Ayr Utd Youth Academy on trial

Apr 30 2008 Ayrshire Post

AYR United Youth Academy under 16s took the opportunity to field a number of trialists against Queen’s Park on the new astrograss at Lesser Hampden.

A goalkeeping error gave Queen’s an early lead but with Scott Arthur running the show, United squandered chances before they were hit on the counter attack.

United reduced the leeway when Arthur ran onto a Brian Taylor pass to ram the ball home.

Taylor then equalised with a superb strike from 25 yards and but for a great display by the Queen’s keeper, Ayr would have scored more.

However, despite their dominance, a blind pass from a trialist was intercepted and the home striker fired home.

On Sunday, United took on arguably the best team in the league in St Johnstone and turned in a wonderful team display in a thriller.

United had the better of the chances in the first half with Stewart Milligan, Scott Archer and Paul Bunten all going close.

However, they suffered a sucker punch in 35 minutes when they fell behind.

Having been hit for six by Saints earlier in the season, United heads could have dropped but they fought back with a vengeance.

Archer and Bunten both had shots which the Saints keeper did well to block but Dale Moore wasn’t to be denied.

Manager John Stewart said: “We were pleased with both performances against two top sides and are playing some superb football.”

The under 15s were also involved in a thriller at Clyde, taking the lead through Roddy Paterson.

Clyde replied with two goals before Paterson added his second when he latched onto a clever through ball from Adam Cowan.

Clyde regained the lead before Gardiner completed the scoring for Ayr from a free kick, curling the ball over the wall and into the top corner.

The under 14s paid the penalty for poor defending in the first period against Livingston at Maybole and were fortunate to go in all square at the break thanks to a Danny Naismith penalty.

Although United played well in patches, they failed to take any sort of hold and were punished in the final period when Livingston snatched a winner.

Fixtures: U14: Monday: v Arbroath (a); U15: Sunday: v Alloa (h), Carrick Academy, Maybole (2pm); U16: Sunday: v QOS (a).