Goal heroes put Ayr on the brink
Murphy and McGuffie strike to tame the Lions Gilmour blow is a sore one as United struggle to kill City
Peter Murphy had managed only one goal in 66 games, while Craig McGuffie had started just one first- team game.
But the unlikely duo became scoring heroes on Tuesday night to leave Ayr on the brink of the last 16 in the Betfred Cup.
Murphy, 35, once played for the Republic of Ireland against Bolivia in America — his only full cap.
And the quietly- spoken defender showed his international class with a 30- yard stunner into the top corner after a rampaging run forward.
Ironically, when Murphy came off only five minutes after the interval, that gave McGuffie the chance to climb off the bench.
And the talented teenager with a wide variety of skills took the chance to grab his first senior goal to wrap up Ayr’s 2- 0 win, their third victory of the campaign.
Ayr were without Craig Moore, Alan Forrest and Brian Gilmour but they were still too good for the full- time Lions, who have taken their place in League One.
That meant on loan Burnley youngster Jason Thomas got a second start athough he was replaced by Irish recruit Andy O’Connell with 15 minutes to go.
Livvy has three ex- Ayr men on show — Liam Buchanan, Jackson Longridge and Alan Lithgow.
And nippy striker Buchanan was lively early on, lobbing over from 20 yards and then being just too high from the edge of the box.
But it was Ayr who took the lead in 19 minutes when Murphy strolled upfield and lashed a left- foot shot high past the despiaring hands of Liam Kelly.
That was one to savour for the 264 travelling fans who got set to cheer a second goal seven minutes later only for Nicky Devlin’s shot to be tipped over.
McGuffie replaced Murphy who had teaked his groin with Jamie Adams dropping back to central defence.
Ayr almost got another that would have rivalled Murphy’s strike but Kelly somehow touched Paddy Boyle’s rocket on to the post and then saved Devlin’s follow- up header.
But the keeper was left helpess with 12 minutes to go when McGuffie took a Mikey Donald through pass in his stride and held off Longridge to fire low into the net.
Boss Ian McCall claimed: “We had a shaky start when we kept passing the ball to their players in dangerous areas which was inexplicable. Murphy’s goal was the catalyst to settle us down.
“We were hamstrung in that the players who are out are all in forward areas, so we had to set up in a certain way.
“It has been reasonably effective and given us food for thought.
“We have done fantastic and I will be gutted if we don’t go through with nine points.” Brian Gilmour could be out for a month after straining his hamstring — minutes after scoring.
Boss Ian McCall says Ayr can’t cope with a repeat of last season’s injury calamity, while man- of- the- match Ross Docherty insists they must do better.
Gilmour chipped home a Docherty through- ball for the sole goal after 11 minutes for the game’s only highlight.
After Jamie Thomas and Mick Wardope clipped the bar, Ayr lived dangerously and City could have forced penalties.
Docherty admitted: “I was impressed with them. They pressed very well — I thought they might have died a bit but they pressed towards the end.
“However, with the chances we had we should have killed the game.
“We got the win which was important but our performance wasn’t good enough.”
McCall added: “We won’t get away with missing key players this season so we need everybody fit and raring to go.
“With so many players missing I was just pleased to win the game.
“Peter Murphy, Nicky Devlin, Robbie Crawford, Daryll Meggatt and Paddy Boyle are up to speed already but we need everybody.”
City boss Gary Jardine claimed: “The players put everything into it and threw everything at Ayr in the last 15 minutes.
“We are disappointed with the start but pleased with the end.
“We grew stronger and there were definite signs of improvement.