Ayr United's double hero

Nov 14 2008 by Mike Wilson

Ayr United 3 Stranraer 2

GOAL hero Willie Easton made it two from two games with another unlikely strike but admitted: "That was our worst of the season."

Ayr were twice two goals ahead but the league's second poorest side belied their status with a rousing display that almost earned them reward.

Easton reckoned complacency crept in after David Gormley and Bryan Prunty's early goals put United in the driving seat. He revealed: "At 2-0 up, we took our foot off the gas and maybe thought the game was won but in this league, teams never give up. We were lucky to come away with three points.

"As for my goal, it wasn't the best shot in the world. I took a bad touch, tried to stab it and kicked the ground as well. The lads were all laughing because they couldn't believe I had scored again.

"I don't know what is coming over me but I am enjoying playing further forward and getting more chances in the box."

Easton had five years at Dundee United after leaving school to play under Ian McCall, Craig Brewster, Gordon Chisholm and Craig Levein. After a loan spell at Stirling, he's delighted to make Somerset home from home.

Ayr couldn't have hoped for a better start. Just 90 seconds in and Neil McGowan's mis-hit shot from a Chris Aitken corner was pushed up in the air by keeper Scott Black but Gormley leapt to nod home.

The lead was doubled in 25 minutes when Prunty brought down a long ball from Allan Dempsie and volleyed home his ninth of the season.

Stranraer, who had earlier been denied strong penalty claims, got one back 11 minutes later when Gregory Tade rattled home a spot-kick after Scott Walker was adjudged to have fouled Craig Frizzell.

Ayr regained their two goal advantage in 47 minutes when Gormley squared the ball to Easton who smashed home a left foot scorcher in off the bar.

Stranraer weren't dead and Michael Mullen, who had a first-half free-kick deflected on to the post, rattled the bar. Then Dean Keenan did likewise for Ayr with a 25 yarder.

It was game on with a vengeance in 76 minutes when sub Alex White ghosted in to knock the ball home from close range. Ayr were rocking and it took a superb tip-over from Stephen Grindlay to keep out a White free-kick.

Ayr almost had the last say and right on the whistle, a rocket free-kick from Ryan Stevenson was well turned over by the alert Black.

Boss Brian Reid admitted: "A win is a win but that is the poorest we have played this season. We got the goals at the right time but after going 2-0 up, we maybe thought it was too easy. That's a mentality we have to get out of our game.

"I'm happy with the three points which keep our home form going but our defending was poor for the goals."

Blues boss Derek Ferguson claimed: "We dominated from start to finish and all the football came from us. People don't believe me when I say that's how we have been playing all season."

STAR MEN: ***David Gormley; **Neil McGowan; *Bryan Prunty.

AYR: Grindlay; Dempsie, Walker, Campbell, McGowan; Borris, Aitken (Stevenson 67), Keenan, Easton; Prunty, Gormley (Williams 67). Unused subs: Stewart, Henderson, Agnew. Booked: Dempsie, Stevenson, McGowan.

STRANRAER: Black; McKinstry (White 65), Dobbins, Kane, Noble; Gibson, Mitchell, Nicoll, Frizzell; Mullen (McConalogue 60), Tade. Unused subs: Trialist, McColm, Jones. Booked: McKinstry, Gibson, Nicoll.

Referee: Mike Tumilty; Crowd: 1357.