Ayr United’s Alan Trouten slams opening day defeat

Aug 13 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

WINGER Alan Trouten put the boot into Ayr's opening day performance and rapped: "That was unacceptable."

Trouten looked on in horror as goals from Gerry McLaughlan and Craig Molly swept Brechin to a comfortable win.

The wide man, one of three summer signings from Airdrie, hit out: "It was a really poor display and Brechin deserved to win.

"We need to play a lot better than that if we are to have ambitions of winning the league. Performances like that are not acceptable.

"Today just wasn't good enough and I include myself in that. If we are to challenge at the other end of the league, we need to do better.

"Hopefully, it was just a bad day at the office because at home we expect to beat most teams."

Dejected boss Brian Reid sighed: "We set out our stall and then lost a goal in Brechin's first attack through some schoolboy defending.

"We huffed and puffed but all our chances fell to the wrong players. The only positives are that the young players like Ross Robertson and Jonathan Tiffoney did well.

"We had six players out but we have just got to pick ourselves up and get on with it."

Ayr lined up with their youngest team for years - three teenagers started while another five were on the bench. And former Queen of the South striker Gary Arbuckle played as a trialist with front pair Mark Roberts and Andy Rodgers both suspended.

Brechin were gifted the lead in seven minutes when the tricky Paul McLean broke down the right and was chopped down by Chris Smith.

Neil Janczyk floated the free-kick into the box and McLaughlan was left all alone to knock the ball past David Crawford from six yards.

Only a fine save from David Scott denied Ayr the equaliser when Arbuckle pounced on a Robertson through ball.

Then on loan St Johnstone striker Stephen Reynolds curled a left foot effort just over.

Brechin could have doubled their lead just before the break when David McKenna burst through the middle and squared the ball to Mark Docherty. But the striker shot straight at Crawford.

Ayr had strong penalty claims denied just after the break when Trouten raced to the byeline and seemed to be felled by Docherty but ref Steve McLean took no action after glancing at his linesman.

Martyn Campbell blasted wildy over from a half cleared corner as Ayr went all out only to be hit by a sucker punch five minutes from time.

Rory McAllister did well to shield the ball at the edge of the box and Molloy raced in to dink the ball over the advancing Crawford.

STAR MEN: ***Jonathan Tiffoney; **Ross Robertson; *Alan Trouten.

AYR - Crawford; Tiffoney, Keenan, Campbell, Smith; Trouten, McKeown, Robertson, McLaughlin; Reynolds (Paterson 73), Trialist (Connolly 57, McLaughlin. Unused subs: McWilliams, Fisher, Milligan; Booked: Keenan, McKeown.

BRECHIN - Scott, McLean, Cook, McLaughlan, Moyes, Molloy, McKenna (King 61), Smith, McAllister, Janczyk (Byers 89), Docherty (Gray 90), Unsed subs: Morrison, White.

Referee - Steven McLean. Crowd - 1212.