Published: Thursday, 14th May, 2009 5:00pm

AITKEN AT THE DOUBLE

Print | Email

Barr's Irn-Bru First Division Playoff, 1st Leg: BRECHIN CITY 0 AYR UNITED 2

CAPTAIN marvel Chris Aitken"s double helped rampant United take a healthy lead into Saturday"s second leg.

Brian Reid"s men turned in a barnstorming performance and such was their dominance, they could have been out of sight in this tie had they taken some of their other opportunities.

It truly was sweet revenge following the recent defeat here which ended the Honest Men"s title hopes just a few weeks earlier.

The visitors roared on by a sizeable travelling support who vastly outnumbered the home fans, started strongly and looked much more up for the contest than their opponents. There was a great deal of urgency about their play.

Inside the first minute top-scoring striker and Division Two Player of the Year Bryan Prunty had a strong shot which was bound for the bottom corner well handled by former United goalkeeper Craig Nelson.

They deservedly made the breakthrough in eight minutes as Aitken went past two defenders and sent home a lovely left foot strike from the edge of the box. In 20 minutes Ryan Stevenson had a shot blocked by Nelson. Brechin had their first chance in 25 minutes as Rory McAllister had a shot deflected wide.

However in 36 minutes United were awarded a stonewall penalty when Prunty was tripped inside the box as he was preparing to shoot and the skipper bundled the ball home from the spot.

Aitken had a chance for a hat-trick his effort curled just wide of the far post.

It was a case of much of the same in the second half as United dominated for large parts with Brechin resorting to counter attacks although Ayr shut them down and won the midfield battle.

Willie Easton had a great game in midfield along with Stevenson whose link-up play was effective.

The chances kept coming and late on Stevenson set up Prunty but Nelson got his fingertips to the ball. David Gormley had an opportunity to shoot from close range but took too much time and the chance was lost.

Right on time Kenny Connolly had just Nelson to beat but he shot past a post.

AYR UNITED: Grindlay; Dempsie, Walker, Campbell, McGowan, Stevenson Keenan, Aitken, Easton (Connolly 83); Prunty (Gormley 73); Roberts. Subs not used: Henderson, Agnew, Mitchell.

STARMAN: Chris Aitken

Willie Easton

Ryan Stevenson.