Play-offs

With Raith Rovers beating Queen of the South on Saturday and Ayr beating Dundee, Ayr United will have to beat Falkirk by nine goals and Morton beating Raith Rovers by nine goals to finish eighth. A mathematical miracle.

Assuming this doesn't happen, Ayr United will play the team which will finish fourth place in the Second Division, either Airdrie United or Stenhousemuir. Ayr United, as the team who finished ninth in the First Division, will play the Away Fixture at either the Excelsior Stadium or Ochilview on Wednesday 9/05/2012, only four days after Ayr United end their campaign in Falkirk. The Second Leg, will take place at Somerset Park on the Saturday 12/05/2012.

Both Airdrie United and Stenhousemuir are on level points, with Airdrie United travelling to champions, Cowdenbeath and Stenhousemuir hosting Forfar Athletic.

The winner of the clash between Arbroath and Dumbarton will face the winner of the Ayr United vs Airdrie/Stenhousemuir clash. The Final tie, First leg will take place on Wednesday 16/05/2012, and the venue for both First and Second legs will be decided by a toss of a coin.

The winner of the final tie will play in the 2012-13 SFL Division 1.

Ayr United have a play-off pedigree, winning it twice in 2009 and 2011 respectively. In 2009, Ayr won the Semi-Final by five goals to two against Brechin City, winning 2-0 at Glebe Park in the First leg, before winning the second leg at Somerset Park 3-2. Ayr went in to the final against Airdrie United and were two goals down before the first half was out. A miraculous turn around, saw Mark Roberts bag a brace, and Chris Aitken miss a penalty, to set up the second leg all square. And the fairytale was complete when local boy, Ryan Stevenson, who now plays for Ipswich Town, scored the only goal to send Ayr United into the first division.

Two years later, Ayr United once again finished second in the Second Division, followed by automatic relegation from the first division in the first season back in Scotland's second tier. Setting up a semi-final tie with Forfar Athletic. Ayr travelled to Station Park on a Wednesday night, and Michael Moffat scored within two mins to give Ayr United the perfect start. The Loons brought it level again, but Ayr hadn't finished yet, Michael Moffat forcing Forfar defender, Jamie Bishop to turn the ball into his own net. Ryan McCann raced onto a Martyn Campbell header that didn't quite make it, for 3-1. And finally Andy Rodgers finished the scoring for Ayr and leaving Forfar with the uphill task. The second leg, that was billed as a non-event, was far from that. An exciting 3-3 draw, with prolific Michael Moffat opening the scoring, before Dale Hilson equalised for Forfar. Shortly after the break Scott McLaughlin gave Ayr the lead for the second time, but Barry Sellars drew the Loons level yet again. But it wasn't finished yet, in the ninetieth minuet Forfar netted a penalty through Ross Campbell, but the goals still hadn't finished and after Alan Trouten was felled in the box, Ayr were awarded a penalty and Trouten stepped up and kept Ayr maintained an impressive Play-off undefeated record into the final. Ayr United faced 2009-10 play-off finalists, Brechin City in the final, after they had dumped out First Division side Cowdenbeath, who beat the to promotion in the previous season. Brechin visited Somerset Park on the Wednesday night and went behind early with another goal from Michael Moffat, but despite bombarding Ayr legend and Brechin keeper, Ayr couldn't capitalise on their lead and were punished by Brechin's Neil Janczyk who scored late to level the tie. So the second leg at Brechin City's Glebe Park was all even, and Ayr had to make an early change bringing Jim Lauchlan off for Jonathan Tiffoney, who knocked the ball past Alan Martin in his own goal on the stroke of half time. But Ayr wouldn't take defeat lying down and in the pursuit of First Division football, Mark Roberts netted an equaliser with little more than ten minuets left. With extra-time looking inevitable, the man who had scored in every play-off match, Michael Moffat, who only signed for Ayr in January from Girvan juniors got the winner for United. Sending the Honest Men into ecstasy and the First Division.

Play-Off teams: 
Arbroath

Lead by former Ayr hero, Paul Sheerin, the Red Lichties have finished second in the Second Division following promotion as Champions from the Third Division. In the play-off Semi-Final they will visit Dumbarton on the Wednesday night, before the Sons visit Gayfield Park on the Saturday afternoon.
Ground: Gayfield Park - 5,940 (849 seats)
Manager: Paul Sheerin
2010-11 position: SFL Division 3 (1st)
2011-12 position: SFL Division 2 (2nd)
2010-11 Average Att.:  588 (Div 3)
For a full ground guide visit: SGG

Ayr United's last meeting: 11/04/2009 Arbroath 1-3 Ayr United

Dumbarton

Dumbarton, lead by Alan Adamson, finished third in the Second Division following a seventh place finish in the previous season. Dumbarton have won the Scottish Football League on two occasions, once shared with Rangers and the Scottish Cup once.
Ground: Dumbarton Football Stadium (formerly Strathclyde Homes Stadium) (2,050 all seated)
Manager: Alan Adamson
2010-11 position: SFL Division 2 (7th)
2011-12 position: SFL Division 2 (3rd)
2010-11 Average Att.: 624
For a full ground guide visit: SGG

