Fiona is quick on the draw for Ayr ladies

Mar 12 2008 Ayrshire Post

AYR ladies 1st X1 continued their positive run with a 1-1 draw away to Stirling Wanderers on Sunday in challenging weather.

Ayr took an early lead with a clean strike from Fiona Gray at a short corner. Stirling pushed back but were held off by great Ayr teamwork.

Claire Tester and Julie Brown worked well together up the right side, complemented by quick distribution from Caroline Davidson, Jenna Weir and Megan Clark in the middle.

Alison Patrick and Christie Mackinnon fed the ball through the right to Michelle Kennedy who was causing Stirling’s defence some trouble.

Stirling capitalised from a short corner late in the first half but overall it was an evenly fought game.

Rosie Davison stepped back into defence due to injury and deservedly won the nomination of player of the match.

Ayr ladies are planning a mini tournament in Arran on the weekend of May 31 and June 1 for retired and current players.

Ashleigh Ayr gents 1st X1 bounced back from last week’s disappointment with a 4-1 win over a strong Inverleith seconds.

Gordon Cuthbert fired Ayr ahead but lost a goal towards the end of the first half. After captain Graeme Laird’s stern team talk at half time, Ayr came out with renewed purpose in the second half and were rewarded with a well worked goal.

Robert Kelly took a quick sideline hit to Don Holmes, who cut the defence open with a fantastic ball to Stuart Cuthbert who converted.

Ayr took control and scored a further goal from Gordon Cuthbert and a strike from Matt Braund.

Ayr gents 2nd X1 collected three much needed points by beating Hillhead thirds 2-1 at home.

Ayr had most pressure in the first half, well controlled in midfield by Aswin Nair and Ali Shankland with Danny McCallum and Frazer Ross supporting.

Cameron Thorne scored for the second week running, picking up a rebound from the Hillhead goal to give Ayr the lead.

Hillhead equalised before half time and started strongly in the second half but Ayr’s defence of Simon Stewart, Tom Adams and Mungo Hay coped well.

Hillhead had a goal disallowed from a penalty corner before James Smith secured Ayr’s winner with a well placed flick into the top left hand corner.

On Sunday, Ayr progressed to the quarter-finals of the plate, beating Carnegie seconds 1-0.

With penalty flicks looking a distinct possibility, Willie Forbes moved across the Carnegie defence towards the right side of the circle. His angled pass to the left hand post was well converted by Niall McCrossin to seal a closely fought contest.

Ayr gents 3rd X1 continued their great run by beating a strong Hillhead 7th 4-0 in Glasgow.

Ayr struck early doors with Simon Downs scoring a super goal from a well taken short corner.

Hillhead pushed hard for an equaliser and it took some great defending from Brian Sutherland and Tom Livingstone to keep Ayr ahead.

The Cambusdoon boys were soon pushing hard and were rewarded with two terrific goals from Craig Milby and Brian Robb to give them a 3-0 interval lead.

In the second half, Robb scored again, running on to a super pass from Paul Steel.

The game continued to flow from end to end but with the heavy rain and hail showers, the teams were happy when the final whistle was blown.

Ayr gents 4th X1 were 5-1 winners against GHK thirds in Glasgow.

GHK started strongly and had Ayr pinned back for the first ten minutes. However, Ayr took the lead after defender Murray McBride picked up the ball in his own circle and dribbled the length of the pitch to score a spectacular goal.

Within two minutes, McBride again picked up a loose ball and after an excellent run, crossed for Ruairidh McCurdy to sweep the ball home at the back post.

McBride made it three with a powerful finish when he picked up a rebound from the keeper during a short corner.

GHK pulled one back after the break before William Boyle closed out the contest with two well taken individual goals.

Ayr were well served by David Boyle and man of the match George Adams.

Ayr under 18s were 5-1 winners away to St Leonards school of St Andrew's in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Plate on Sunday.

After an even first quarter Ayr took the lead with a powerfully struck short corner from Murray McBride.

Then Craig Milby swept in a rebound after a good save from the keeper from a Ruairidh McCurdy shot.

David Boyle got Ayr's third when he picked up on a loose ball in the circle to finish well.

After the break, Boyle scored the fourth when he finished well at the near post before St Leonard's pulled one back.

However, Fraser McCurdy had the final say when a ’Goochy style’ drag flick evaded the home keeper.

This was a good all round team display with excellent individual performances from Tom Adams and Fraser McCurdy in midfield.