Dons boss hails Ayr United defence

Sep 5 2008

DONS boss Jimmy Calderwood hailed defensive giants Scott Walker and Martyn Campbell for making life tough.

The Ayr stalwarts made Aberdeen fight all the way before sneaking a 1-0 win in last Wednesday's Co-op Cup tie.

Relieved Calderwood said: "We got through a difficult tie and deservedly so. Walker and Campbell are big defenders who made life tough for us. I was always worried about extra-time as 1-0 is never enough."

Ayr boss Brian Reid said his players didn't let him down. He said: "We stopped Aberdeen playing a lot of their stuff and we matched their effort."

Chris Maguire ignored offside claims to bundle home a Charlie Mulgrew cross five minutes before half-time. Jamie Smith hit the post while Stephen Grindlay was kept busy. Ryan Stevenson slammed a 30 yarder wide while Bryan Prunty shot straight at keeper Bertrand Bossu in Ayr's two best chances.

STAR MEN: ***Scott Walker; **Martyn Campbell; *Stephen Grindlay.

AYR: Grindlay; Dempsie, Walker, Campbell, Easton; Borris (Agnew 76), Aitken, Keenan, Stevenson; Prunty, Williams (Gormley 76). Unused subs: Stewart, McGowan, Weaver; Booked: Dempsie.

ABERDEEN: Bossu; Mulgrew, Foster, McDonald, Considine, Mair, Smith, Kerr, Maguire (Wright 76), Mackie (De Visscher 81), Young. Unused subs: Langfield, Duff, Paton.

Referee: Brian Winter. Crowd: 2979.