Montrose advance in penalty shoot-out

AYR UNITED 1 MONTROSE 1 (AET, MONTROSE WIN 6-5 ON PENS)

League Two Montrose sent Ayr crashing out of the Irn-Bru Cup in a penalty shoot-out at Somerset Park last night.

Sub Connor McLaren fired in the decisive kick after Brian Gilmour and Chris Higgins missed for Ayr and Matty Allan for the visitors.

Montrose, unbeaten in the league this season, stunned Ayr after only four minutes when they took the lead with a thundering 20yard free-kick from Iain Campbell.

Ayr suffered another blow after 12 minutes when skipper Ross Docherty went off injured.

Keeper Jordan Millar came to Montrose’s rescue in 20 minutes to deny Michael Moffat his 100th career goal. But the keeper was helpless in 29 minutes when Craig Moore ran on to a Moffat through pass to rifle home the equaliser.

Moore sent a curling shot just wide and then saw a point-blank header brilliantly saved by Millar.

Five minutes after the restart Moore flashed a header over the top and Moffat was only inches wide with a cheeky overhead kick.

Millar did well to turn aside a Moffat shot and Robbie Crawford sent a header against the bar.

With Ayr unable to make their pressure count, the tie stumbled into extra-time.

Sub McLaren wasted a great chance to win it for Montrose when he raced through but shot straight at Hart, sending the tie to a dramatic penalty conclusion.

Attendance: 906 Ayr: Hart, Ferguson (McCowan 115), Rose, Higgins, Boyle, McDaid (Gilmour 70), Geggan, Docherty (McGuffie 11), Crawford, Moffat (Forrest 74), Moore. Subs not used: Reid, Faulds, Avci.

Montrose: Millar, Ballantyne, Allan, Iain Campbell, Steeves, Redman, Callaghan, Johnston (Thomson 99), Webster (Ferguson 108), Hay (Templeman 67), Ross Campbell (McLaren 74). Subs not used: Dillon, Fleming.

Referee: Grant Irvine.