Mark Roberts is Ayr United cup hero against Hibs

Jan 21 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

THE old stadium creaked and the Somerset Road end bounced.

This was a night to be an Honest Man – and be proud of it.

Brian Reid's threadbare armydelivered big time and sent hapless Hibs hame to think again.

Now it's onwards and upwards with St Mirren next to be conquered. Another SPL scalp lies in the wait.

Sir Mark Roberts, easily the most accomplished player in black and white, delivered the knockout blow with a sublime piece of skill.

And with Sky TV paying top whack to beam it around the world, it's a goal the Ayr skipper will treasure for ever.

Only 19 minutes were on the clock when Roberts picked up an Andy Rodgers pass at the edge of the box.

He juggled and teased it past a swarm of defenders before casually striking a sweet left foot shot into the bottom corner.

The roar could be heard in Vancouver as Somerset erupted.

Nervy Hibs had never fancied a fight at the seaside especially as the rain and wind battered their faces.

Shaken boss Colin Calderwood, who began his career with Ayr United Boys' Club 30 years ago, must have dreaded the return to his roots.

"You'll be sacked in the morning", taunted the vociferous home support before crowing: "You're rotten. Are you Killie in disguise?"

Hibs went all out to retaliate and looked set to level when John Rankin strode through a parted defence.

But David Crawford, who went on celebrate his fifth successive clean sheet, stood his ground to turn the ball round the post.

There was a comical moment in 26 minutes when Crawford shoulder charged Colin Nish to the ground.

To the amusement of the Ayr fans, who were packed behind the goal, the former Killie man collapsed as if he had been gunned down by a sniper.

Ayr scented more before the break and Scott McLaughlin had a shot fumbled by Graeme Smith. From McLaughlin's corner, Chris Smith headed over.

Hibs should have levelled when Kevin McBride raced clear. Crawford blocked his shot and Derek Riordan lashed the loose ball goalwards only for Eddie Malone to clear on the line.

There was a heart stopping moment in 57 minutes when Jonathan Tiffoney gave the ball away in the box but Crawford pulled off a superb diving save to deny Riordan.

Ayr were rocking and 60 seconds later, it was Willie Easton the hero as he cleared a Paul Hanlon header off the line.

What an epic contest this was. Tiffoney dashed to the byeline and whipped in a low cross which was missed by both Rodgers and Willie Easton.

Liam Miller then had a shot deflected wide before the heroic Crawford somehow turned aside a netbound Nish header.

But this was weary Ayr's night. Out on their feet long before the end, they refused to succumb.

Hurried shots flashed in but Crawford and his cohorts refused to be beaten. That wasn't in the script.

STAR MEN: ***Mark Roberts; **David Crawford; *Martyn Campbell.

AYR - Crawford; Tiffoney, Smith, Malone, Campbell, McCann, Bannigan, McLaughlin, Rodgers, Roberts (Robertson 90), Easton. Unused subs: McWilliams, Woodburn, Kelly, Moore.

HIBS - Smith; Hart (Wotherspoon 67), Murray, Dickoh, Hanlon (Booth 80), Rankin, Miller, McBride, Nish, Riordan, Duffy (Zemmama 64). Unused subs: Stack, Galbraith.

Referee - Bobby Madden; Crowd - 3826.