Ayr United’s Mark Roberts hails strike mate Andy Rodgers

Sep 3 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

MARK ROBERTS spared Ayr's blushes but insists all the plaudits should go to strike partner Andy Rodgers.

The former Falkirk and East Stirling man drew a blank but Roberts is adamant his goals will come.

Roberts came off the bench to slam home an injury time penalty after a Stephen Reynolds cross was handled by Neil McVitie.

The skipper claimed: "Andy is a class act with a great touch and great awareness. I think he is a great player and can't believe he is playing at this level when he should be higher.

"We just didn't play at all early on but shooting that way in the second-half, I always feel we are capable of scoring.

"If you are banging on the door the chances will come."

Roberts spent the first-half discussing Ayr's plight with fellow sub Reynolds. He said: "We were chatting that we weren't getting enough balls into the box. Stephen went on and every time he got the ball he whipped it in.

"We were maybe a wee bit lucky with the penalty but we'll take it. There was no way back for them then. I had a good chance just after but didn't connect right but 2-1 would have been stealing it a bit."

Ayr fell behind in 11 minutes when Dennis Wyness wriggled clear and sent in a shot which was blocked by Martyn Campbell. When the ball came back to him, Wyness cut it back to Paul Emslie who casually picked his spot.

Alan Main, playing his second game as a trialist, then almost gifted a howler. He took too long on the ball and his clearance bounced off Wyness and rolled just wide.

Main redeemed with a superb tip over to keep out a Wyness header as the Blue Toon looked menacing.

Danny McKay looked like equalising until David Donald put in a great blocking tackle to deny the youngster on the point of shooting.

Rodgers was Ayr's main threat of a goal after the break. He turned smartly and hit a shot into the sidenet, had a header well saved and then nodded wide from a Reynolds cross.

With 12 minutes to go, goal hero Emslie picked up a second booking for a foul on Jonathan Tiffoney and took the long walk.

Ayr stepped on the gas and got out of jail in stoppage time with the Roberts penalty saver.

Boss Brian Reid admitted: "We didn't perform anywhere near ourselves. I was pulling my hair out because it seemed chance after chance wasn't going for us.

"We'll work hard on the training ground this week at crossing and shooting. The goals aren't going for us at the moment but we have quality strikers."

STAR MEN: ***Andy Rodgers; **Willie Easton; *Scott Taggart.

AYR - Trialist, Tiffoney, Taggart, Campbell, Smith; Trouten (Reynolds 71), McKeown (Robertson 71), McLaughlin, Easton; Rodgers, McKay (Roberts 66). Unused subs: Crawford, Woodburn. Booked: Taggart.

PETERHEAD - Jarvie (Bateman 70), Donald, Moore, Smith, MacDonald, McVitie, Sharp (Gethins 85, Wyness, Bavidge, Emslie, Anderson. Subs: Clark, Ross, Strachan. Booked: Emslie, McVitie; Sent off: Emslie.

Referee - Stephen Finnie; Crowd - 1099.