Forrest is driving Ayr towards title
He’s been out of this world, says manager McCall
Mike Wilson Michael Moffat and Craig Moore got the goals to kill off fighting Forfar – but Alan Forrest was the headline grabber.
So said Ian McCall, who believes Forrest has left behind an injury- hit start to the season and is now back to his very best.
But the gaffer is also quick to praise the role of Steven Bell who has brought solidity to the defence after his switch from Stranraer.
Moff cut past two defenders and curved in a shot off the far post to give Ayr a flying start after only 10 minutes.
Forrest was the spark and his strong running continually had The Loons defence on toast before the win was sealed with nine minites to go.
As Lawrence Shankland burst into the box, he was tripped from behind by stopper Andy Munro who was shown a straight red.
Moore, who had replaced Moffat with 20 minutes to go, thundered the penalty straight down the middle.
McCall claimed: “I thought we were terrific and really enjoyed playing on a good surface.
“It was very windy, but the good thing about our team is that we are really comfortable playing into wind as we have a lot of good movement off the ball. Our only worry was that we scored the second goal later than we would have liked.
“Forrest was out of this world at training last week and is levels above everyone else, but he’s got to bring FORFAR: McCallum; Whyte, Munro, Travis ( Hurst 58), Bain; MacKintosh, Dingwall, Millar ( McNaughton 58), Easton ( Peters 78); Aitken, Hilson. Subs: Miller, Allan, Adam, McIver. Booked: Millar.
AYR: Ruddy; Geggan, Bell, Rose, Boyle; McDaid ( McGuffie 75), Crawford, Kerr, Forrest; Moffat ( Moore 70), Shankland. Subs: Hart, Ferguson, Docherty, Reid. Booked: Moffat. Referee: Kevin Graham; Crowd: 629.
that to a game and he did here.
“He was head and shoulders above everybody on the pitch. Our centre- backs were great as well and we didn’t have a failure with another clean sheet.
“Bell has brought calmness and experience to the defence. He’s a strong player who is bringing out the best in Michael Rose. The two of them were absolutely terrific.
“We need to be fair to Ross Docherty who isn’t quite right but he will play in an emergency.
“Chris Higgins in our only real injury so we’ve got good options.
“You’ve got to think what might have been if we hadn’t been decimated by injuries for three and a half months.”
Loons boss Jim Weir admitted: “I thought we were really flat but handled the conditions well when Ayr had the wind in the first- half.
“Credit Ayr for getting a professional job done.”
McCall claimed Ayr’s 1- 1 draw at Arbroath last Wednesday should have been called off due to high winds.
He said; “That was mental out there. The conditions were crazy and I don’t know why we don’t call games off for wind in this country.”
In a game blighted by a gale, Arbroath took the lead right on halftime when Danny Denholm fired into the bottom corner.
Ayr started and finished well but survived some scares in between before sub Craig McGuffie repeated his Hampden heroics by firing an 86th minute equaliser after weaving his way into the box.
Shankland could have won it but was twice denied by good saves from Ricky Gomes.
Lichties No. 2 Ian Campbell claimed: “It looked like Ayr could play all night and not score. Then they got a free- kick out of nothing and nicked one.”