Ayr United edge past Deveronvale

Dec 4 2009 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

RYAN STEVENSON'S first goal of the season took Ayr over a Scottish Cup banana skin and sent sighs of relief through their fans.

Tough tackling Highland League fighters Deveronvale were hanging on the ropes for a Somerset Park replay until Stevo broke the ice with 19 minutes to go.

Speed merchant Alistair Woodburn raced down the right and cut the ball back for Stevo to fire below the keeper from 12 yards.

That was enough to settle a tight tie at Banff's Princess Royal Park where the hosts, in true cup fashion, fought for every ball in driving rain.

And it booked Ayr a fourth round tie at home to either Wick Academy or Brechin.

‘Vale had a star performer in hero keeper James Blanchard who pulled off a string of top saves

Billy Gibson had a header stopped on the line early doors. Willie Easton had a strong drive saved while Woodburn's follow-up was also blocked.

Ayr's striking shortage became even more acute at the interval when Mark Roberts stayed indoors to be replaced by Kevin Cawley.

Craig Samson had a good save to deny Deveronvale in a rare counter before Ayr made a second switch in 58 minutes, Ryan Borris replacing Easton.

The pace of Borris troubled the ‘Vale defence and Kenny Connolly had a goal disallowed. Cawley forced a great save while Ryan McGowan also went close.

The pressure paid off at last in 71 minutes when Woodburn broke clear and picked out Stevenson who steadied himself before making no mistake with a well struck effort.

Ayr wanted a killer second to put the tie to bed and they almost got it five minutes later when a Stevenson had a free-kick tipped round the post. From the resultant corner, Neil McGowan headed wide.

With five minutes to go, there was huge scramble in the Ayr box as 'Vale pushed hard to rescue the tie. But it was Ayr who should have wrapped up the tie in the last minute when Woodburn blazed the ball high over from point blank range.

Boss Brian Reid admitted: “We knew we would be in for a torrid time and we had to work hard to win.”

STAR MEN: ***Alistair Woodburn; **Kevin Cawley; *Ryan McGowan.

DEVERONVALE - Blanchard; Milne, Dolan, Chisholm, Fraser, Urquhart (Cowie 90), McGowan, Brown, Duncanson, McKenzie (Gauld 82), Smith. Unused subs: Barclay, Rodger, McKenzie. Booked: Chisholm, McGowan, Brown, Smith.

AYR - Samson; R. McGowan, Gibson, James, N. McGowan; Woodburn, Keenan, Connolly, Easton (Borris 57); Stevenson, Roberts (Cawley 46); Unused subs: Grindlay, C. Aitken, A. Aitken. Booked: Keenan, Stevenson, N. McGowan, Samson.

Referee - N. Walters. Crowd - 1192.