Ladbrokes League One

AYR UNITED 3

AIRDRIE 0

By Stewart McConnell

Pictures: David Sargent

SUPER Ayr United are best of British - the first team in the UK to hit the 100 goals mark.

History man Andy Geggan netted a landmark strike for the ages, with Lawrence Shankland adding a double to make it 102 in all, as United ultimately trumped the Diamonds on Saturday.

And the news got even better at full-time as they learned leaders Raith Rovers were held at home, cutting their lead to four points with the Honest Men having a game in hand.

Following a fairly even first half, United went for the jugular after the break.

It began well for United and in five minutes Declan McDaid shot narrowly wide from 25 yards. Then a minute later a Lawrence Shankland effort from eight yards was well saved by Rohan Ferguson.

Shankland then blocked a strong shot from near the centre circle by Chris O'Neill in 10 minutes. A free-kick from 22 yards by Mark Kerr was easily dealt with by the visiting defence in 17 minutes.

At the other end a minute later a cross into the box by visiting skipper Scott Stewart was hooked clear by the home defence.

Then a shot from 20 yards by Kerr glanced well over the bar from 20 yards in 21 minutes.

Airdrie came close on the half hour when a cross into the box by Dale Carrick was hooked away by Geggan.

Visiting goalie Ferguson sprinted out to beat Shankland to the ball on the edge of the box in 33 minutes.

Daryl Duffy shot just over the bar from 12 yards in 37 minutes as Airdrie impressed.

Craig Moore saw his eight-yard effort blocked by Ferguson's legs in 41 minutes.

Airdrie had another opening in 44 minutes when a 16-yard shot by Carrick was easily saved by Jack Ruddy.

A minute after the break Shankland was adjudged to be offside as he ran on to a long through ball but there didn't look to be much In it. Then Moore found himself in the clear eight yards from goal in 49 minutes but shot just over the bar.

However United reached a century of goals a minute later when Declan McDaid sent a precision pass to Geggan who slammed the ball home from eight yards.

Moore then shot just behind the goal from 10 yards in 58 minutes as United attacked the Somerset Road end.

Airdrie went close in 59 minutes when Jordan McGregor shot narrowly wide from 12 yards.

A fierce 18-yard rocket from Alan Forrest was brilliantly tipped round the post by Ferguson in 61 minutes.

Then a 30-yard shot from Moore was easily saved by Ferguson six minutes later.

Shankland sent a free-kick from 25 yards just over the top in 69 minutes. The same player hit the side netting from six yards two minutes later.

The visitors were awarded a free-kick in 78 minutes when Carrick was tripped by Steven Bell, who was booked but the set-piece from Cameron Russell came to nothing.

Home substitute Michael Moffat saw his shot from 16 yards deflected wide in 79 minutes. Then a minute later a Shankland shot was handled inside the box by McGregor and the same player slotted home from the spot. Then with Ferguson out of his goal Shankland rolled the ball past him from 12 yards to in 84 minutes to put the game out of sight.

McDaid shot narrowly over the bar from 25 yards on full-time as United comfortably saw the game out.

STARMAN

Lawrence Shankland 3

Craig Moore 2

Steven Bell 1.

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