Ayr United began their pre-season build up with a tour of Northern Ireland playing 3 games in 3 days. The began with a trip play Dungannon Swifts for their first game on 17th July 2002.
New boy Ian Nicholson, just arrived from St Mirren, scored his first goal for the Honest Men with Paul Sheerin helping himself to an early season hat trick in a 4-2 win.
United moved to play league title favourites Glenavon on 18th July 2002 at Mourneview Park, Lurgen.
Glenavon new signings George O'Boyle, Pete Batey, Norman Kelly and Nigel Quigley all started the match against Campbell Money's Ayr United side, whilst Armagh City winger Steven Hynds - a transfer target for the Lurgan men - was introduced during the second-half.
Although Glenavon battled hard throughout, their, Ayr were superior in sharpness in the final third which ultimately proved decisive. Veteran Ayr United striker Eddie Annand – who, of course, scored Ayr’s winner against Hibernian in last season's CIS Insurance Cup semi-final - opened the visitors account with a pinpoint header in the 24th minute. Raiding left-back Paul Lovering, one of the Somerset park sides best performers, created the chance for Annand with a fine run followed by a perfectly measured cross.
Scott Chaplain, a busy and inventive midfielder, doubled Ayr's lead ten minutes later when he scored from close-range after Glenavon defender Jonny Wright had been dispossessed on the touchline. The home side's best effort of the first-half was a fine right-foot shot by former Dunfermline Athletic and St Johnstone striker George O'Boyle which slipped just inside the far post but was perhaps harshly disallowed for offside.
Four minutes into the second-period Glenavon pulled a goal back. Talented midfielder Gerard McMahon was the marksman with a close-range effort which entered the net off the underside of the crossbar after good build-up play by teenage striker Paul Keenan. Pete Batey almost scored a second goal six minutes later but his on-target header was deflected for a corner.
Despite Glenavon's efforts to equalise, the visitors restored their two goal advantage in the 62nd minute. James Grady scored the goal from the penalty-spot after Scott Chaplain had been upended by Norman Kelly.
With both teams introducing a virtual procession of substitutes, Glenavon completed the scoring in the 83rd minute. Referee Brian Kane pointed to the spot following contact on the edge of the penalty-area between Ayr keeper John Dodds and Glenavon midfielder Mark Gilmore.
Seventeen year old central-defender Conor Larkin took the kick and confidently stroked the ball into the corner of the net.
The teams were:- GLENAVON: Rice, Wright, Mallon, Quigley, Larkin, Collins, McMahon, Kelly, O'Boy;le, Batey, Keenan, SUBS: Graham for McMahon (67 mins), Cushley for Rice (77 mins), Gilmore for Batey (67 mins), A Smith for Mallon (77 mins), McLaughlin for O'Boyle (half-time), Clarke for Quigley (half-time), Cunningham for Keenan (67 mins), Hynds for Collins (half-time) and Houston for Kelly (77 mins).
AYR UTD: Nelson, M Smith, Lovering, McManus, Campbell, Dunlop, Chaplain, Nicholson, Annand, Grady, Sherrin, SUBS: Keane for Annand (80 mins), Cosgrove for M Smith (58 mins), Latta for Campbell (77 mins), Black for Dunlop (74 mins), McVeigh for Grady (80 mins) and Dodds for Nelson (80 mins).
REFEREE: Mr B Kane (Newry). at Mourneview Park
NOTE: Cautions - none.
Buoyed by this good performance, Ayr United moved to Glentoran’s Oval ground. The Glen’ side, who last season had qualified for Europe proved to be the difficult opposition all thought they would be.
Glen’s manager, Roy Coyle's team for this friendly contained nine substitutes and the initial line-up included at No 5 Gary Haveron, an Northern Ireland under 21 international on trial from Yeovil Town. The Glens took an early lead after the visiting keeper spilled a Darren Fitzgerald shot and defensive hesitation allowed Andy Smith to nip in and poke home from close range.
There were flashes of skill in a low-key affair and 20 minutes passed before Glentoran almost increased their lead through Paul Leeman whose volley was only just wide. In between Ayr's Eddie Annand held his head in disbelief, and he had every right to, after missing an open goal. Darren Fitzgerald glanced a header wide and so the interval score give the Glens a single goal lead.
Mark Glendinning missed an excellent opportunity to increase the lead but pulled his low drive wide when well placed inside the penalty area after Ayr had struggled to clear. Ayr's replacement keeper made an excellent save to Deny Darren Armour with a good block and the Glens were to missed a few other chances to put a bit of light between the sides.
Ayr almost caught the Glens with a sucker punch close to the end but Glentoran more than deserved this single goal victory with a number of young players showing promise for the future. Among them Andrew Kilmartin from the Seconds and Damian Curran who is also on trial (Everton).
GLENTORAN: Morris, Nixon, Glendinning, Walker, Haveron, Leeman, McCann (1), McCann (2), Smith, Fitzgerald, Lockhart.
Subs: Armstrong, Smyth, Halliday, Hunter, Curran, Armour, Kilmartin, McKeown, Walsh.
AYR UNITED: Nelson, Nicolson, Covering, McManus, Campbell, Craig, Chaplin, Cosgrove, Annand, Grady, Sheerin.
Subs: Kean, Black, Latta, McVeigh, Dodds, Dunlop.
Referee: John Fielding.
The tour proved successful from the perspective of so many youngsters coming through with good performances. So Ayr head back home for their next fixture – a home game against Cardiff City.