Red card for Craig Samson costs Ayr United dearly

Feb 19 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

FURIOUS Ayr cried foul after a controversial red card for keeper Craig Samson sent them crashing on Tuesday evening.

It spiked their hopes after a bright start which saw them bravely go with three strikers.

But Samson’s dismissal for hauling down Paul Burns after saving his initial shot forced a major shuffle.

Mark Roberts, who was booked for his heated protests at the penalty, was sacrificed to his obvious disgust as sub keeper Stephen Grindlay came off the bench.

Boss Brian Reid hit out: “I spoke to the ref after the game and he told me he was following the letter of the law that it was a goal scoring opportunity.

“We had two or three men on the line behind the keeper and at the first shot, there definitely looked a suspicion of offside.

“The decision ruined the game for everyone. I thought our system was working well before that. But everything then went up in smoke.

“Tam McManus should have scored early on while Junior Mendes was looking lively.

“Of course, Marko wasn’t happy at coming off but he is one of our older players and we had to go down to ten men.”

Samson is now suspended for Saturday’s tough trip to Dunfermline but Grindlay proved himself more than an able deputy with a string of top saves.

Reid may now try to secure an experienced back-up as cover for East End Park.

Ayr set out an attacking stall from the kick-off and in only four minutes, McManus sent a lob just over after being played in by Roberts.

But there was a warning when the ever dangerous David Weatherston headed a Bob Harris cross off the bar. Ex Ayr man Stewart Kean cracked the rebound against the post.

The red card and penalty, with which Kean wrong footed Grindlay, was a hammer blow from which United never recovered.

Grindlay, who has been benched since August, seized his big chance with three great saves from Weatherston and another fine stop from Harris before the break.

Ayr switched to a back three for the second-half, pulling back Dean Keenan to partner skipper Andy Aitken and Martyn Campbell.

And in 55 minutes, McManus had a header saved from a Willie Easton cross.

But 60 seconds later, Queens doubled their lead when sub Stephen McKenna headed home a Harris corner with Kenny Connolly failing to clear off the line.

The Dumfries side piled on more agony in 70 minutes when Weatherston raced past three challenges before slamming home an angled drive.

Ayr might have pulled one back but Mendes took too long after working himself cleared and his shot was saved by Scott Fox.

On loan Hearts wide man Rocky Visconte was left out on Tuesday because Reid wants to have a look at him before throwing him into action.

STAR MEN: ***Stephen Grindlay; **Steve Bowey; *Andy Aitken.

QUEENS - Fox; McMillan, Harris, Scally, Lilley (McKenna 46), Reid, Burns, Quinn, Holmes (Knight 76), Kean, Weatherson (McParland 73). Unused subs: Andrews, McAusland. Booked: Lilley.

AYR - Samson (Grindlay 18); McGowan, Easton, Aitken, Campbell, Bowey, K. Connolly (Woodburn 76), Keenan, McManus (McKay 67), Roberts, Mendes. Unused subs: Borris, Mitchell. Booked: Bowey.

Referee - Alan Muir; Crowd - 1721.