Published: Wednesday, 21st January, 2009 12:30pm

AYR UNITED ACADEMY ROUNDUP

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COACH Malky Boyle claimed his side had 'a bad day at the office' as the Academy Under 19"s surrendered their 100% home record, along with their league ambitions, at the hands of a talented Morton side.

The weather conditions were horrendous but both sides tried to play football. Ayr started the brighter out the both teams continuing their recent good form, but were thwarted on a couple of occasions by the Morton keeper.

Morton took the lead when their number nine was left unchallenged and he found the net with a great strike into the roof of the net from outside the box. United rallied and came close when Leighfields powerful header was saved by the Morton keeper. However United finally found a way past the visiting keeper on the stroke of half time when the speed of thought by Conn Boyle found Michael McKinnon who deftly flighted the ball into the top corner.

With the wind behind them, Ayr started strongly in the second half, with good phases of play down both channels and again came close only to find the Morton keeper impregnable. With the game in the balance Ayr made a substitution with keeper David Mitchell making way for a trialist keeper, but within a minute he was picking the ball out of the net. Poor defending allowed the Morton striker to have a free strike at goal which the trialist keeper could not stop. Before Ayr could gather themselves Morton pushed home their advantage, again the Morton striker having too much time before chipping the hapless trialist keeper.

Ayr fought on to try and gain some pride and were rewarded, when Ross Robertson again pounced on a cross to make complete the scoring. Coach Malky Boyle said:' All round it was a bad day at the office. We were forced to make changes through injury and could not cope with them. Having said that, we created enough chances to win three games, but if you don"t take them, this is what can happen'.

AIRDRIE UNITED 0

AYR UNITED 3

The under 17"s recorded an emphatic victory at Airdrie, running out 3-0 winners. Under 16"s coach Tom Robertson took charge of the side for the match which was played in very poor conditions but he was very impressed by his charges for the day.

United were the dominant side from the kick off without creating many clear cut chances but they took the lead in the 27th minute. Paul Bunten flicked on an Ian Fisher pass to Brian Taylor and Scott Arthur slotted the ball home for a well worked goal. By half time United were two up. Stewart Milligan heading home a Bunten corner.

Ayr continued their dominance in the second half, and added a third with the goal of the game. Ian Marlow started the move by playing the ball to Bunten who drove the ball wide left to the onrushing Archer whose ball across the face of the area was controlled and cooly slotted home by Bunten to complete the scoring.

Coach Robertson stated: 'This was a well deserved victory for the lads who played well in difficult conditions and turned in a good solid performance.'

This weekend"s fixtures

SFL Youth Division – Under 19: Raith Rovers v Ayr United. SFL Youth Division – Under 17:

Ayr United v Alloa Athletic, Carrick Academy, Maybole. Kick Off TBC,