Even a scrappy own goal would get us going, says Roberts

Sep 18 2009 by Mike Wilson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

Ayr United 1 Airdrie United 1

MARK ROBERTS insists Ayr's luck will turn andbelieves their squad is laced with good players who can score.

Roberts broke United's four game goal duck with a priceless equaliser but is adamant they should have won after dominating the second-half.

He claimed: "We just need an OG or something to get a win because we can't buy one at the moment. But we're knocking on the door.

"We actually played not bad and looked more threatening than in the last four games so it's a step forward. But we need to get that win because you don't want to get isolated at the bottom.

"We need to keep working hard, banging on the door and it will come for us. It's not been a great start to the season but we fancy our chances here against anyone. We have good players, guys who will score goals.

"But we'll take a scrappy 1-0 or a last minute OG just to get us moving."

Tough tackling Airdrie took no prisoners in a foul littered match. And they raced ahead in nine minutes when Frankie Lagana floated in a free-kick which Scott Gemmill crashed in off the underside of the bar with a spectacular overhead kick.

The strong running Willie Easton wriggled into the box and had a shot blocked by keeper Stephen Robertson's legs while Bryan Prunty had a shot on the drop well saved.

Ayr were level three minutes after the interval when Roberts turned on to a Ryan Stevenson cut-back and curled the ball just inside the post.

Airdrie then lost trialist Tom Parratt and keeper Robertson to injury within a 60 second spell but then shut up shop to frustrate Ayr's wave of attacks.

The Diamonds almost counted on the break when Kevin Watt seemed set to score until Kevin James raced back to toe the ball off the line.

Ayr had rough luck in 77 minutes when Roberts headed a Stevenson cross on to the bar but Airdrie held firm.

Boss Brian Reid quipped: "It would be nice to see what it's like to score first. I was pulling my hair out after they scored and I won't soon have any left.

"We gave away a soft free-kick and then never defended it properly. In the second-half, I felt we lifted our game and created a lot of chances. We just need to keep battling away, keep the confidence up and the win will come."

Airdrie boss Kenny Black conceded: "I have to agree that Ayr deserved to win. They had the better opportunities, particularly in the second-half. But after taking the lead, I would have liked to have seen it out."

STAR MEN: ***Mark Roberts; **Ryan Stevenson; *Willie Easton.

AYR - Samson; Gibson (Borris 81), James, Campbell, McGowan; Stevenson, Connolly, C. Aitken (Keenan 72), Easton; Prunty, Roberts (Gormley 85). Unused subs: Grindlay, Woodburn. Booked: James, Gibson, Borris.

AIRDRIE - Robertson (Hollis 60); Trialist (Trouten 59), Donnelly, Smyth, Lovering; Smith, McDonald, McLaughlin, Lagana (McCann 33); Gemmill, Watt. Unused subs: Keegan, Baird. Booked: Lovering, Trialist, Smyth.

Referee - George Salmond; Crowd - 1718.