Ayr United 19s share the points with Stenhousemuir

Nov 11 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

AYR United 19s fought out an entertaining 1-1 draw against Stenhousemuir at Prestwick Academy.

Ayr took the lead when Mark Shankland picked out an inch perfect pass for Roddy Paterson to control and cooly slot home.

Stenny had an effort to equalise brilliantly saved by the alert Bobby McLatchie who managed to turn the ball over the bar.

The keeper was the hero again when he saved a penalty after Cammy Marlow had been penalised.

The second half was end to end. Ayr's Ian Aitken beat the keeper after a driving run but shot just wide.

Stenny grabbed a deserved equaliser when a free kick broke to the edge of the box, the shot was not closed down and its power beat McLatchie.

Coach Tom Robertson said: "I was pleased with the lads. I changed a few of the guys positionally, and we set up a different formation, which the lads took to very well.

"There were some good individual performances and they are progressing well. It was a good hard game against a very strong side, and a draw was a fair result.”

Team: McLatchie, Murdoch, Armstrong, Marlow, McKee, Hutchinson, Crawford, Wylie, Aitken, Paterson, Shankland. Subs: Carroll, Ferguson, Hawkshaw, Lockhart.

Ayr 13s turned in their best performance to date against East Fife at Prestwick.

Ryan Speirs opened the scoring after good work by Leon Murphy who then tapped home a shot by Euan McCance.

Will Graham scored for the second game in a row while Spiers set up McCance for his first.

Jamie Martin then provided the cross for Daniel McAllister to net with a great side volley. Then Leon Murphy crossed for Kieran Balfour to score.

McAllister then sent over a great cross which only required Martin to tap home. Martin then followed last week’s excellent chip against Stirling Albion with another lob over the keeper.

Martin completed his hat-trick when Kieran Balfour hit a superb reverse pass into his path which he slotted home.

McCance, Murphy, Balfour, Martin and a trialist all weighed in with goals in the second period.

Two goals from McAllister and one each from Graham and Martin in the third period were impressive. One of the best came from Kieran Balfour who capped a great performance with a super finish.

Jackson Sievwright had the last word when he nodded in at the back post to end a flowing passing move involving the majority of the team.

Ayr 17s were left idle after Montrose pulled out of the clash the day before.

Fixtures: Saturday: 15s v Annan (Belmont Academy, noon); Sunday: 13s v Ross County (Prestwick Academy, 1pm); 14s v Partick (Prestwick Academy 11am); 16s v Clyde (away, 11am); 17s v Queen of the South (away, noon); 19s v Brechin, Scottish Youth Cup (Glebe Park, Brechin, 1pm).