Eddie Malone is sent off as Ayr United lose to Queen of the South

Dec 9 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

EXASPERATED Brian Reid blamed a moment of madness as Ayr's run of four away wins on the spin was blown apart.

Eddie Malone saw red and ex-Honest Man Scott McLaughlin nailed a penalty to send Queens scampering to victory.

But defiant boss Reid claimed he would have been disappointed to leave with a point and reckoned Ayr were on top until the turning point.

He maintained: "For long spells we were the better team and should have been ahead at half-time. They had one shot and scored from it.

"We dominated most of the play and got a goal right on half-time to give us a lift.

"Then came the one moment of madness – a long punt down the middle and Eddie gets caught. It's a double whammy as we lose an important player and they score from the penalty.

"Before we reorganised, they scored again and at 3-1 with 10 men it was almost game over."

Dreadful conditions meant mistakes were always going to be punished and both teams made more than their fair share.

An ordinary looking Queens team were there to be beaten but Ayr didn't have the guile to turn their possession into goals.

Alan Trouten whipped in an inviting cross which screamed for the final touch. But there were no takers.

Ayr fell behind in 31 minutes when Stephen McKenna fizzed a 35 yard stunner into the top corner.

Gareth Wardlaw had a penalty claimed denied before hauling Ayr level on the stroke of half-time. Michael McGowan's shot was only parried and the Gaz man had a simple task.

A double sub early in the second-half proved a Queens master stroke and Kevin Smith almost immediately cashed in on a Jonathan Tiffoney mistake.

The big moment came in 71 minutes when Malone hauled down Nicky Clark for a last man foul and was sent off. McLaughlin made light of the penalty.

Before Ayr could recover, Clark crossed for the unmarked Danny Carmichael to grab a third.

After Wardlaw departed on a stretcher and Clark hit the upright, Stephen Simmons drove home a flattering fourth.

Queens boss Gus MacPherson claimed: "Hopefully that will be a defining moment for us."

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH: Robinson; C. Reid, Higgins, Simmons, Holt, McLaughlin, Johnston (Clark 64), McKenna, Brighton (Smith 64), Carmichael, A. Reid. Subs: McKenzie, McCusker, Black.

AYR: Cuthbert, Tiffoney, J. Robertson, Smith, Malone, Trouten, McKernon, Geggan, McGowan (Connolly 78), Moffat (McManus 78), Wardlaw (Roberts 85). Subs: McWilliams, R. Robertson. Booked: McManus, Wardlaw. Sent off: Malone

Referee: Steve McLean; Crowd: 1478.