Ayr United beat Raith Rovers to make it three away wins in a row

Nov 18 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

WATCHING Killie duo Kenny Shiels and Jimmy Nicholl had plenty to chew over as Ayr made it three away wins on the trot.

And the manner of the third win of the season over a fading Raith outfit shows United are on the march.

If they didn't know it before then the Rugby Park pair surely know it now. Ayr will hunt their fourth SPL scalp of the campaign in the League Cup semi at Hampden in January.

Not even the most fervent of Fifers could deny that Ayr were deserving of the points.

United sent dismal Rovers crashing to their fourth defeat on the spin and left them 394 minutes without a goal.

Jubilant boss Brian Reid, who saluted the travelling fans at time-up, said: "In my four years at Ayr, we always seem to get a good result here and it's another very good one.

"It could have been more convincing if their keeper hadn't picked a day to be outstanding.

"It's funny how our form has switched around. We've won our last three aways games at St Mirren, Hamilton and Raith which are all very difficult places.

"Usually we have a good record at Somerset Park but we've lost our last two there. If we can rectify that and continue to pick up away wins I am sure we will be fine.

"Raith are a big physical team who put a lot of good deliveries into the box but we defended well as a team. On another day, we could have won more convincingly but I am not going to get greedy."

There was an early scare whenEddie Malone hooked the ball off the line but it was Ayr who were soon pounding forward to the Raith goal.

Ross Robertson was fouled and when Michael McGowan's free-kick was fired in, Malone got a touch before the ball deflected in off Brian Graham for an OG.

Gareth Wardlaw was given the freedom of Kirkcaldy on his return to the Kingdom and he had a fierce shot from a Malone pass superbly saved by David McGurn.

Wardlaw was a constant thorn in the flesh of his old team and he had another well struck effort deflected for a corner.

The busy McGurn kept Raith only one goal adrift at the break while John Robertson and Chris Smith ensured they hardly got a sniff at the other end.

Rovers started the second-half in much better health and Graham had a downward header from an Allan Walker cross well saved by Kevin Cuthbert. Then John Baird went close.

McGowan slammed a 25 yard free-kick just off target before Alan Trouten was foiled by yet another super save from the busy McGurn.

McGowan spoiled good work by Michael Moffat with a wild shot over as Ayr hunted a killer second.

They almost got it when McGurn couldn't hold a 30 yarder fizzer from Andy Geggan but Malone's follow-up was knocked off the line by Willie Dyer.

Raith sensed the game wasn't over but their powder puff attack couldn't finish while Ayr always carried menace on the break.

And they could have nailed a clincher in the dying seconds when sub Mark Roberts raced clear only to crash the ball well over.

Raith boss John McGlynn admitted: "McGurn made some cracking saves in the first-half to keep us in it. We did a lot better after the interval but couldn't get the killer goal."

RAITH: McGurn; Murray, Dyer, Ellis, Hill (Wilson 21), Prychynenko, Thomson (Reynolds 76), Walker, Baird, Graham, Williamson (Callachan 86). Unused subs: Roy, Walls. Booked: Dyer, Prychynenko, Walker, Baird.

Cuthbert; Tiffoney, J. Robertson, Smith, Malone, McGowan, Trouten, Geggan, R. Robertson, Moffat (Connolly 87), Wardlaw (Roberts 87). Unused subs: McWilliams, Burke, McKernon. Booked: Tiffoney, McGowan.

Referee: John Beaton; Crowd: 2038.