McGuffie shows he’s one to watch as Ayr are Don for

Craig McGuffie spends his mornings coaching kids with the Ayr United Academy.

But the 18- year- old was a night time star as he refused to be overawed by only his second first team start.

McGuffie got a warm embrace from boss Ian McCall after leaving the field to all round applause with 17 minutes to go.

McCall knows he has unearthed a real gem and will nurse him carefully.

He said: “McGuffie was one of the few who really showed his ability on the ball in the first- half. I was delighted at how he handled the occasion.”

It was quite a jump for the former Academy starlet who spent last season farmed out to Glenafton but has shown he has talent in spades.

Ayr trailed after only three minutes to a Daryll Meggatt own goal when he turned home a Wes Burns cross.

Alan Forrest had a lob saved two minutes later before Niall McGinn volleyed home a Shay Logan cross.

Aberdeen’s 984 travelling fans must have thought it was game over but Forrest struck four minutes before the break after Jamie Thomas was blocked and Jamie Adams hit the bar.

Big talking point came late on when Andy Considine seemed to bundle Adams over in the box but ref Alan Muir was uninterested.

McCall said: “Referees are supposed to be clamping down on these challenges - it was a clear penalty.”