Accies teach Ayr babes a lesson

Sep 13 2007 Ayrshire Post

AYR United under 19s found the going tough as they lost 4-0 to Hamilton Academical on Monday evening.

Accies have arguably the strongest youth set-up in the Scottish Football League and this was always going to be a difficult match for United’s youngsters, who through illness and injury have been unable to field their strongest side this season.

The latest blow was the news before the game that recent signing Aaron Muirhead had been taken to hospital with a suspected hernia.

Accies took full advantage of the rule allowing them to play two first team players under 21 and they made their experience count at New Douglas Park.

In only five minutes, debutant keeper Ally Caldwell had to pick the ball out of the net when he was left exposed by a defence splitting pass for Paul McLeod to ram home.

Accies added two more before the break when United sent on Graham Mushet who was making his comeback after illness.

Ayr at last looked a threat but in 63 minutes, Accies netted their fourth, with a looping header from a corner. Accies were denied a fifth by the crossbar but United almost counted when James McLachlan’s shot went narrowly past.

Armstrong replaced Dunlop and Stewart Dalziel, also on the comeback trail after illness, replaced the hard working Stevie McMillan.

Caldwell, who had an impressive debut, made two superb saves to turn shots over the bar while Ayr should have snatched a late consolation but Armstrong headed a Mushet corner wide from close range.

While Ayr still search for that illusive first win and with another difficult fixture at Cowdenbeath on Sunday, there are signs that some of the players are striving to reach the far higher standards required to play at the pro-youth level.

Ayr United: Caldwell, McFarlane (Mushet 46), Kinnaird, Fletcher, Paterson, Dunlop (Armstrong 76), Donaldson, Thomson, McMillan (Dalziel 76), Woodburn and McLachlan; Subs (not used): Hayes, Donald (gk).

In the SFA Youth Initiative, United 14s won all three periods to maintain their unbeaten start to the season at Dumbarton.

They stuttered through the first period after taking an early lead but were totally dominant in periods two and three winning comfortably through goals from Marc Dyer (4), Cameron Marlow (4), Connor George (2) and Justin Greig (2).

The under 15s also maintained their unbeaten start in their match with Stranraer at Maybole. Dale McLelland score the pick of the bunch of their six goals with the other goals coming from Jo Maxwell, Roddy Paterson, Alan Paterson, Mark Armour and an OG.

It was a case of mixed fortunes for the under 16s. In a free week, they played a friendly away to a combined under 16 and 17 age group Dumbarton side in which the Ayr youngsters won all three periods, scoring through Dale Moore (2), Jordan Kelly, Martin Brackenridge and Alex Boyle.

Influential midfielder Stewart Milligan had his leg broken after a reckless challenge while Jordan Kelly also suffered a severe injury when he collided with a post.

Fixtures: U19: Cowdenbeath v Ayr; U16: Ayr v Queen’s Park (Loch Park, New Cumnock, 2pm); U15: Queen’s Park v Ayr; U14: Ayr v Stirling Albion (Carrick Academy, Maybole, 2pm).