Ayr winning run revives ground debate

Ayr United 3 - Morton 0. AYR UNITED leapfrogged league leaders Livingston yesterday to unleash the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons in the Scottish First Division title race.

The Somerset Park men, catapulted to the summit of the division for the first time this season, have also succeeded in triggering an interesting debate. Their West Lothian rivals trail by a point and hold a two-game advantage, but recent form has been so chronic that, if they continued their slump and United somehow won the league, the question arises as to where the Ayrshire men would play. Certainly not Somerset Park. Bill Barr still has not been paid for building their new Broomfield stadium, so the question remains: does he own it and can he adopt it?

The visitors were lifted through the week with a confident victory at Brockville, allowing them some hope of staving off relegation. This away trip, however, looked a far more daunting prospect with United presently the form team in the First Division.

Undefeated since mid-December in the league, they made their intentions clear when Gary Teale floated in a delightful cross in the sixth minute which Eddie Annand nodded past the post by a whisker.

Kevin James, the lanky on-loan Hearts defender, was once again deployed up front by Morton manager Ally Maxwell after two goals in midweek and he caused problems in the 19th minute with a powerful knock-down which Robbie Raeside belted off the post.

Ayr's immediate attacking response ended with a sandwich assault from David MacGregor and Stuart McDonald on Annand just inside the penalty area. Annand grabbed the ball and thundered it past a helpless Andy Carlin from the spot.

There was little for either support to get excited about until the final seconds of the half when a second penalty arrived for Gordon Dalziel's side after Dave Murie needlessly pushed Annand inside the box. Annand sent Carlin the wrong way for his second clinical strike.

Most would have expected second-placed Ayr to dispose of the visitors soon after, but Morton came close early on when Darren Davies's cross saw Craig Nelson back-pedalling to touch over. Then Lee Sharp struck a rasping drive inches wide of the post for the hosts before Ross Matheson rounded Nelson and centred for James to smash off the woodwork with an outstretched leg.

The men from Greenock were intent on frustrating United, succeeding most effectively with forward Gary Teale. Shortly after he smashed wide, he tussled with defender Derek Anderson 20 minutes from time and foolishly kicked out at his opponent. Referee George Clyde instantly produced the red card.

Instead of defending their lead, United promptly thrusted down the left flank, a move which saw James Grady reverse a perfect pass for defender Lee Sharp to drive home forcefully for their third goal. With news filtering through of events in Kirkcaldy a chorus of "We're going to win the league" soon erupted from the home end. If they do, a battle of different proportions may ensue.

Copyright 2001
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