AYR UNITED 0 KILMARNOCK 0 OCT 2001
UNITED WIN PENALTY SHOOTOUT 5- 4
Neil Duffy showed nerves of steel to send Killie tumbling from the CIS Cup in a Somerset cracker in October 2001.
His clinical strike sealed a 5- 4 win in a penalty shoot- out after a goalless draw.
But former Falkirk, Dundee and Dundee United stalwart Duffy claimed he knew Ayr were destined to win when he looked into the eyes of their opponents.
For while Killie players had to be cajoled into volunteering, Ayr players were clamouring to be heroes.
And quiet man Duffy etched himself into United folklore when he thumped the ball past Gordon Marshall into the top corner to seal a dramatic win.
Duffy recalled: “Penalties are normally for strikers but when it came to the shoot- out almost everyone in our team put their hands up.
“We had about nine volunteers but you could see from the body language of the Killie players that they didn’t fancy it.
“My record from shoot- outs was good, I had scored four out of four, so I fancied my chances.
“And I knew Marshall after playing with him at Falkirk.
“So I had no bother stepping up to score the most important penalty of my career.” Ayr had to do it the hard way after Paul Sheerin was sent off for allegedly stamping on Andy McLaren three minutes before the interval. Killie threw on sub Kris Boyd in the second half but Ayr’s 10 heroes stood firm even through extra time. That sent the tie to penalties where Lee Sharp, Craig McEwan, John Bradford and Eddie Annand scored for Ayr with Brian McLaughlin’s kick saved. Counting for Killie were Freddy Dindeleux, Alan Mahood, McLaren and Boyd while Craig Nelson saved from Craig Dargo. With the scores locked at 4- 4, it was down to sudden death and Duffy upped the tempo by firing Ayr ahead. Chris Innes had to do likewise for Killie to keep them alive but he skied the ball over. Duffy, now boss of Whitletts Vics, recalled: “It was a great night and gave me memories I’ll never forget.” AYR: Nelson; Robertson, Lovering, Duffy, Hughes, Sheerin; Teale, Wilson, Annand, Grady, Sharp. Subs: McLaughlin, Bradford, McEwan, Smyth, Dodds. KILLIE: Marshall; Canero, Mitchell; Mahood, Baker, Dindeleux; Dargo, McLaren, Innes, Calderon, McCutcheon. Subs: Pizzo, Boyd, Hessey, Di Giacomo, Stewart. Crowd: 7418.