Ayr United academy kids sunk by red mist

Jan 30 2009

AYR United 19s crashed 5-0 away to Raith Rovers in a match that saw FOUR Ayr players see red and coach Malky Boyle receive three red cards.

The controversy began at the Rovers first goal with claims that the home striker was offside when he fired past keeper David Mitchell.

United had started the second-half well but there was fury when Mitchell collected a cross ball but as he landed the ref adjudged it had crossed the line.

Skipper Paul Leighfield was sent off for a second bookable offence and from then on, the game descended into farce. Raith added a third from a suspiciously offside position and then Craig McCready got an early bath for elbowing.

Rovers added a fourth and then Boyle was sent to the dressing room for comments to the match official. A fifth goal followed while Ross Robertson and Aaron Connolly were also sent off.

At this point, Boyle, thinking that the game would be abandoned due to the number of red cards, walked out of the dressing room and called his team off the park, for which he later received a further two red cards.

In the SFL Youth Division Under 17, Ayr ended Alloa’s unbeaten 12 match run with a 2-1 win at Carrick Academy to leapfrog them into second place.

Paul Bunten and George Thompson both went close while Dale Moore had a goal chalked off for offside before Ian Marlow linked with Thompson to cooly slot the ball home.

United had a second goal ruled offside when Bunten headed home a cheeky chip from Moore. Moments later, Moore did finally score, knocking home a cross ball from close range.

Alloa pulled back a superbly struck free-kick but United held on.

Coach John Stewart said: “We knew this would be a tough game as Alloa were on an impressive run. All our players were given specific tasks to do and we won all 11 battles. They didn’t allow Alloa to settle and they didn’t know what hit them. The players deserve all the plaudits they get for this superb display.”

Fixtures for both the under 19s and 17s have to be confirmed as all the scheduled games have been completed. Only outstanding postponed fixtures remain to be played and these have to be arranged with the opposition clubs.