United kids have no defence for disaster day in Dingwall

Dec 5 2007 Ayrshire Post

AYR United under 19s undid all the good work they have achieved in recent weeks as they crashed 9-1 defeat to Ross County on Sunday.

A second half capitulation cost them dearly at Dingwall and the home side could have scored more.

Minus influential defender Paul Fletcher, who was injured training with the first team squad last week, Lloyd Kinnaird and Graham Armstrong, the United defence were exposed time and time again.

The wide midfielders failed to track back to support their defenders and had it not been for the performance of keeper Stewart Strachan, the scoreline would have been even greater.

United trailed 2-1 at the break. Graham Mushet scored for Ayr after he cut inside from the left to fire into the bottom corner.

Although United attacked, strikers Stewart Dalziel and Steph McMillan were given very little support throughout.

And when Alistair Woodburn did support the front two, that only created gaps in the midfield which the home side capitalised on.

Early in the second period, with United very much in the ascendancy, Ross County were awarded a dubious penalty.

The United heads went down, the players lost their shape and many simply gave up all too easily and failed to carry out their defensive duties. A fact that can be proven by the fact that the County full back scored four goals.

With no game this weekend, the United players will be working hard on the training ground to sort out the problems that reared their head on Sunday.

How the players react to this display will determine whether they have the mental strength required to reach their goals.

Ayr United: Strachan, Gibson, Donaldson, Paterson, McTear, McLaughlin, Thomson, Woodburn, Dalziel, McMillan, Mushet (Atkins). Subs: Fleming, McSorley.