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Published 22 Feb 2010 13:15 0 Comments

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SFL Youth League: Under 19

Stirling Albion 1 Ayr United 8 (EIGHT)

Ayr United's under 19 team displayed a clinical level of finishing as they deposed of Stirling Albion in immense fashion with an impressive 8-1 score line.

Being away from home, the 19s no doubt excepted the game to be a tough test, but found it anything but when after less than ten minutes they opened the scoring when Connolly picked the ball up on the halfway line and left his marker trailing in his wake as he coolly slotted the ball by the Albion keeper to give Ayr the early lead.

Only minute's later Ayr made in two, when Harris got a hold of an attempted clearance by the Stirling Albion defence and volleyed an unstoppable drive by the helpless Albion keeper, to give Ayr an even greater advantage.

The third goal for Ayr was only to be a few minutes after that, when Paterson snatched the ball from the clutches of the Albion defence. He then spun expertly and fired home in order to give Ayr an unassailable three goal lead.

The goals continued to flow for Ayr, with the fourth coming halfway thought the first half, when Tiffoney capitalised on poor defending from the home side to score. Tiffoney scored his second goal of the game and Ayr's fifth, when he was brought down inside the box. Tiffoney dusted himself down to slotted the spot kick past the keeper to finish an exceptional first half performance.

Ayr's second half performance was more of the same as they continued as they went in search for more goals, and they were duly rewarded when a good move involving Robertson, Tiffoney and

Paterson led to Paterson finding the net at the end of the build up.

Another goal wasn't too far away for Ayr, Armstrong managed to find the net when he got on the end of another poor clearance from the Albion defence to volley home and give Ayr their seventh goal of the game.

The Ayr scoring was completed with less than ten minutes left in the game when Robertson scored from the spot after being brought down, to cap what had been an excellence performance from the big midfielder, in which he had been extremely unlucky not to see one or more of his numerous attempts hit the back of the net.

Ayr's great day was somewhat spoiled by the fact that they conceded in the last minute, but that couldn't dampen the joy of the side after firing home eight goals in 90 minutes.

After watching his sides exceptional performance Manager Stephen McMillan said "This was the most clinical of performances in the attacking sense, and should give the lads confidence in the coming weeks, but we need to learn to be more composed in possession and not allow any room for complacency. The effort and work rate has set a benchmark for what we

expect every week."

SFL Youth League: Under 19

Ayr United 2 Elgin City 1

Ayr United's under 19 side could not quite produce the same performance as they did in their previous game against Stirling Albion, only two days before.

With the short period of time between the two fixtures, Ayr were forced into making five changes from the side that destroyed Stirling Albion and as a result the performance from the team was not of the same standard.

In a scrappy first half both strikers Paterson and Thompson took the wrong options, when both had the opportunity to play in each other. But rather than doing that, each time they had the ball they decided to take a strike at goal with ultimately failed.

Ayr came out in the second half a lot sharper than they did in the first and were rewarded for the endeavours when a corner from Arthur was expertly headed home by Thompson to give the home side a well deserved one goal lead.

That lead was extended further minutes later when Paterson played the ball to Thompson superbly, which allowed the striker to fire home for nearly 20 yards out to further extend the home sides advantage.

But rather than holding on to the lead comfortably, they were given a major scare when Elgin pulled one goal back with less than ten minutes left on the referees watch. But Ayr managed to hang on and take the victory.

After his sides victory Coach Stevie McMillan said "Although we didn't get the goals and excitement of Friday night, we saw a hard working gritty performance from the lads, and they can be pleased with the result The attitude at the start wasn't good enough and not what we expect or demand, but I am sure this is now clear to the lads, and they will hopefully have learned from this."

SFL Youth League: Under 17

Ayr United 9 (NINE) Elgin City 0

Ayr United's under 17 team made it a long trip back up north for the visitors as they destroyed Elgin by nine goals. The home side were helped with Lee Lockhart netting a hat-trick and Mark Shankland showing great composure in making the step up from the under 15 side to contribute to his sides victory.

It did not look like being a demolition for Ayr at the start of the game, as their opponents pull them under serious pressure with a couple of corners being swung in on the home sides goal, one of which, had to be cleared off the line by Liam Steel

That was all to change only minutes later, when Lockhart latched on to a Marc Dyer pass to finish well and give Ayr the early lead.

Ayr extended their lead when Dale McClelland caught out the visitors keeper from nearly 30 yards, after his defence hadn't cleared the ball properly.

The third goal was not long in coming, when Scott Johnston ran on to Dyer's expertly played reverse pass to give Ayr their third goal, putting the Academy side into cruise control as they looked to finish the game off as a contest.

Ayr's fourth goal came when Dyer, making a step up from the under 15 squad, turned from provider to finisher as he curled a finish from inside the box after beating his defender to get his name on the score sheet.

Steel was to be the next to get a goal, as he got on the end of Johnston's header back to coolly slot the ball home to give the home side an unassailable lead going into halftime break.

The second half was to be Lockhart's, as the midfielder completed his hat-trick with two outstanding goals in the second half. The first of which came on the hour mark when he hammered the ball home from nearly 35 years, leaving the Elgin keeper with no chance. His hat-trick was completed when he curled a superb shot from the edge of the area with a posse of defenders around him.

Ayr continued to attack, looking for even more goals and they were rewarded when the eighth goal of the game arrived, when Shankland, also making the step up from the under 15 side, scored after an excellent move which involved Allan Murdoch and Mark Armour, the latter putting in the cross which was finished superbly by Shankland.

Elgin had a chance to break the shut out when they were awarded a penalty kick after the referee had judged the ball to have been handled by Lockhart. But the Elgin striker put the ball wide to keep the United goal intact.

The final goal of the game was to come with only minutes left as Lee Ashcroft made a lung bursting run forward and then played the ball to Allan Paterson who clipped the ball over the Elgin keeper to complete the rout for the home side.

Development Squads

Ayr United's Under 16's put in a great performance against Alloa, aided by very good performances from 5 of the Academy's under 15 squad who made the step up to play at a higher age group.

These players, McCubbin, Graham, Kelly, Robertson and Welsh all showed no fear whatsoever when stepping up to a higher level. After the game Tom Robertson said of the team's performance "This was a worthwhile exercise, and I thought the lads did extremely well. I was particularly pleased with the performance of the lads who stepped up from the 15s, showing great potential. They all performed well and can be well happy with their contribution."

United found the net on three occasions in the game with Milligan netting a double with McKelvie completing the scoring

Earlier in the week, United under 15's were given mixed reviews from Head Coach Davie White following their performance against Arbroath. "In the first period the boys played to the standard that we have come to expect from them but in the following two periods they played well below that level and were very flat" said White.

"The players have to learn to maintain that level of performance throughout the match, although when we did show passion and quality, we were very comfortable" he added. "The boys will have learned a lot from today's performance, both individually and as a team."

Ayr started very brightly and Kelly slotted home early on. United also hit the woodwork on three occasions through Shankland and Griffin as they dominated the match, playing some good possession and attacking football.

The 2nd & 3rd period however did not reflect the 1st. The game became very congested and Ayr dropped the pace of their play and passing and while the visitors managed to create a few chances, they rarely troubled . a solid Ayr Defence.

Towards the end Ayr did raise the pace of the game and Shankland, Rowe, Baird and Robertson all came close to increasing the lead.

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