Goal hero Prunty tips Ayr for lift-off

Aug 22 2008

Ayr United 2 Arbroath 1

BRYAN PRUNTY insisted there is more to come after firing Ayr to the top of the league with his second goal in two games.

And fellow hero Ryan Stevenson feared he had lost his scoring touch before breaking a five game duck with a 50 yard solo effort.

Arbroath looked on the way to extending Ayr's home hoodoo when Kevin McMullan fired them into an interval lead after Stephen Grindlay palmed a cross into his path. But second-half strikes from Stevo and Prunty chalked up the first Somerset league win since January.

Prunty worked a superb 1-2 with sub David Gormley to seal to victory six minutes from time. He said: "I was lucky enough to clinch it with a shot in off the post but fair play to David who has had to bide his time on the bench but done well. It gives the manager food for thought.

"We hadn't been playing too well and have still to click in all areas of the pitch. That's why I am convinced there is better to come."

The turning point came early in the second-half when Scott Agnew and Gormley came off the bench for Ryan Borris and Alex Williams. Stevenson switched to the right and made an instant impression while Agnew offered better balance down the left.

Skipper Chris Aitken released Stevo with a delightful ball on the halfway line and the powerhouse left three defenders for dead as he galloped clear to smash home an unsaveable shot.

Stevo smiled: "It was playing on my mind that I hadn't scored for five games. It was a long time when I was used to scoring in every other game last season.

"I was that tired when I got the ball but I knocked it in front of me and just got my head down. It was the longest for a while that I had gone without scoring but hopefully that's me up and running."

The fightback was complete when the hard working Gormley linked with Prunty who angled his shot across the body of keeper Darren Hill.

Even then, Arbroath refused to die and an overhead kick from skipper Barry Sellars and a header from Steven Rennie forced saves from Grindlay.

Boss Brian Reid grinned: "We went through all the emotions today and I don't know if my heart and hair can take much more of that. We know that teams will set out their stall to frustrate but it's up to us to counteract that.

"We knew if we kept battling away we have the players who can score. The first goal was a great pass from Aitken out wide and Stevo used his pace to drive right in and score with a great finish. For the second, Gormley took the ball round the corner and Prunty, who is on fire at the moment, finished well.

"We're going to use the full squad and hopefully we've got the depth to change it but it worked well for us today."

Referee Tony Law ensured he made his mark by flashing his yellow card seven times, including bookings for Stevenson and Prunty after they celebrated their goals.

STAR MEN: ***Bryan Prunty; **Allan Dempsie; *Ryan Stevenson.

AYR: Grindlay; Dempsie, Walker, Campbell, Easton; Borris (Agnew 57), Aitken, Keenan, Stevenson; Williams (Gormley 60), Prunty. Unused subs: Stewart, McGowan, Weaver. Booked: Williams, Keenan, Stevenson, Prunty, Dempsie.

ARBROATH: Hill; Rennie, Black, Raeside, Bishop, Fraser (Mason 58), McMullan, Lunan, Reilly (Wright 68), Sellars, Gates (Tosh 85). Unused subs: Morison, Campbell. Booked: Rennie, Fraser.

Referee: Tony Law; Crowd: 1304.