Ayr progress to Round 4: Ayr United 3-2 Queen's Park

Ayr United welcomed the third most successful side in the history of the Scottish Cup, Queen's Park under the Somerset Park floodlights in the pouring rain.

It was the Spiders that were the first to provide a proper chance, when a poor Ayr corner could only reach the Queen's Park's Lee Davison, who set up a dangerous attack that saw five attacking spiders to Ayr's two defending players. Davison played it to David Anderson, who found Blair Spittal, who could only fire the ball over the goal and onto the Somerset Road.

The League 2 basement boys were the first to draw blood, when a Queen's Park corner found Blair Spittal, who played the ball to David Anderson, James Brough met Anderson's pass and headed downwards past Ayr keeper, David Hutton and into the Ayr goal.

The Honest Men looked to put the set back of going a goal behind them very quickly when almost instantly after the restart when Queen's keeper, Lucas Birnstingl, denied Ayr's player manager,  Mark Roberts before the rebound fell to Michael Moffat, who was denied by the goalscorer James Brough.

Almost five minutes before the break, Ayr drew level. Craig Malcolm, when trying to take a long pass, slipped, yet kept the ball, before being awarded a free-kick for a foul from Ricki Lamie. Anthony Marenghi, who had scored a free-kick the previous week at Airdrieonians, stepped up to take it. Marenghi went one better one his Airdrie goal, with a brilliantly placed goal to level the scores.

Ayr came back out a lot stronger, and it looked almost an inevitability that Ayr would score. And it only took five minutes for Ayr to take the lead. When the Queen's defenders couldn't manage to deal with an Ayr corner, Alan Lithgow manage to capitalise upon it to get his first goal for the Honest Men and his first goal since February.

Only 10 minutes later, Ayr increased their lead to 3-1, when Craig Malcolm scored his first goal since August. Queen's keeper, Lucas Birnstingl, could only find Anthony Marenghi who set up Craig Malcolm.

Queen's were gifted a second goal, when somehow the referee saw a pass back to David Hutton. Michael Keenan then dummied the free-kick from within the area a couple of times before passing to Blair Spittal, who's shot fired home past Hutton, to ensure a nervous end to the match.

Ayr held out to progress to the fourth round of the William Hill Scottish Cup.

Possession

Shots (on target)

10 (5) - (3) 9

Corners

5 - 5

Fouls

13 - 15

AYR UNITED : 1. David Hutton, 2. Adam Hunter, 3. Michael Donald, 4. Gordon Pope, 5. Alan Lithgow, 6. Scott McLaughlin, 7. Anthony Marenghi, 8. Robbie Crawford, 9. Michael Moffat (12. Kevin Kyle), 10. Mark Roberts (14. Michael McGowan), 11. Craig Malcolm.

UNUSED SUBS : 15. Michael Wardrope, 16. Josh McArthur, 19. Willie Muir.

QUEEN'S PARK : 1. Lucas Birnstingl, 2. Ross Fisher, 3. Sean Burns, 4. David Gold, 5. James Brough, 6. Ricki Lamie, 7. Lee Davison (17. Liam Gormley), 8. David Anderson, 9. Michael Keenan (12. Paul Gallacher), 10. Tony Quinn (18. Joao Vitoria), 11. Blair Spittal.

UNUSED SUBS : 14. Scott Gibson, 15. Conor McVey, 16. Shaun Rooney, 20. Sinclair.

Attendance :  879

Referee : Euan Anderson

Other William Hill Scottish Cup Third Round Results

Rangers 3-0 Airdrieonians

Culter 1-1 Berwick Rangers

Albion Rovers 1-0 Deveronvale

Alloa Athletic 3-0 Inverurie Loco Works

Arbroath 0-2 Brechin City

Clyde 2-1 Brora Rangers

Dumbarton 2-1 Cowdenbeath

Elgin City 3-5 Dunfermline Athletic

Forfar Athletic 2-1 East Fife

Fraserburgh 2-1 Montrose

Queen of the South 1-0 Hamilton Academical

Stenhousemuir 2-2 Annan Athletic

Stranraer 2-2 Auchinleck Talbot

Turriff United 0-3 Stirling Albion

The draw for the Fourth Round is on Sky Sports News on Tuesday at 12:00 and will be conducted by for Ayr United striker, Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Clubs that will be in the draw are:

Aberdeen

Celtic

Dundee

Dundee United

Heart of Midlothian

Hibernian

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Kilmarnock

Motherwell

Ross County

St Johnstone

St Mirren

Partick Thistle

Greenock Morton

Falkirk

Livingston

Rangers

Culter or Berwick Rangers

Albion Rovers

Alloa Athletic

Brechin City

Ayr United

Clyde

Dumbarton

Dunfermline Athletic

Forfar Athletic

Fraserburgh

Queen of the South

Stenhouemuir or Annan Athletic

Stranraer or Auchinleck Talbot

Stirling Albion

Ayr sweep aside Cumnock at Townhead Park: Cumnock Juniors 0-5 Ayr United

The latest instalment into Mark Roberts pre-season plans saw his Ayr side make the short trip across the county to face local junior outfit, Cumnock.

