The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Elements in control as Lichties remain fifth with point at Ayr
AYR UNITED 1 ARBROATH 1
Arbroath battled back for a deserved point at Somerset Park last night to remain in the top half of the Championship – but Dick Campbell’s men could have gone on to win after Michael Mckenna’s penalty cancelled out Stephen Kelly’s opener for Ayr.
In atrocious conditions, both teams did their best to serve up an entertaining contest but the odds were always stacked against it being one to remember.
After a day of howling winds and driving rain, referee Colin Steven took a long look at the conditions before giving the go-ahead at 6pm.
But a night in front of the fireside proved too big a lure for many and not surprisingly Somerset Park’s smallest crowd of the season – only 777, which included 30 hardy souls from Arbroath – were tempted to brave the elements.
Campbell said: “Credit to Ayr for getting the game on.
“We were in total control in the second half and had five great chances. So I’m really disappointed we didn’t win as we hit the bar and the post.
“But the elements won and anyone who came tonight deserves a medal.
“That’s us played Dundee on Saturday, Ayr United tonight and have Dundee United on Saturday. If I get three points against those full-time teams above us I’ll be a happy manager.”
Ayr player-boss Mark Kerr named himself in the starting line-up for the first time since replacing Ian Mccall in the hot seat in October.
And he took only 16 minutes to show his craft with a perfectly weighted pass which sent Jordan Houston racing clear but the on-loan Rangers youngster shot straight at Derek Gaston, who made a comfortable save.
Ayr pinned the visitors back and their pressure paid off after 22 minutes. Kelly flighted in a wind assisted corner from the left and the ball dipped in under Gaston’s bar as Aaron Muirhead tried to challenge.
Colin Hamilton fired narrowly past Ross Doohan’s right hand post as Arbroath attempted an immediate fightback.
The initiative was with the home team who had first use of the strong wind and Craig Moore twice went close before the interval.
He fired over from a Daniel Harvie cross and then broke clear only for Gaston to divert his shot past the post for yet another corner.
Arbroath took only three minutes of the second period to equalise. Sam Roscoe brought down Mckenna for a stonewall penalty and the striker picked himself to lash home from the spot.
Mckenna went close to the winner when his deflected shot from a Bobby Linn cross clipped the bar. Then Linn and sub Steven Doris had shots well saved before Thomas O’brien rattled the post.
Kerr admitted: “It’s disappointing we didn’t hold on to our lead for longer in the second half as that’s the first time we’ve been ahead in a wee while.
“I felt we moved the ball about well in the first half but we didn’t really give ourselves a chance with how we started the second half.”
Attendance: 777.
Ayr: Doohan; Muirhead, Bell, Roscoe; Houston, Docherty, Kerr, Kelly (Mccowan 83), Harvie; Moore, Moffat (Mckenzie 60). Subs: Hare-reid, Ecrepont, Geggan, Mcguffie, Forrest.
Arbroath: Gaston; Gold (Donnelly 46), Little, O’brien, Hamilton; Kader, Whatley, Virtanen, Stewart; Mckenna (Murphy 84), Linn (Doris 78). Subs: Jamieson, Swankie, Spence, Thomson.
Referee: Colin Steven.
● Cowdenbeath’s League 2 clash away to Albion Rovers was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.