Ayr United feared Brechin keeper Craig Nelson would spike promotion dream

May 27 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

BRIAN REID admitted he feared Craig Nelson would haunt Ayr's play-off dream for the second time in a week.

Just like he did at Somerset in the first leg which ended 1-1, golden oldie Nelson defied his old team with a string of wonder saves.

Until Mark Roberts and Michael Moffat stepped in to send the Honest Men back to the First Division.

Hot gloves Nelson, who is 40 this weekend, stood firm until finally being beaten twice in the last 12 minutes.

Reid groaned: "I thought it was going to be one of these days. Nelson made some wonder saves just like he did in the first game while we had a couple of missed chances from close in.

"But I knew if we equalised the momentum would carry us through. Our two strikers have been magnificent this season – Roberts is right up there in the scoring charts while Moffat only signed in January but has 11 goals which is a great return. He'll only get better.

"A lot of chairmen will be having a wee white wine tonight because they know what our support and fan base will bring to the First Division.

"Once again, we'll probably be the only part-time team but we want to learn from our last experience so we'll look to strengthen and make a fight of it."

Cult hero Moffat ensured he is etched in Somerset Park folklore and will never again have to buy a drink in the Auld Toon.

He smiled: "It's still hard to take in that six months ago I was playing junior football with Girvan and now I am going to the First Division.

"The fans are singing songs about me which are all over the internet. It's amazing what has happened to me in such a short space of time."

A bumper 1500 black and white army turned Glebe Park into a home fortress. And the overwhelmingmajority were a credit to the club.

It was a day which made you swell with pride to be an Honest Man. This was OUR team telling Scottish football that we are on the way back.

A swirling wind and two nervous teams in a tension filled atmosphere inevitably took its toll on the product.

The first-half was a fraught and frantic affair with Ayr struggling to play their normal passing game.

Roberts fired wide after Nelson was pressured at a pass-back while Stuart Bannigan had a deflected shot fumbled over by Nelson.

Three minutes before the interval, Ayr lost Jim Lauchlan to a hamstring strain after he overstretched and on came Jonathan Tiffoney.

But it was a horror start for the youngster as only two minutes later he blundered to send Brechin into an unlikely lead.

Martyn Campbell failed to clear as the wind played havoc. Tiffoney tried to direct the loose ball back to Alan Martin but succeeded only in knocking it past the keeper and into an empty net. Almost in slow motion.

It was hammer blow for Ayr who didn't deserve to go behind and left them with 45 minutes to save their season.

United had to go for it in the second-half but that left gaps at the back which Brechin were quick to exploit.

There were close calls at both ends but Nelson was again at his best as he threw up an iron curtain to repel the onslaught.

One save, in particular, from Scott McLaughlin was breathtaking as he tipped his thunderbolt over the bar.

Temperatures were soaring despite the icy wind and Rory McAllister should have walked for a swipe at Tiffoney. But referee Crawford Allan, in a surprising show of leniency, flashed only a yellow.

Eventually, the breakthrough came with the clock ticking down. And it was Roberts, with another outstanding display of composure, who rounded Nelson to roll the ball into the net.

The noise levels were cranked up and there was only going to be one winner now.

Nelson again rescued Brechin with a majestic double save from sub Andy Rodgers and McLaughlin.

But even Nelly at his athletic best couldn't stop the Moff. McLaughlin played him in and Moffat showed great feet to ram home a left foot shot for the winner.

A booking as he ripped off his shirt to celebrate before delirious fans, was a small price to pay.

The clock was run down, an agonising four minutes of stoppage time were endured, and the final whistle sounded. UNITED WERE BACK.