Threave Rovers 0, Ayr United 7
The team for the match against the South of Scotland league side was Roy, Crawford, Mullen, Burgess, McGrady, Dunning, Conway, S Ferguson, Ramsay, Brown, A Ferguson
Super performance from Ayr, even though it was a very weak Threave side. After a 5th minute penalty strike Ayr found themselves 3-0 up a half time although in truth there had only been one team in the match. There was no difference in the second half and as Threave became tired and demorlaised United scored a few late goals to bump the score to seven.
The hospitality was wonderful at Castle Douglas with the PA system beltin’ oot 70’s and 80’s classics and a crackin’ wee clubhouse beltin’ out Stella Artois at one greenback! We have a wee bit to learn even from Threave Rovers!
Royal Irish Regiment 0, Ayr United 5
Forces teams can be notoriously difficult to beat due to a large pool of players to choose from, regiment pride and their general level of fitness, so when Ayr hit them for five on the new look teams first outing, this was excellent!
It was fantastic to see the two probable starting strikers this season both
get off the blocks in ten minutes against RIR, and also the general structure
of the side was very solid. United played a great passing game on the deck - wonderful stuff!
The new faces in action for the first time (again in some cases!) were Cargill, McLaughlin, Neil, Henderson and Connolly. Cargill and McLaughlin looked
the part in their debuts.
We were also presented with a trophy, and Keano won MOTM of the Ayr players.
Top notch speech by Campbell Money at the cup presentation, and he paid tribute to the Ayr players, backroom staff and fans. Campbell said that if he was still Ayr’s manager next year then he would be back or have the regiment
over to play for the trophy again.
The Ayr players took time to mingle with, and talk to the fans after the game, in particular Ludo and Darren - great to see this as well.
Some concern had been expressed about Ayr playing a game in such a potentially volatile area as East Belfast during marching season, but we were met by the legendary Ulster hospitality everywhere - at the Shorts Club and
the Bowling Club - and all the proceeds went to a children’s cancer charity.
The trophy was named after a young boy called Michael English who sadly lost his battle against cancer.
Super Ayr support given the circumstances - All in all around 40 Ayr fans - all the usual weel kent faces from the
smaller away games - and every one a credit to the club.
Cumnock 0, Ayr United 2
Ayr continued their winning pre-season ways with a 2-0 win at Cumnock. Paddy Connolly scored both goals.
Ayr United 1, Hamilton Accies 2
Despite the first pre-season defeat, the plus side must be that Ayr did not play the experienced players like Henderson, Ferguson, Connolly and Kean. Cargill and O'Neill were also missing, both carrying slight knocks after the match at Cumnock and potentially doubtful for Saturday.
Despite these missing figures, against an Accies firstXI, Ayr led 1-0 at half time thanks to an outstanding Craig free kick from 35 yards and looked good value over the piece.
The second half degenerated into a reserve match, with Accies grabbing the winner in the final minute
Queens Park 1, Ayr United 1
Queens Park went 1-0 up through Ally Graham and Conway
equalised for Ayr - Chaplain missed a penalty - crowd was just under 300.
Ayr were very poor for an hour and only really started playing when Conway, Brown and Ferguson came on.
dive into the keeper and try and get a penalty rather than step round him and slot the ball home and then QP went ahead early in the second half. Ally Graham (yes the very same ex-Ayr player) headed home a free kick and we
were in trouble.
United Picked things up after the changes and Henderson and Kean missed glorious opportunities to score before Conway equalized, cutting in from the left past 3 defenders and firing a low shot in off the far post.
Ayr continued to dominate with Conaway and Dunning causing problems
down the flank and with 5 mins to go we were awarded a soft penalty. However
Chaplin hit the worst penalty I've ever seen to allow the keeper to save.
We had another good chance to win the game after that before Chaplin reacted badly to a QP challenge and kicked the defender that resulted in a wee rumpus. Had it been a meaningful match they would both have seen
red.
Also on a sad note, a QP player was stretchered off after a hefty challenge between him
and Conway for the ball. It has been confirmed later that Stevie Canning ha broken his leg which was a sad ending to the match