Ryan Stevenson strikes as Ayr United win

Dec 11 2009 by Mike Wilson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

REJUVENATED Ryan Stevenson says it's great to be scoring again after bagging the winner for the second game in a row.

And giant team-mate Kevin James insists Ayr can walk tall in a mini league of three if they keep grinding out clean sheets.

Stevo, playing in an unfamiliar striking role due to an injury crisis, looked at home as he calmly steered the ball home in 52 minutes to give United only their second league win.

He said: "It's like getting back to my old ways to be on the score sheet. I'm happy enough with the two goals and the two wins so long may it continue.

"It was a great run and cutback from Ryan McGowan so it was easy enough for me to keep my head down and put it into the bottom corner.

"I would rather be playing centre midfield as that's my preferred position but the boys in there have done really well.

"Like any professional, if your manager asks you to go and play somewhere you give it 100 per cent. It doesn't really bother me playing up front or wide as long as I'm playing."

Meanwhile, 6ft 7in stopper James played his part as United snuffed out a punchless Pars attack.

James, who was 34 last week, admitted: "We are second bottom and there is no getting away from it, we are fighting relegation. So to go four games unbeaten is very pleasing.

"No disrespect to Airdrie or Morton, the table doesn't lie. Morton are in the position everyone would like to be but we're happy that we have closed the gap to three. Morton still have to go and win their game in hand.

"It's between the three of us who goes down the trapdoor and who goes to the play-offs. It will be an exciting wee mini league to the end of the season with a few twists and turns."

Ayr's third game in a row without losing a goal has been the rock behind their improved form.

James said: "It's great for the defence when you get a clean sheet because when you are losing goals right, left and centre, the defence gets the blame.

"It was a real team effort with the strikers and midfielders closing down players but I might take a wee bit of credit with the clean sheet!"

Of goal ace Stevenson, James quipped: "Ryan is a huge player, I just wish he would score in training, he must be saving them for the games.

"He has been frustrated because last season he scored a lot of goals. But moving up a level is a wee bit harder when you are down the bottom of the league.

"I'm delighted for him because he is an important player as he showed again. That's two wins with his strikes, so fingers crossed this weekend he'll do the same."

Pars, who were on an eight game unbeaten run, huffed and puffed but never looked like getting the better of immaculate Craig Samson.

Graham Bayne took too long when he had a clear look at goal while Steven McDougall saw their best effort brilliantly parried by the Ayr keeper.

Boss Brian Reid was delighted to see his team extend their unbeaten run to four games.

He said: "There was a lot of talk about Dunfermline going eight games unbeaten but we are on decent run ourselves.

"It's all about turning decent performances into victories which we did. I felt from start to finish we played superbly as a team with great spirit and fought for everything.

"Our keeper had really only one save to make which was bread and butter so it's great credit to ourselves to restrict Dunfermline to so few chances.

"We had only 16 fit players so we were up against the odds."

Pars boss Jim McIntyre admitted: "We just didn't play at all. We were sloppy in possession of the ball and the tempo was poor.

"We were shot shy and several times players wanted an extra touch which was frustrating.

"However, the players have been excellent over the last two months so hopefully it's a one-off."

STAR MEN: ***Ryan McGowan; **Dean Keenan; *Ryan Stevenson.

AYR - Samson; R. McGowan, A. Aitken, James, N. McGowan (Easton 46); Woodburn (Mendes 86), Keenan, Connolly, Borris; Stevenson, Reynolds. Unused subs: Grindlay, C. Aitken, Cawley. Booked: A. Aitken.

DUNFERMLINE - Smith; Ross, McCann, Bell (Holmes 75), Higgins, Dowie, Gibson, Burke, Bayne (Phinn 70), McDougall (Kirk 59), Graham. Unused subs: Paterson, Muirhead. Booked: McCann, Bell.

Referee - Steve Conroy; Crowd - 1625.