Hot students teach Ayr ladies a lesson

Feb 20 2008 Ayrshire Post

AYR ladies 1st X1 went down 2-0 at home to Aberdeen University on Sunday, the second game after their return from the winter break.

The combined efforts of Rosie Davis, Caroline Davidson and Jena Weir, player of the match, pushing through the middle to Michelle Kennedy and Shona Shankland gave Aberdeen's defence a hard time but Ayr didn't manage to capitalise.

With a couple of the regulars missing, the team were backed up in midfield by Claire Parker and Joan Purdie, along with Rebecca McPherson and Kirsteen Miller. And they gave the uni team some difficulties.

In defence, captain Claire Tester, Fiona Gray and goalie Marion Hunter worked hard at keeping the attack at bay. But Aberdeen still proved too strong.

The ladies 2nd X1 beat East Kilbride 2-1 in the surprise upset of the season.

Ayr took the lead through junior Shona Howie but EK equalised soon after. However, a rallying half-time talk raised heads and Ayr competed superbly in the second half.

Elaine Reid returned from injury and put her speed to great use. Shona Howie also raised her game and created chances.

Player of the match Rhona MacPhee marked EK's top scorer out of the game while Valerie Parker was solid in goal.

Junior defenders Fiona Preston and Lindsay Knox played well against their more experienced opposition and, with sweeper Helen Shanks, kept the Ayr defence tight.

The clincher came after a run by Claire Parker which set up Shona Shankland who scored at the second attempt.

Ayr are away to Giffnock on Saturday and at home on Sunday against Hillhead in the next round of the Cup.

Ayr gents 1sts resumed their outdoor league programme after a 2½ month lay off for the indoor season with a 4-0 defeat by Wester.

Short of match practice and several regulars, second team players Willie Forbes and Stuart Cuthbert moved up to help out in defence.

The 2nd X1 were without their normal defence but Neil Riddell stepped up from the thirds into goal where he had an excellent game. Fraser Ross, Cammy Woods and Simon from the 4ths all came in.

Trailing 1-0 at half time, Ayr lost a second and Danny McCallum had to retire injured but then Ali Shankland got one back.

Motherwell weathered an Ayr storm and then scored from a penalty corner and struck again for a 4-1 win.

Ayr gents 3rd X1 crushed an experienced Greenock 3rds 6-2 at Cambusdoon.

Ayr pushed hard from the start and were rewarded with Paul Steel hammering home the opening goal.

Greenock hit back to go 2-1 ahead before Steel popped up again to score another super goal and tie the scores at half time.

Ayr started the second half with some great passing hockey and took the lead with Cliff Martin running on to a Simon Down pass and scoring a great goal.

Martin then scored his second almost straight away from a well taken short corner.

Ayr were running the middle of the park with Down, Duncan Route and Brian Sutherland putting in a great shift. Further goals from Aswin Nair and Simon Down wrapped up the victory.

Ayr 4th X1 lost 2-1 at home to a strong Glasgow University side.

Ayr went behind to a well worked penalty corner routine after ten minutes. The defence was in good form with Derek Steel, Alistair Laing and Ralph Riddiough standing firm.

After the break, Ayr levelled when Craig Milby scored at the back post from a short corner.

Ayr then took the game to the visitors with man of the match Tom Sparks in excellent form creating chances from midfield.

As the game wore on, the Ayr youngsters started to tire and the students caught then on the break to score the winner with five minutes left. Although disappointed to lose, Ayr put in one of their best performance of the season against a slick Uni side.

Ayr under 18s lost 5-0 away to Inverleith in the Scottish Cup on Sunday. The Inverleith side makes up the bulk of the East District squad at this age group and were technically and physically superior to the younger Ayr team.

Ayr created early chances but misfortune struck when midfielder Craig Milby picked up a bad ankle injury and had to leave the field.

This gave Inverleith the initiative and they quickly pulled away to go in at the break 3-0 ahead.

Ayr steadied the ship in the second half and made a real game of it until late on when Inverleith snatched another couple of goals.

Ayr were well served on the day by midfielders Adam Hunter, Fraser McCurdy and in defence by Murray McBride and man of the match Mungo Hay.

Ayr now travel away to St Andrews in the first round of the plate.