WAS GOAL BEST EVER?

Sep 5 2007 Ayrshire Post

HAVE Ayr United fans just witnessed the best goal ever scored at Somerset Park?

That’s the growing debate among supporters after Ryan Stevenson’s wonder strike that buried Alloa on Saturday.

The midfielder dashed past five challenges in a run from his own half before scoring with a cool finish.

Boss Neil Watt said: “It was a special goal and there are not a lot of players who could have shown the same physical strength and fended off challenges at the same time.

“Ryan has got physically stronger since I came here but that is by design and not accident. He has responded to his training very well and is better player for it.”

Long in the tooth fans remember Brian McLaughlin running from his own half when he scored four in a 5-0 rout of Montrose in 1978.

Henry Templeton did likewise in a 4-1 New Year demolition of Kilmarnock while John Robertson bagged a super solo effort against St Mirren.

Paddy Connolly grabbed a cracker against Raith while Gareth Wardlaw hit a debut stunner against Stirling.

But it’s Stevenson’s strike that is already being labelled a goal of the season contender.

The man himself, who scored again at Forfar on Tuesday night, said: “It’s probably the best goal I have ever scored. I was just concentrating on getting the ball in front of me and then I found myself in the box.

“A couple of the boys were saying I should have passed it but that was never in my mind. However, they let me away with it once I scored.

”I got a couple of lucky bounces and bounced off a couple of players before I reached the box. Our games are always videoed so I’ll definitely be getting a copy.”

Stevenson reckons Ayr’s second league win on the spin is proof their challenge is up and running.

He said: “A lot of fans were panicking after the first couple of games but we know we’ve a good squad here. We all want the same goal at the end of the season and if we don’t get to the play-offs I would be extremely disappointed.”

Meanwhile, Ayr players are being given the weekend off with no league games scheduled because of internationals.

Watt said: “The players have been working hard for ten weeks since they reported back for training and I feel sometimes rest can be just as valuable.”