THE HONEST MEN TAKE EXTRA TIME TO EASE OUT THE DOONHAMERS
Martyn Campbell and Andy Geggan won the game for the Honest Men after Ayr missed a host of chances in the first period of normal time.
Ayr United made changes to the team who beat Girvan 3-0 on Monday night. Malone returned to the starting line up with Jonathan Tiffoney dropping onto the bench. There were also starting slots for new signing Alex Burke and Andy Geggan.
There were a few familiar faces in the Queen of the South line up with former Ayr players Mark Campbell and Scott McLaughlin in the starting line-up for Gus McPherson’s men.
Ayr started the brighter of the two teams with Michael Moffat providing the majority of attacking promise for Ayr and he should have given them the lead after 9 minutes when a through ball sent Moffat clear but he hit his shot at keeper McKenzie and the ball was sent clear for a corner.
It was a lively start to the game with Ayr having the majority of possession and putting pressure on the Queens defence so much so that they were committing rash challenges to keep Ayr at bay with Smith, Wardlaw and Trouten all on the receiving end of thumping tackles.
Ayr should have gone 1-0 up through the unlikely source of Martyn Campbell after 12 minutes. The ball was swung into the feet of the big defender who rushed his shot and the ball ran harmlessly wide.
The game was a very entertaining affair early in the first half and Queen of the South nearly broke the deadlock through Kevin Smith. Craig Reid played the ball over the top of the Ayr rear guard and the striker tried to delicately lob Cuthbert but fortunately for Ayr the ball trickled harmlessly wide.
Ayr were continuing to look dangerous with Alan Trouten causing problems with his pace and he sent a dangerous ball across the face of goal but no one in an Ayr jersey could send it into the back of the net.
On the 26th minute, Moffat again should have scored after a clever flick on by Wardlaw, he shot at goal but McKenzie again proved to be his nemesis and kept the score line blank.
Ayr’s front two were always threatening and Wardlaw should have scored when he drove into the box and shot at the near post but McKenzie got down well and made the save.
In the second half, Ayr shot towards the Railway end and Queen of the South started the brighter and had several shots on goal but none of them were on target.
Ayr again were looking threatening but had no end product with Trouten providing the ball in the box but Mark Campbell was there to clear the danger.
After Ayr dominated the first half, they were under the cosh in the second period with substitute Danny Carmichael nearly scoring with his first touch. The ball was squared to the right winger who shot at goal but Cuthbert came out and made a great save.
As the game neared its end Ayr should have sealed the game through Michael Moffat. McGowan sprinted down the left flank before crossing to the striker who headed well over.
The final whistle blew with the score poised at 0-0 so the game went into extra time with Ayr shooting towards the railway end in the first half.
Just 4 minutes into the first period of extra time, Martyn Campbell put Ayr into the lead. Michael McGowan swung a low ball into the centre of the box and the big defender knocked the ball into the corner with his shin. That was Campbell’s third goal for Ayr. The last time was in the same competition last year against Cowdenbeath.
Queen of the South then nearly levelled the scoring through former Ayr midfielder Scott McLaughlin who hit a sweetly struck half volley from just inside the box and the ball slammed off the crossbar.
As the game neared a close, Geggan scored in the 25th minute of extra time. McGowan took a short corner to Robertson before getting the ball back and swinging the ball deep into the box. Geggan ran into the area and connected sweetly with the ball to send it into the bottom left hand corner.
As the final whistle blew, Ayr could feel happy about their days work. Although they missed several chances in the first half, the Honest Men played well and their class showed in extra time where they got their deserved two goals.
A disappointing afternoon for the Doonhamers who have several problems to sort before they face the Cleyholers next week.
Said Gus MacPherson afterwards, "Both their goals came from set-pieces and that cost us dearly. We had a slow start and it was Ayr who had most of the early pressure.
"But we had plenty of chances ourself in that second half and young Dan Carmichael had perhaps the best chance of all with practically his first touch of the game.
Teams: Ayr- Cuthbert, Robertson, Malone, Smith, Campbell, Burke(Tiffoney), Trouten, Geggan, Moffat(Robertson), Wardlaw(Roberts) McGowan. Subs-McWilliams, Robertson, Armstrong
Queen of the South- McKenzie, C Reid(A Reid), Higgins, McKenna, Campbell, McGuffie, Johnston(Carmichael), Simmons, Smith(Clark), Brighton, McLaughlin. Subs- Atkinson, Clark, Mcshane.
Attendance-1272