It was a final chance for gaffer, Roberts, to make any decisions before the first competitive game against Queens Park at Hampden in the Ramsdens Cup, before the final friendly at Somerset Park against Cypriot side, AEL Limassol, then back up to Glasgow for a midweek League Cup tie with top-flight club Partick Thistle. Then finally to league business with a trip up to Gayfield as Ayr open at Arbroath.

Only fourteen miles separate Ayr and Cumnock, yet neither side had met each other before, with Ayr in the Scottish League set-up and Cumnock in the juniors.

The game started fairly evenly, but it was Ayr creating the chances. After about ten minutes Ayr excelled and after a series of wasted chances, a great piece of individual skill from the Ayr United Football Academy's next wonderkid, Alan Forrest, whose shot was denied by Nock keeper, Ally Semple, who featured for Ayr as a trialist last pre-season, but the ball landed straight at the foot of Michael Donald, who tapped the ball home.

It wasn't long before Ayr doubled their lead, and it was Forrest again, this time he met a Michael Moffat cross at the back post, while diving through the air to convert it.

However, Ayr squandered a glorious chance to make it 3-0 before the break, when Michael Moffat was brought down in the box, that the referee had adjourned to be a penalty, Moffat send the ball to the bottom left hand corner of the goal, just as Semple had guessed.

It took a while after the break before Ayr could build on their lead, When Moffat was brought down in the box yet again, This time McGowan had the ball in his hands, before gaffer, Roberts told him Moffat would be taking it, this time he left Semple with no chance blasting it off the underside of the bar, and going in.

Alan Forrest was a stand-out for Ayr

It was substitute, Anthony Marenghi, who bagged Ayr's fourth goal, from a twenty yard free kick he sent curling past the wall, and leaving the Cumnock keeper frustrated.

In the dying moments of the game, Michael McGowan was rewarded for his fine efforts with a well deserved goal. McGowan was left one-on-one with Semple, keeping his composure to make it 5-0.

Youngster, Forrest told the Ayr United Official site:

"My brother James plays with Celtic and has been giving me lots of advice. He comes and supports me when he’s got time off which is massive boost.”

AYR : Hutton (Muir), Hunter, Pope, Lithgow, Trialist (Campbell), Crawford (Marenghi), McGowan, McLaughlin (Wardrope), Moffat, Forrest (Shankland), Donald

Set-Pieces the difference between Honest Men and Milers: Ayr United 1-4 Rotherham United

After a disastrous campaign last year, the summer break was much needed for Mark Roberts and his Ayr team. But they say old habits die hard and it must certainly seem that way for Ayr, who still can't defend corners or free-kicks.

Rotherham United, who are managed by former Ayr player, Steve Evans, finished second in League 2 last year, thus securing automatic promotion to England's Third Tier, embarked on their third and final match of their tour of Scotland, that has saw them comfortably beat Livingston and a goal-less draw with Morton.

The first half of the game was fairly uneventful and typical to that of a pre-season fixture, with both teams having a good number of chances, with both sides squandering them all. However, Ayr got lucky within second's as a terrible pass back from Alan Lithgow to David Hutton found it's self at the foot of the Miller's striker, but the referee's assistant had judged it to be offside, even though it was a pass from Lithgow to the striker.

The half-time break saw eleven changes from Rotherham and none for Ayr. New 'keeper, David Hutton made an other outstanding save to deny the Englishmen the opening goal, when the former Queen of the South and Clyde player blocked a Alex Revell shot from point-blank range, with the ball landing at the feet of Ben Pringle, who could only sky the ball over the bar and above the 250 Rotherham fans in the Railway End.

However, Hutton couldn't keep Rotherham at bay forever and after only seven second half minutes, a Michael O'Connor corner was met by an Alex Revell header from six yards out.

It was an other O'Connor corner that lead to Rotherham's second goal, this time he played a short corner with Ben Pringle, who swung the ball in and was once again met by Alex Revell, for 2-0.

It was Mitch Rose, brother of Tottenham player, Danny Rose, who made it 3-0 to the Millers, after a poor Ben Pringle cross was deflected straight into the path of the young midfielder, who simply slotted the ball home past David Hutton.

Despite being three goals down, Ayr continued to apply the pressure on the Yorkshire side, first Michael Moffat came close, and Craig Malcolm heading only inches over from the resulting corner, then Rotherham 'keeper, Adam Collin, just managed to get a foot on to a Michael Donald shot.

Eventually, Ayr were given an opportunity to get on to the score sheet, when sub Alan Forrest passed the ball to Michael Moffat, who was felled by Johnny Mullins, the referee deciding a penalty to be the outcome. Moffat stood up to take the penalty and calmly sent Adam Collin the wrong way.

With five minutes to go, Adam Hunter brought down Michael O'Connor on the edge of the box, a challenge the Irishman didn't take kindly to and retaliated, this resulted in a booking for O'Connor was substituted by Walker, who became the twenty-third player to feature for Rotherham that day. Ben Pringle curled the resulting free-kick past the wall from twenty-two yards out.

