Hibs teenager David Crawford stakes play-off claim with Ayr United

May 6 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

FLYING machine David Crawford staked a claim for the play-offs after taking star billing in his first 90 minutes.

The 18-year-old on loan Hibs kid tore Airdrie to shreds with a devastating second-half show.

Andy Rodgers bagged a brace and deadly Michael Moffat wrapped it up with a third but it was Crawford who had the fans drooling.

Boss Brian Reid said: "I had been keen to give David a full 90 minutes after he joined us at an awkward time in March.

"He can play a big part for us between now and the end of the season. Hibs have high hopes for him and have offered him a new contract. Winning the man of the match award will help his confidence.

"We have hit a bit of form at the right time and we want to take that with us into the play-offs."

With an eye on the end of season showdowns, Reid rested skipper Mark Roberts, Ryan McCann and Jonathan Tiffoney who are only one booking away from bans.

He said: "It's good to have options at this stage of the season and I thought the players who came in all did well.

"The first-half looked too much like an end of season game which didn't mean too much to us but I had a word with the players at half-time and we raised the tempo."

Ayr had a strong wind at their backs in the first-half but that seemed to work against them. And it was Airdrie who almost took the lead when Graeme Owens hit the bar from 25 yards before flashing another drive just wide.

Scott McLaughlin twice went close for Ayr before sending in a dipping free-kick which Mark Ridgers tipped over at full stretch.

The game exploded at the start of the second-half. Two minutes in and Scott Morton dived to head Airdrie in front after Alan Martin had only parried from Jamie Stevenson.

Ayr dashed upfield from the kick-off and Rodgers raced through a back tracking defence to fire home the equaliser after intercepting a stray ball from Rhys Devlin.

Rodgers bagged his second of the afternoon in 60 minutes from the penalty spot after Ross Robertson was tripped by Kieron Stallard.

Ayr had their tails up and when the rampaging Crawford smacked a shot off the post, Moffat was left with an easy task to knock home the clinching third.

Airdrie never gave up with Stevenson always dangerous but only a good save from Ridgers denied the lively Crawford.

Teenager Roddy Paterson, who has scored 35 goals for the under 19s, was given the last five minutes after goal hero Rodgers was withdrawn.

Beaten boss Jimmy Boyle said: "We worked hard to get an early goal at the start of the second-half but then shot ourselves in the foot as we have done all season.

"It could easily have been a lot more than three and I wish Ayr all the best in the play-offs."

STAR MEN: ***David Crawford; **Eddie Malone; *Andy Rodgers.

Ayr - Martin; Lauchlan, Smith, Malone, Campbell, Robertson, Crawford, McLaughlin (Donnelly 90), Rodgers (Paterson 85), Moffat, Easton (Trouten 54). Unused subs: Crawford (gk), Armstrong. Booked: Robertson.

Airdrie - Ridgers; Bain (Muir 82), Lovering, Devlin, Stallard, Owens, Johnston (Mackay-Stevens 46), McCord (Smith 71), Gemmill, Morton, Stevenson. Unused subs: Szpilcynski, Sally. Booked: Stallard, MacKay-Stevens, McCord.

Referee - Thomas Robertson; Crowd -1402.