Voice of Reason, 11th March

Mar 11 2011 Ayrshire Post (main ed)

IT was like watching Barcelona.

Rarely has there been a better day to be an Ayr fan than Saturday.

You can take your national cup final.

You can take your numerous victories over them up the road.

But the second half demolition of Airdrie was something truly special.

When our 11 haggered pros turned into something resembling world beaters.

The VoR will admit to seeing little of the fifth goal.

Such was my misty eyed state at that point of proceedings.

A brand of football you’d happily pay £50 to see every week.

Chants of olé with every pass.

It could have been 10-0 and fully justified.

And to think we got humped by the league’s bottom team just four days earlier.

Football – that’s why we love it.

THERE’S a lot about Airdrie United that Scottish football can learn from.

A club which plays in a beautiful stadium (if you want to get in a lather over lego).

Facilities that are the envy of everyone at this level.

And a base from which to build for the future.

Only problem is, the whole place is souless.

Even their own support, which is down to 500, feels detached from their so-called “home”.

The demand to have clubs, especially at our level, throwing up stadiums like this is pure madness.

Airdrie’s only chance of filling it would be a visit from the Old Firm in the SPL.

And even then it would be doubtful.

So has the whole of Scotland to dance to the tune of just two teams?

Stupid question I suppose.

NOT long until the cricket season my friends.

The action is roaring on at pace in the World Cup right now.

And England are doing their level best to be involved in thrillers at every turn.

But the real deal is at the Henry Thow Oval, where Prestwick are already in pre-season training.

Such dedication for village sport. Brilliant.

This Friday sees their annual sportsman’s dinner and the VoR suggests you get along.

A top night from a top club.

BUSINESS end of the campaign over in betting corner.

The VoR has closed to within a point of one-time cricketing God Allan Haggo.

In other news, Iain Ferguson stunned the nation by correctly tipping Ayr to beat Airdrie.

To this week, where Haggo looks to stop the leakage with Cardiff 2, Barnsley 0.

Fergie, brimming with new-found confidence, goes for Derby 0, Swansea 2. Easy big fella!

And I’ll go for Dundee 2, Queen of the South 0.