Ayr Utd taste fourth defeat against Peterhead

Apr 16 2008 Ayrshire Post

Peterhead 4 Ayr United 1

HOW Ayr hate the sight of Peterhead after their fourth defeat to them this season killed off the chance of a club record.

Ayr were only two wins from equalling a best-ever seven on the road but another never looked likely as they were blown apart at Balmoor.

Shocked boss Brian Reid admitted: “The goals we lost were schoolboy errors and the players looked as if they had never seen each other before.”

A bare bones squad, with teenager Lloyd Kinnaird making his first appearance on the bench, were always second-best as Ayr left their good form behind.

Martin Bavidge rattled the post before on-loan Aberdeen youngster David Ross fired the Blue Toon ahead in 15 minutes following a huge kick from debut keeper Paul Leask.

It flew over the heads of the Ayr defence and Ross pounced to shoot high into the net for his first goal in Peterhead colours.

Stuart Anderson made it 2-0 in 24 minutes, driving a low shot into the corner after a corner was only partially cleared.

A Martyn Campbell header that was cleared off the line was Ayr's best response but the home men could have added to their lead before the break.

David Lowing came in from the cold to replace the ill Neil McGowan for the second half but within two minutes, Peterhead had stretched their lead when Ross curled a 25-yarder in off the post.

Andy McLaren replaced Chris Robertson soon after but it was 4-0 Peterhead in 63 minutes when star man Ross set up Martin Bavidge for a tap-in.

Ally Woodburn came off the bench for Gareth Wardlaw six minutes later and Ayr grabbed a consolation through Lowing from close range after Alex Williams hooked the ball back across goal following a corner.

STAR MEN: ***Paul McLeod; **Ally Woodburn; *Martyn Campbell.

PETERHEAD: Leask; Donald, Smith, Mann, MacDonald, McVittie, Sharp, Ross, Bavidge (Kozmanski 89), Anderson (Cowie 84), MacKay (Bagshaw 88). Unused subs: Bruce, Good.

AYR: McGeown; Forrest, Campbell, Robertson (McLaren 54), McGowan (Lowing 46); Pettigrew, Stevenson, Weaver, Wardaw (Woodburn 69); McLeod, Williams. Unused subs: Stewart, Kinnaird.

Referee: Steven Finnie; Crowd: 661.