Ayr United goal hero is getting it in the ear

Jan 2 2009 by Mike Wilson

Ayr United 3 Lochee United 1

GOAL hero Neil McGowan is already getting it in the ear from Killie fans after setting up a Scottish Cup cracker.

McGowan’s first goal for Ayr sent them on the way to a 3-1 win over Lochee United and booked a January 10 showdown.

McGowan smiled: “I’ve only scored seven goals in 400 appearances and that’s my first for Ayr so I am not exactly prolific. At most of my previous clubs I never crossed the halfway line but here I go up for corners.

“Now the fun is beginning. All my pals are Killie season ticket holders and they started texting me songs during the game. All the players will be right up for this one and it can’t come soon enough.”

McGowan broke the ice in 36 minutes when he headed home at the back post after a Chris Aitken corner was flicked on by David Gormley. But that was virtually his last contribution.

He revealed: “I’ve had a bug during the week and was sick at half-time. Once we were 3-0 up, I thought it was best to come off. I headed to the physio room and was sipping water as the rest of the game went on.

“There were a lot of nerves around the game because we knew a big tie was waiting in the next round. Lochee had some good players. My brother Chris plays with Irvine Meadow so I watch lots of junior games and knew it would be tough.”

Boss Brian Reid said: “Don’t mention Lochee to me again - I’m just glad it’s over. The most important thing was to get through to the next round where there was a big carrot dangling but we knew we were on a hiding to nothing. We had everything to lose while they had everything to gain.

“They were three well taken goals but I was disappointed with the way we finished.”

McGowan’s goal was followed by two in five minutes as Ayr put the tie seemingly to bed. Gormley headed home a Bryan Prunty cross and then Prunty turned scorer when he fired home a Ryan Borris cut-back.

Lochee never gave up and in 76 minutes sub Paul Blackwood fired home a 20 yarder. But their big day was spoiled when skipper Charlie Cargill was dismissed after picking up his second yellow card.

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

AYR – Grindlay; Keenan, Walker, Henderson, McGowan (Dempsie 59); Borris, Stevenson, Aitken, Easton (Agnew 78); Prunty, Gormley (Williams 83). Unused subs: Stewart, Weaver.

LOCHEE – Ross; Krobot, Kirk; Hay, MacMillan, Dailly (Abbot 89); Thomson (Blackwood 60), Cargill, Middleton, Hagan (Watson 84), Robertson. Unused subs: Brown, Bruce.

Referee – Brian Colvin; Crowd – 2049.