Best ever season for Ayr United skipper Mark Roberts

Apr 15 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

MARK ROBERTS wants to burst through the 30 goalbarrier as he leads Ayr to the promised land.

The skipper topped his previous best of 23 at Partick five years ago when he helped United to their first win of the season over Forfar.

And on Tuesday, he made it goal number 25 with a penalty during the3-0 win over Brechin which allowed Ayr to reclaim second spot.

Roberts said: "I am sure there are enough games to come and hopefully another four in the play-offs to take me up to 30.

"I didn't realise I had broken my record. We could have been 3-0 or 4-0 up in the first-half and then I missed a great chance.

"We haven't been that bad in the last few games but there is a fine line between winning and losing. We've not been finishing chances but at least we have been creating them."

Marko's previous best came under then Thistle boss Dick Campbell who is now in charge at Forfar but presently taking a back seat as he battles cancer.

Roberts recalled: "I had a great time with Dick at Thistle. He was old school, a real character but he got harshly treated when he left. The fans didn't really take to him but I thought he was a great guy."

Ayr had Martyn Campbell, Scott McLaughlin and Jim Lauchlan all ruled out. And they had to reorganise minutes before the start when Ryan McCann took unwell and was replaced by teenager Ross Robertson. Academy kid Robbie Crawford was drafted hurriedly on to the bench.

Ayr hadn't won in five games but they never looked back after Stuart Bannigan fired them ahead in nine minutes after a great run by Andy Rodgers.

Roberts doubled the lead when he shrugged off Jamie Bishop’s challenge to strike into the bottom corner.

After Roberts blew the chance to kill the game, Michael Bolochoweckyj threw Forfar a lifeline when he nodded home from a Martin Fotheringham corner.

But Bannigan sealed victory with eight minutes left after on loan Hibs kid David Crawford ripped open the Forfar defence.

Boss Brian Reid said: "We felt we had been unjustly beaten in a few games so had a score to settle. We felt we owed them one."

Forfar stand-in boss Ian Campbell insisted: "Ayr deserved their win but we can't defend like that. We were sloppy but when we did play I thought we tore them apart.

"All credit to Ayr but we handed it to them on a plate."

STAR MEN: ***Stuart Bannigan; **Andy Rodgers; *Alan Martin.

AYR - Martin; Tiffoney, Smith, Malone, Donnelly (Easton 82), Robertson, Moffat, Trouten, Rodgers, Roberts (D. Crawford 68), Bannigan. Subs: Crawford (gk), R. Crawford, Armstrong; Booked: Trouten.

FORFAR - Gallacher (Duffy 59); Ross (Gibson 54), I. Campbell, Bishop, Bolochoweckyj, McCulloch, Fotheringham, Mowat, R. Campbell (Deasley 54), Templeman, McQuade. Subs: Hilson, Brady; Booked: Mowat, Templeman, I. Campbell.

Referee - Steven McLean; Crowd - 851.