Ladbrokes League One

AYR UNITED 0

DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC 2

by Hugh Maxwell and Calum Campbell

IIN what was a last roll of the dice for Ayr if they wanted to have any chance of catching Dunfermline at the top of the league, United came up short with this two-goal defeat.

After so many good performances this year what was most disappointing was the manner of this defeat where United showed themselves lacking and, for the first time this season, outclassed by the league leaders and title favourites.

Manager Ian McCall admitted that any outside chance of the title had now gone and described the performance as ‘poor’ and a match which ‘Dunfermline deserved to win’.

McCall had raised some eyebrows with his starting line-up, preferring young Rangers loanee Ross McCrorie in place of regular centre half and ex-Pars man Andy Graham.

He explained that he had selected the teenager to add additional pace as he went all out for victory realising that a draw was not enough.

The first opportunity of the game fell to Ayr in 10 minutes. Brian Gilmour whipped in a cross from the left and it was met by the head of Jamie Adams who beat keeper Murdoch to the ball, however his header looped just wide of the post.  Pars responded five minutes later and were handed a great chance when Michael Paton sent in a free-kick from 30 yards but defender Brad McKay could only head the ball wide from 10 yards.  

The best chance of the early action fell to Jamie Adams in 27 minutes.  Gilmour floated in a free-kick from the right and the ball fell to Jamie Adams, but his close range shot was brilliantly saved by Murdoch to keep the score level.  

The Pars almost took the lead just before half-time when winger Joe Cardle collected the ball on the edge of the box and dinked a cross to the back post and it was met by Josh Falkingham however he could only divert his shot into the side netting. 

It had been a first half of few chances and most of the play confined to the midfield with both teams cancelling each other out. However, in the final 10 minutes, Dunfermline seemed to be slowly taking the upper hand and beginning to look the sharper of the two outfits.

Dunfermline started the brighter of the two sides in the second half and created the first chance in 56 minutes.  Paton spread the ball to the left for Ryan Wallace and his fizzing drive was blocked superbly by captain Nicky Devlin from 15 yards out.   The visitors were beginning to look the more dominant of the two teams but this match was still balanced on a knife edge until El Bakhtaoui struck. In 62 minutes, with United on the attack, Dunfermline cleared the ball from their own penalty area and broke quickly with Ryan Wallace driving into the Ayr half as United defenders scrambled to get back. Paton slotted the ball through to El Bakhtaoui who controlled with one touch before slamming the ball into the net behind despairing keeper Greg Fleming.

Ayr appeared rattled and five minutes later that man El Bakhtaoui put the game to bed with a remarkable piece of skill. Wallace, Paton and El Bakhtaoui all interlinked in the build-up and when Paton delivered from the right El Bakhtaoui acrobatically hitched kicked the ball overhead and into the top corner. This was a goal worthy of winning any match.

United did however try to stage a fight back and had a good chance after 77 minutes when Trouten passed the ball across to Devlin in the box and his powerful low drive was collected well by Murdoch.

The final chance fell to Ayr in 86 minutes.  Substitute Robbie Crawford dribbled his way into the Dunfermline box and passed the ball to Craig Moore but his speculative overhead kick went over bar from 10 yards.   

After going behind United didn’t seem to have the guile or energy to mount any substantial fightback and a delighted Dunfermline made their way home with three points in the bag. In the end Dunfermline’s full time status counted and they looked the sharper of the two outfits.

The defeat means Ayr remain in third place and three points behind Peterhead who continue to impress. 

Ayr now travel to Forfar on Saturday hoping to pick up full points and try to maintain pressure on second-placed Peterhead.

AYR UNITED: Fleming; Devlin, Boyle, Murphy, Docherty, Stevenson, McCrorie, Moore, Trouten, Adams, Gilmour, Subs: Preston, Graham, McLauchlan, Donald, Crawford, Forrest, Newman (gk).

Starman

Peter Murphy 3pts

Ross McCrorie 2pts

Nicky Devlin 1 pt.