Ross County 1-1 Ayr United: Match Report

Ross County 1-1 Ayr United

Ross County, the league leaders, welcomed bottom club, Ayr United to Victoria Park. Ross County rested several important players in their mid-week Scottish Cup tie away to St Mirren, where as a strong Ayr United side beat Falkirk.

Ayr United made the 216 mile journey to Dingwall in the Highlands as massive underdogs, despite a mid-week victory over Falkirk at Somerset Park.

Within 7 mins The Dingwall club took the lead through former-Inverness stalwart, Grant Munro, and it looked as though Ross County would strengthen their advantage yet they couldn't do so before the break.

Ayr United came out after the break all guns blazing or as the BBC Radio Scotland correspondent said 'on all four cylinders', yet couldn't capitalise on the pressure. Ayr gained an equaliser through Blackpool loanee, Liam Tomsett, scored from far out. Jonathan Tiffoney was later dismissed for the Honest Men held out for a point.

Elsewhere in the First Division, Dundee equalised in the dying minutes against Queen of the South and Livingston won 4-0 against Raith Rovers to see Ayr stay at the foot of the table, but are only a point behind Raith Rovers in 9th position with two games in hand and two points behind Queen of the South in 8th with three games in hand.

Ayr travel to Maryhill to take on Partick Thistle on Tuesday night, knowing that a win would take the Honest Men up to 8th in the League. 

New Signings

Parker, 29, joins from AFC Flyde 

Brian Reid has strengthened his side for the challenge of staying in the First Division.

Gaffer, Reid, no stranger to a risky signing has got Keigan Parker until the end of the season. After moving to Blackpool in 2004 and played for many clubs down south including Huddersfield Town, Oldham Athletic, Mansfield Town and Stockport County. Since then Parker has expressed the wish to get back into Scottish football. The only other competition for the striker came from Partick Thistle, who he played for in a closed door match, but could afford to pursue him.

Former Ross County and Dundee ace, Sean Higgins, has also joined on loan from Saint Johnstone on-loan until the end of the season.

Marc Dyer, who left the Ayr United Football Academy for Rangers a few years ago, has re-joined. It is currently unknown whether it is a loan deal or permanent. Dyer will join the impressive options Reid has up-front, with: Sean Higgins, Michael Moffat, Keigan Parker, Roddy Paterson, Mark  Roberts and Gareth Wardlaw.

Falkirk Match Preview

Ayr v Falkirk: 04/02/12

On Saturday, Ayr United welcome Falkirk to Somerset Park for the Fifth Round tie of the William Hill Scottish Cup. Both sides come into the match on the back of a semi-final defeat in the Scottish Communities League Cup. Ayr losing at Hampden Park to bitter rivals Kilmarnock in extra-time and Falkirk defeated by SPL leaders, Celtic, also at Hampden Park. Both teams will hoping to see an other Cup run in the Scottish Cup.

Ayr United have put out East Stirlingshire (SCLC), Queen of the South (RC), Raith Rovers (RC), Inverness CT (SCLC), Hearts (SCLC), St Mirren (SCLC), Montrose (WHSC) and Livingston (WHSC) in all three Cup competitions they have competed in this season reaching the Quarter-Final of the Ramsdens Cup, Semi-Final of the Scottish Communities League Cup and now face Falkirk for a spot in the Quarter-Final of William Hill Scottish Cup. All very impressive for the side bottom of the First Division. Whereas, Falkirk, who sit second in the First Division, defeating Albion Rovers, Stenhousemuir, Dundee United and most surprisingly Rangers out of the Scottish Communities League Cup, then also beating Brechin City, East Fife and Annan Athletic on their way to the final of the Ramsdens Cup, when they await Hamilton Academical at Almondvale Stadium in Livingston. Falkirk beat East Fife in their only William Hill Scottish Cup meeting to set up this meeting at Somerset Park.

The two teams have already meet twice this season, one was an entertaining two-all draw at Somerset Park in the early stages of this season, with Gareth Wardlaw and Eddie Malone on target for the Honest Men as they came from behind twice when the Bairns scored through Kallum Higginbotham and Farid El Allagui. The other was Ayr's first trip to the Falkirk Stadium since it opened in 2004, ending in a goal-less draw.

Ayr United have strengthened in the transfer window with manager, Brian Reid, bringing in Sean Higgins in on loan from Saint Johnstone on-loan as well as Adam Dodd and Liam Tomsett from English Championship side, Blackpool, with Alex Burke and Dean Keenan departing the Honest Men. Martyn Campbell is nearing fitness and may be available to Brian Reid for selection against the Bairns, where as Alan Trouten returned on Saturday for the trip to Hampden. Falkirk will be with out Kallum Higginbotham as he has signed for Huddersfield Town, with Murray Wallace, who will be loaned back to Falkirk for the remainder of the season only a few days ago, for a six-figure fee.

Ayr keeper, Kevin Cuthbert, who was Man of the Match at Hampden on Saturday making some spectacular saves, will once again be essential for the Honest Men. Cuthbert, 29, told ayrunitedfc.co.uk following Saturdays Semi-Final defeat at the hands of Kilmarnock:

“I’m just gutted. I have no affiliation with Ayr, I’m from Perth and played in two national finals with my local home town team and I feel more gutted now than I did when we lost them. I’m just so disappointed. 

"It was a great turn out from the supporters, especially for a team in the lower end of the First Division.”

Admission prices for Saturdays Cup tie are: Adults £15 and Concessions (Over-65's and Under-16's)  £8. Season Tickets are not valid for Cup ties.

Highlights of both clubs visits to the national stadium this week-end are available here: SFL TV

Ayr's new loan signing, Sean Higgins