Ayr United: David Hutton, Adam Hunter, Gordon Pope, Alan Lithgow, Scott McLaughlin (captain), Robbie Crawford, Micael McGowan (Alan Forrest), Anthony Marenghi, Craig Malcolm, Michael Moffat, Michael Donald.

ATTENDANCE: 664 (250 Rotherham fans)

End of a poor season- The start of the Rebuild

As the curtain finally falls on the season, Ayr fans can finally draw a sigh of relief and look ahead.

On the pitch, it has been one of the worst seasons in the Honest Men's history: Attendance figures have dropped the lowest in a 103 year history, out of the Scottish Cup by the Start of December, failure to secure a play-off spot by some distance, and the list goes on. However, can some positives be drawn from this season?

The Railway End had a new roof fitted.

Yes. This season like no other has given younger players a break in the first team, Robbie Crawford, who is only 18 has been a stand out player for United and highlights the great work being done within the club's Academy system, and it hasn't gone unnoticed, Crawford, who was named the clubs Young Player of the Year went on trial with Mark Shankland and David Sinclair at Birmingham City, with Brum showing further interest in Crawford and Shankland, with gaffer, Mark Roberts quoting that Birmingham may have been willing to pay £250,000 for the pair, this has since faded away, meaning Crawford and Shankland may still be an Ayr players next year.

This season also saw needed stadium re-developments. The Main Stand roof, that was in bad need of repair has been totally replaced as with the Railway End roof and new kitchens fitted in the Main Stand. In January, the club appointed a new director, Jim Kirkwood who also proposed further redevelopments to Somerset Park, that are yet to materialise.

And Finally, the biggest positive from this season. A man who's contribution to the club has not gone unnoticed, raising over £20,000 towards the playing budget. Somerset Boab. Not many people would be as willing to put in as much hard work to raise funds for the club as Boab.

Looking ahead to next year, surely it can only get better?

Will Eddie Malone return?

Boss, Roberts. Who is contracted for the next year, has revealed his number one priority for the coming season is retaining goalkeeper, Graeme Smith, with number two Ally Brown being released.

However following exit of left-back Austin McCann, who had a good second half of the season after being put into his natural position of left back from the centre of defence, Eddie Malone, who spent two years at Ayr between 2010 and 2012 has been released by Raith Rovers, and could he possibly make a return to Somerset Park? But Malone, if he signs, will have the competition of young Jackson Longridge, who has inhabited the left back role, successfully at the end of both this year and last year.

Chris Smith

Another weakness this year is right-back. Kyle McAusland, who was on-loan from now newly-promoted, Rangers could feature against Ayr for Rangers next season and with Ayr Legend, John Robertson finally hanging up his boots, how can fill the gap at right back?

John Robertson retires

And after shipping sixty-five league goals this year, surely Roberts' number one priority has to be the defence. And with Falkirk appointing Grant Holt as manager recently, does Chris Smith now have a future at The Falkirk Stadium? Smith, better known as 'Junior' hadn't featured for Falkirk since late October before a loan move back to Ayr in February after falling out with manager Steven Pressley, now in charge of Coventry City, will he make the permanent switch to Ayr in the Summer?

Michael McGowan

After an other season plagued by injury, will Martyn Campbell feature for Ayr next season? He is definitely good enough to play for Ayr, and is no longer getting paid by the club while out injured, so will probably be in the squad next season and can hopefully provide some more defensive stability, that was required this season.

And the future of winger Michael McGowan? His performances in the First Division and Cups last year were exceptional and has unfortunately not been able to play since the start of this season with ongoing knee problems, but once he has made a full recovery, McGowan has the potential to be a handful to any defence in the Second Division, especially with the assistance of Michael Donald, now on the left wing.

Crawford went on trial at Birmingham City.

After an excellent start to the campaign for midfielder, David Sinclair, the later stages where far less flattering. Sinclair, who bagged ten goals this season, may find that his earlier form has saved his Ayr United career. However, the same doesn't have to be said for his midfield partner, Robbie Crawford, whose consistency and quality has been a shining light for Ayr fans this year, took his opportunity when Ryan McStay picked up an injury earlier in the season, has now became one of the best players in the United team

And finally, the Upfront role, Davie Winters and Liam Buchanan are on there way out of Somerset Park, Buchanan is currently linked with a Russian Second Division side, but Player of the Year and Top scorer, Michael Moffat looks like he will be at Ayr next year, Moffat signed from local junior side, Girvan in the January window of 2011, has since started over 100 times scoring 38 times. But how can partner the Moff upfront? Well, Keigan Parker, who scored one of the greatest goals ever scored into the Somerset Road End against Dundee at the end of last season is now at junior side, Shettleston and can surely be tempted into a move back into senior football.

Exiting:
Ally Brown (Released), Austin McCann (Released), Marc Twaddle (Released), Ryan McStay (Released), David Winters (Released), Liam Buchanan (Released), Kyle McAusland (End of loan - return to Rangers), Chris Smith (End of loan - return to Falkirk).