Ayr United's last meeting: 23/04/2011 Dumbarton 1-2 Ayr United

Stenhousemuir

Stenny manager, Davie Irons previously played for Ayr between 1984 and 1987. Stenhousemuir finished eighth in the second division last season before either gaining a fourth or fifth place finish.
Ground: Ochilview (5,267 - 2,117 seated)
Manager: Davie Irons
2010-11 position: SFL Division 2 (8th)
2011-12 position: SFL Division 2 (4th or 5th)
2010-11 Average Att.: 560
For a full ground guide visit: SGG


Ayr United's last meeting: 26/03/2011 Stenhousemuir 2-1 Ayr United

Airdrie United

Airdrie United, formed in 2002, when Airdrieonians bought out Clydebank after financial troubles at both clubs have rebuild and are consolidating after relegation in 2010, building mainly on youth. This season the recorded their record win, 11-0 at home to Gala Fairydean in the Scottish Cup. Ayr won 5-0 away to Airdrie last season.
Ground: Excelsior Stadium (10,172 all seated)
Manager: Jimmy Boyle
2010-11 position: SFL Division 2 (6th)
2011-12 position: SFL Division 2 (4th or 5th)
2010-11 Average Att.: 788
For a full ground guide visit: SGG

Ayr United's last meeting: 30/04/2011 Ayr United 3-1 Airdrie United

Ayr beat Dundee `hoodoo`: Ayr United 3-2 Dundee

Dundee came down to Somerset Park to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of being crowned champions of Scotland, knowing that Ayr United hadn't beaten the Dee's since 1995.

Ayr United 3-2 Dundee

Ayr boss, Brian Reid named four players who had came through the Ayr United Football Academy on the bench, two of which had never seen first team football before. And it was only eight minutes before the first change was enforced upon Reid, when John Robertson hobbled off with Steven Hutchinson coming on to make his first team debut, the injury to John Robertson forced a tactical rejigging, in which Andy Geggan moved to the unfamiliar position of centre-back.

After only fourteen minutes, Dundee took the lead a weak header from Chris Smith intented for the gloves of Kevin Cuthbert landed at the feet of Ryan Conroy, who gave the Dark blue's the lead.

Ayr were forced upon a second tactical change after only twenty minutes, Jackson Longridge too debutised at the left back position after Adam Dodd came off.

Ayr United were down, but by were no means out and despite playing some attractive football, went in at the break a goal down.

Eventually Ayr United got the equaliser, after ample chances, Keigan Parker hit a sumblime free-kick leaving former Celtic and Scotland keeper, Rab Douglas with no chance.

The result remained the same for only ten mins, when Dundee's Steven Milne put the visitors ahead for the second time in the match. And it looked like Dundee were going to hold out for victory, but a beautiful Keigan Parker over head kick leveled the side.

With the clocking ticking towards the end of the match with the scores level; Reid was forced upon his final substitute with 'youngster' Steven Hutchison coming off for Ross Robertson, a change that would prove to be essential for Ayr as Ross Robertson sent the home fans into ecstasy after a moment of confusion between the Dundee goalkeeper and defender, setting Robertson up for the winner.

Raith Rovers were three-one winners over Queen of the South, condemned Queens' to relegation and a bottom place finish, but the result in Fife means that Ayr will have to beat Falkirk by nine goal margin with Raith also losing by nine goals. Although it looks pretty certain that Ayr will join Arbroath, Dumbarton and either Airdrie or Stenhousemuir in the First Division Play-Offs.

HB Ayr Utd Player Ratings

Kevin Cuthbert- 7: As Good as ever.

Jonathan Tiffoney- 7: Good game, defended well, got forward a few times too.

Adam Dodd- 6: Too little time to judge.

John Robertson- 6: See above.

Chris Smith- 7: Did well, despite gifting the Dee's the first. Won more or less everything after.

Andy Geggan- 7: Played out of position for the majority, played well though.

Alan Trouten- 7: Started on the right, but looked good when moved into the middle.

Liam Tomsett- 7: Bossed the midfield again.

Keigan Parker- 9: Two of the best finishes of the season especially the second.

Mark  Roberts- 6: Despite one effort, denied by Douglas fairly average performance.

Michael Moffat- 6: Malone's suspension forced the Moff to left wing again, average performance.

Steven Hutchinson- 8: A very good début from the youngster.

Jackson Longridge- 8: Won sponsors MotM, well deserved for the debutant .

Ross Robertson- 8: Scored the winner in only five mins on the park.

Referee: Alan Muir- 9: Best Referee at Somerset Park for along time.

Attendance: 1,656