Ayr United boo boys boosted me

Oct 16 2009 by Mike Wilson

KILLIE cast off Willie Gibson thanked the Ayr boo boys for helping him to a man of the match winning performance.

Gibson was barracked by the noisy United support every time he touched the ball.

But instead of putting him off his game, it inspired him to a sizzling second-half when he scored two and set up one in an astonishing eight minute blitz.

Gibson, the tormentor, grinned: "I had an absolute stinker in the first-half. I knew it wasn't good enough and I had to lift my game.

"I gave the fans ammunition because I was giving the ball away more than anyone on the park. Thankfully, I was able to give them it back with two goals.

“The boss gave us a roasting at half-time because Ayr were well on top. He gave me five minutes to get my finger out.

"The rocket worked because we took the game to them and I was much happier with my own performance."

Pars boss Jim McIntyre admitted his team were living on their nerves after a shaky opening 45 minutes.

He admitted: "Ayr were the better side in the first-half but we had the better chances. We scored against the run of play but then we got on top and Craig Samson had some great saves."

Toothless Ayr had being going well until the horror spell when they shipped three goals in quick succession.

But despite bags of possession and some neat passing play, they never asked questions of home keeper Greig Fleming who had an easy afternoon.

Ryan Stevenson and Dean Keenan sent early long range efforts over the top. But there were warning signs when the nippy red booted David Graham raced clear in front of goal only to see his shot blocked by Samson's legs.

Ayr lifted spirits in 16 minutes when good work by the busy Stevenson set up Kenny Connolly but the midfielder's curling shot slipped just wide of Fleming's left hand post.

Billy Gibson came to Ayr's rescue after half an hour, knocking the ball past for a corner after the speedy Graham darted free and slipped it past the advancing Samson.

As Dunfermline fans became restless, Ayr grew in stature and in 33 minutes, Connolly powered in a shot which Fleming could only parry to safety.

Then clever play by the inventive Mark Roberts looked to have released Bryan Prunty but just as the striker turned and prepared to shoot, Neil McGregor knocked the ball off his toe.

Pars were more pumped up at the start of the second-half and new Northern Ireland call-up Andy Kirk had the ball in the net only to be flagged offside.

Ayr steamed to the other end and a super flowing move ended with Connolly firing in a tempting cross which was deflected behind for a corner.

Just as Ayr fans were sensing their pressure would soon be rewarded, the roof fell in with spectacular fashion as three goals were leaked one after the other.

In 55 minutes, Kirk turned at the edge of the box to fire home a Gibson cut-back.

Sixty seconds later, there was double strife in Fife when Gibson sent a looping deflected effort high over the helpless Samson.

Chris Aitken tried to spark a fightback with a dash to the byeline but there were no takers for his inviting cross.

Graham smashed a shot off the post as Ayr's defence creaked. But he wasn't to be denied in 63 minutes when he slammed home number three after Graham's stinging shot had been brilliantly parried by Samson.

Four minutes later, Ayr made a triple substitution, taking off Kevin Cawley, Connolly and Prunty with Alistair Woodburn, Neil McGowan and David Gormley taking their place.

Gormley's up and at them attitude at least gave the Pars defence something to think about. And in 75 minutes he earned a crumb of comfort when he darted free in the box only to be hauled down by Fleming for a penalty which Aitken lashed high into the net.

But that was merely a consolation and by the time Dougie McDonald sounded the final whistle, some of the travelling fans were already well on the road home.

STAR MEN: ***Craig Samson; **Ryan Stevenson; *Chris Aitken.

DUNFERMLINE - Fleming; Ross, Muirhead (Woods 46), Phinn (Cardle 66), McGregor, Dowie, Gibson, Burke, Bayne, Kirk, Graham (Holmes 66). Unused subs: McDougall, Paterson; Booked: Bayne.

AYR - Samson; Keenan, Gibson, Campbell, Easton; Cawley (Woodburn 67), C. Aitken, Stevenson, Connolly (McGowan 67); Prunty (Gormley 67), Roberts. Unused subs: Borris, Grindlay; Booked: Keenan, Campbell.

Referee - Dougie McDonald; Crowd - 2460.