Ayr United lose to Queen of the South

Nov 13 2009 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

GOAL hero Derek Holmes sent Ayr to a fourth defeat on the spin but reckons they're better than the league table suggests.

The bulky Queens hit man rose at the back post to nod the only goal from a Stephen McKenna cross after 20 minutes

A second-half onslaught should have brought an equaliser but once again Ayr's failings in front of goal were emphasised as they failed to trouble the keeper.

Holmes said: "We knew Ayr would be a hard place to come. They are a good side who have been a bit unfortunate. Dundee had dropped points here so we knew we had to stand strong."

The defeat leaves Ayr rooted at the foot but boss Brian Reid insists the tide will turn.

He claimed: "We were far more like ourselves and the tempo was much better than in recent weeks. If we play like that with a wee end product, we will be fine.

"Queens took their goal well but, after that, they shut up shop and defended, got behind the ball and made it difficult.

"I'm disappointed with the result but there are a lot of positives. We were very poor against Airdrie but that was a better all round performance and we deserved something."

With Kevin James and Andy Aitken still sidelined, Ayr suffered more defensive woes after only ten minutes when Martyn Campbell hirpled off with a strained hamstring. Kenny Connolly came off the bench with Dean Keenan moving to central defence where he did well.

The shipped goal was a hammer blow to Ayr but they went close to replying when skipper Chris Aitken curled a free-kick around the defensive wall but inches past.

David Lilley flashed a header wide as Queens went close to extending their lead before Ayr almost struck lucky three minutes before the break.

Connolly's crossfield pass found Ryan Stevenson whose cross was nodded into the side netting by the well placed Ryan Borris.

Ayr went for the kill as they attacked their favoured Somerset Road end in the second-half. But it was all in vain.

Clearcut chances were few and far between while those that did surface were snatched at. Stevenson, who picked up a ridiculous booking for a tackle on Bob Harris, at least worried Hutton while Mark Roberts had a shot on the turn saved easily.

David Gormley and Bryan Prunty joined the fray for Kevin Cawley and Roberts but still the door remained bolted.

The agony went to the wire and in the third minute of stoppage time, Ryan McGowan saw a header saved under the bar.

STAR MEN: ***Billy Gibson; **Ryan Stevenson; *Dean Keenan.

AYR - Samson; R. McGowan, Gibson, Campbell (Connolly 10), N. McGowan; Stevenson, Keenan, C. Aitken, Borris; Cawley (Gormley 62), Roberts (Prunty 79). Unused subs: Grindlay, Woodburn. Booked: Stevenson, C. Aitken, Gormley.

QUEENS - Hutton; Reid (McAusland 67), Lilley, McLauchlan, Harris; Burns, McKenna, Quinn, McLaren (McQuilken 82); Holmes, Kean (Wyness 75). Unused subs: Scally, Wilson. Booked: McKenna, Kean.

Referee - John McKendrick; Crowd - 2453.