Ayr United game off for third week in a row

Dec 10 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

AYR UNITED will be idle for the third weekend in a row after the big freeze knocked out their game against Livingston.

With previous fixtures against East Fife (home) and Stenhousemuir (away) also falling, it means Ayr haven't played since the Scottish Cup win over Sunnybank on November 20.

Tuesday night's re-arranged trip to Stenhousemuir is also off as Stenny are scheduled to head to Threave Rovers in a Scottish Cup replay.

A suggestion, earlier in the week that the Livingston game could be switched to Somerset Park never got off the ground.

Although temperatures soared at the end of the week, it came too late to thaw out pitches. And the entire junior football card in Ayrshire was again wiped out.

The squad beat the weather last Saturday with a session at Ayr beach before going to Pro-Soccer at Whitletts.

Boss Brian Reid is appealing for Monday night training facilities locally after abandoning the artificial pitch at Belmont Academy which he no longer considers safe.

Dean Keenan is out for the season after damaging his cruciate ligament there during a training session.

Reid said: “The pitch is brick hard and some of the rubber pellets have come out. We could be struggling to use it again.

“Pro Soccer have been fantastic for us. Rain, hail or shine it is open and we have been able to carry on training during the bitter winter.”