Kean shows teen spirits are breath of fresh Ayr

AYR UNITED produced a commanding and very creditable display against a shell-shocked Arbroath side at Somerset Park.

The fact that seven teenagers played such pivotal roles individually will sustain the supporters of the Ayrshire club in these troubled times when there is no stadium development on the horizon.

Manager Campbell Money excelled for three and a half years as youth coach. If he can orchestrate a successful transformation involving the senior squad, he will certainly go far in this game. Post-match, his chairman, Bill Barr, interrupted his interview to say: "The youth policy has worked," to which Money replied: "Only for one game."

Feet on ground, his tenure will be an interesting one as he added: "I'm ecstatic with the result. They've come through the system here and that is great to see. Two of them scoring on their debut is outstanding, but there's a long way to go yet with them."

There were some tasty morsels in the skill department, unquestioned commitment and, for Ayr, a side peppered with youth. Money must still be settling into his new managerial post but he remains unwilling to dally - his predecessor, Gordon Dalziel, was also forced into fielding teenagers but no less than seven played yesterday and each one caught the eye in their own definitive way.

Mark McColl, at 18, thrilled with electric bursts of pace. Willie Lyle was defiant in defence and man of the match. Stewart Kean scored one cracker and caused all sorts of problems for the Arbroath defence, while Scott Chaplain and Marc Smyth controlled their more experienced opponents in the middle of the park.

Ayr led after three minutes but only following a full-on scare when Craig Nelson saved heroically at the feet of Greg Henslee. It spurred the hosts on and Mark Campbell rose highest to nod in Paul Sheerin's first corner of the match.

Young Smyth then drove a grasscutter a foot wide from distance before Craig Feroz broke free, aiming to equalise, could only slash wide.

That was the opening half, severely brightened during the interval with the introduction of Ally McLeod. The former Scotland manager has always been a local hero and the Ayr terracing's noisiest contribution so far saw him give them a wave and pose for a picture with three of Ayr's best known players, James Grady, Eddie Annand and Paul Lovering.

United excelled after the break with the two teenage frontmen netting strikes Grady and Annand might have envied from the stands. The killer second and Kean's first goal arrived on the hour. Chaplain delivered the perfect cross and the striker volleyed into the top corner with a sizzling drive.

As confidence spread throughout the side, Arbroath were relentlessly taunted and the entertainment value soared. Two more teenagers entered the fray. Ayr hit the post twice but McColl netted a glorious third with 20 minutes remaining - not bad for his debut. Andrew Ferguson added a fourth at the death in the same manner.

Four goals, three teenagers on the score sheet - football is on the up in Ayrshire.

Ayr United 4 Arbroath 0 Campbell 3, Kean 59,McColl 70 Ferguson 89 (1-0)

Copyright 2002 SMG Sunday Newspapers Ltd.
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