U19s v Ayr United

1-1 at half time but Ayr punish Pars for missed chances

DUNFERMLINE 1 AYR UNITED 3

MATCH PICTURES
Dunfermline U19s met their Ayr United counterparts at East End Park on Sunday lunchtime. Neither side created much in the opening 15 minutes. A Paul Willis corner eventually headed on target by Lee Graham only to be cleared, the sole action worthy of note.

Ayr worked their way into the game with Ross Robertson firing over the crossbar and then forcing two consecutive corners. The Pars had to thank Rees Smith for his header off the line as Con Boyle`s wicked delivery curled in on target.

Dunfermline had corners of their own but Smith had to be alert at the counterattack from a Pars corner as Danny Barrett almost nipped in to convert the lengthy clearance. Ayr pinned the Fifers back and Smith was called upon to head another Boyle inswinger off the line.

There were appeals for a penalty as Kevin Ireland`s chip was claimed to hit a hand and then a long throw from Aaron Muirhead won another corner that Boyle fed to Muirhead to try a rocket of a shot narrowly wide.

On the half hour the visitors deservedly took the lead. Three of their tallest players stood side by side on the six yard line and as Boyle took the corner on the right, they ran away from goal, turned and then challenged for the well flighted ball. ROBERTSON rose at the far post to give Gunn no chance.

Dunfermline responded with McBride heading a Steven Lynch cross on to the roof of the net and then a McBride cross was whipped off the toes of Thomson as he prepared to burst the net. The equaliser duly arrived just five minutes after going behind. A diagonal pass from the right touchline was met by Scott McBRIDE 15 yards out, to head over the keeper.

Dunfermline started stronger in the second half, Ryan Thomson`s shot being turned around his post by David Mitchell for a 49th minute corner. Three minutes later a fine tackle from Smith let him break and supply Cannon with a one on one with the keeper but he failed to convert the opportunity.

Next minute Willis crossed a dangerous ball in from the right corner flag but Mitchell reached for it just ahead of White. In 58 minutes Cannon hit junction of crossbar and right upright from 25 yards and then a Willis cross was headed into the keeper`s hands by Cannon.

Jordan White had a great chance to put the Pars ahead when Willis` crossfield pass in 70 minutes dropped nicely for him but Mitchell was the equal of the shot. Steven Lynch`s free kick from the right was brilliantly met by the inrushing Lee Graham but again the keeper was not to be beaten.

Ayr went up the park and punished the Pars for not taking their chances. Robertson`s stinging shot was well turned behind for a corner by Gunn but when the set piece was delivered from the right MUIRHEAD got two bites at it after Gunn parried his first shot. The tall defender made no mistake with the rebound from just six yards out.

Six minutes from time, Thomson received a yellow card for hauling down his man and from the consequential free kick Jamie Wilson floated the ball to the far post where ROBERTSON rose to head across goal and into the far side of the net.

Mitchell in the Ayr goal did really well to prevent sub Lewis Turner`s surging run giving the Pars a consolation goal for their valiant second half efforts. Late corners came the Pars way but Ayr held on for a two goal win after Thomson`s header in the final minute was cleared off the line at the left post.

Coach Hamish French felt it was cruel to lose the game 3-1 after creating so many chances and dominating the second half.  Ayr only had one corner in the second 45 and Danny Gunn had really one save to make.  He was disappointed to lose all three goals at setpieces.  "We will need to become more clinical in taking our goals and more concentrated defending setpieces."