of chances, recently named SPFA Second Division Player of the Year, Rory McAllister, coming close a few times early on, sending the ball into the Trinity Road a couple of times, before converting in the nineteenth minute. After the goal Ayr settled into the match, bringing play into the Brechin half for the majority of the remaining first half, safe in the knowledge that Ayr's play-off place had been cemented away to Dumbarton two weeks previous. United returned in the second half once again maintaining the majority of possession but failing to convert everything. In the seventieth minuet a début was given to 15 year old, Mark Shankland, when he replaced David Crawford to play on the right wing. Shortly after Brian Reid gifted another début, Gareth Armstrong replacing Bobby Donnelly.
BRECHIN CITY: Nelson, McBain,. Cook, McLauchlan (
White- 62), Moyes, Molloy, Fusco, Janczyk, Redman,
McAllister (
Kirkpatrick- 85), Megginson (
McKenna- 66)
Unused Subs: Scott, Byers
AYR UNITED: Martin, Lauchlan,
Easton, Donnelly (
Armstrong- 75),
Smith, Trouten, Crawford (
Shankland- 68), McLaughlin, Rodgers, Moffat (
Patterson- 85), Bannigan
Unused Subs: Crawford
Attendance: 577
Final League Table:
1- Livingston: W 25, D 7, L 4, F 79, A 33, GD +46, PTS 82
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2- Ayr United: W 18, D 5, L 13, F 62, A55, GD +7, PTS 59
3- Forfar Ath: W 17, D 8, L 11, F 50, A 48, GD +2, PTS 59
4- Brechin City: W 15, D 12, L 9, F 63, A 45, GD +18, PTS 57
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5- East Fife: W 14, D 12, L 9, F 77, A 43, GD +17, PTS 52
6- Airdrie Utd: W 13, D 10, L 14, F 52, A 60, GD -8, PTS 48
7- Dumbarton: W 11, D 9, L 18, F 52, A 70, GD -18, PTS 40
8- Stenhousemuir: W 10, D 8, L 18, F 46, A 59, GD -13, PTS 38
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9- Alloa Athletic: W 9, D 8, L 18, F 49, A 71, GD -22, PTS 36
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10- Peterhead: W 5, D 9, L 20, F 47, A 76, GD -29, PTS 26
Play-Offs: Confirmed Play-off schedule:
Semi-Finals:
Wednesday 11th May (First Leg):
Forfar Athletic v Ayr United (7.45pm) (Station Park, Forfar)
Brechin City v Cowdenbeath (7.45pm) (Glebe Park, Brechin)
Saturday 14th May (Second Leg):
Ayr United v Forfar Athletic (3pm)(Somerset Park, Ayr)
Cowdenbeath v Brechin City (2pm) (Central Park, Cowdenbeath)
Final:
Wednesday 18th May (First Leg):
Ayr United/Forfar Athletic v Brechin City/Cowdenbeath (TBC) (Somerset Park/Station Park)
Sunday 22nd May (Second Leg):
Brechin City/Cowdenbeath v Ayr United/Forfar Athletic (TBC) (Glebe Park/ Central Park)
