SPFL Reserve League Ayr United 1 East Stirlingshire 0 Ayr United’s reserves started with plenty of interest from their Academy spectators, heading into this tie with great anticipation. With Gordon Pope, Scott McLaughlin and Mark Roberts lining up and playing the full 90 minutes it quickly became a competitive fixture with East Stirlingshire intent on making a real show of it.

Just how determined East Stirlingshire were became apparent in the 6th minute when Willie Muir cleared from outside the box straight to the feet of East Stirlingshire’s number 10. With a gaping goal mouth all he needed to do was hit the target; fortunately he didn’t.

Muir’s teammates then had their hearts in their mouths 3 minutes later when he upended East Stirlingshire’s number 9 who was clean through on goal just outside of the box. Muir was yellow carded and the free kick went wide of his right hand post.

Ayr were finding it hard to get a grip on the game early on. Alan Forrest was crowded out trying to find the shot at an acute angle and then Ryan Nisbet was sent through on his own and had his well placed shot easily saved by the keeper.

In the centre of the park Mark Shankland and Robbie Crawford were beginning to get a grip after coach Davie White had sent on some further instructions. Ayr were keen to play football though East Stirlingshire kept the pressure on, harrying the young lads high up the pitch.

In the 34th minute there was another let off for Ayr as Josh McArthur didn’t control well in the box and the ball fell from his feet to an East Stirlingshire shirt. The resultant cross was met by their number 9 who became frustrated as he was unable to control the ball in amongst a sea of red shirts and then was judged to have unfairly challenged for the ball so Ayr got a free kick.

In the 37th minute Muir was first to a corner but dropped the ball. The East Stirlingshire number 7 was on hand to try his luck but Muir got down well to steer the ball past his left hand post. On the 41st minute Nisbet finally beat the East Stirlingshire off side trap but the attentions of their defender meant he was unable to pull the trigger and the defender cleared the danger. The ball came out on the right hand side of the box where Shankland rifled it back in but it was an easy collect for the East Stirlingshire keeper.

In the dying seconds of the first half Forrest and Nisbet combined well down the left hand side with gaffer Mark Roberts but the attention they got from the East Stirlingshire defenders meant the ball went out harmlessly for a corner. At the end of 45 minutes it ended as it had begun – 0-0.

Roberts and White made no changes at half time so the same 11 came out for the second half.

On the 53rd minute Robbie Crawford found himself on the end of a crunching tackle that required treatment which was just before Mick Wardrope fired one high over the bar after some great work from Forrest.

At the back Aaron Wylie and Josh McArthur were putting in a decent shift alongside McLaughlin and Pope. Though goalkeeper Muir had started with a few wobbles by now his confidence seemed to be improved and when East Stirlingshire had opportunities he seemed to always be in the right spot to collect.

An example of how the established and the new seemed to be working well together came in the 58th minute when Nisbet and McLaughlin combined on the left but Nisbet’s cross failed to find an Ayr head.

On the 62nd it was one nil Ayr. Scott McLaughlin took the ball from within his own half and went on a run. East Stirlingshire shirts started to gather round him but he sent the ball to the feet of Roberts who was just at the edge of the box. He too was in the middle of eager East Stirlingshire attention but he did what he always does well, twisted, turned and then laid the ball perfectly into young Forrest’s path. From out on the left Forrest still had so much more to do but he kept his composure picked his spot and a perfect drive went trundling in for the only goal of the night.

East Stirlingshire were keen to get back in the game and in the 65th minute McArthur was very composed as he marshalled the East Stirlingshire substitute off to the side when his team mate was screaming in space over at the other side. On the 68th Ayr were again fortunate when the East Stirlingshire 7 found himself in the 6 yard box with a bouncing ball that he could only prod wide.

On the 81st Muir’s confidence was really showing as the East Stirlingshire sub took the ball on his chest with his back to goal inside the box. He dropped a shoulder, turned and his snapshot, though fierce was straight into Muir’s arms; his positioning was inch perfect.

In the dying minutes of the game Ayr had two attempts at goal both of which were unsuccessful. The first was a Nisbet snap shot following some excellent link up play between Pope and Forrest which was begun by an inch perfect pass from Roberts who seemed to be playing very deep to collect and distribute. The final shot in anger came form the boot of Alan Forrest after a short corner he took himself, then collected back from McCreadie before riffling the ball to the keeper’s left. The keeper this time was equal to the task.

The evening ended with the final whistle in what was a useful exercise for the whole team and proves that having the reserve league can certainly be a bonus when building a squad as well as a team. The Academy boys got a real game and looking at the centre halves that came from East Stirlingshire they would certainly know what it feels like to be in a game with real adult players.

Ayr United: William Muir, Pope, McLaughlin, McArthur, Wardrope (McCreadie, 75), Crawford, Shankland (McCracken, 75), Forrest, Roberts, Nisbet Sub not used: Andrew Muir Bookings: William Muir, 12 Goals: Forrest 62 All this seasons Reserve team home fixtures will be played at Somerset Park with free entry to the main stand, unless otherwise stated. For more information about the work that Ayr United Football Academy do, please visit www.aufa.org.uk.

Donald Stewart