Moffat proves he’s the daddy at Ayr
AYR UNITED manager Ian McCall saluted Michael Moffat’s matchwinning performance against Alloa on the day the striker became a dad for the second time.
The 33-year-old’s wife Megan gave birth to baby Mila at eight o’clock in the morning but the experienced forward battled against sleep deprivation to notch a brace either side of a Lawrence Shankland penalty, which Moffat also earned.
Alloa had pulled level seconds after Moffat opened the scoring in the 29th minute with an Alan Trouten strike but Ayr — who remain three points behind Championship leaders Ross County — were worthy winners.
McCall said: ‘I phoned Michael in the morning and he said he was fine. We were going to take him off with 25 minutes to go, but I thought he was excellent. He played really well.
‘He scored a double and earned the penalty for Lawrence.’
It seemed written in the stars that Moffat would shine on a day of unbridled personal elation.
He struck a stunning left-foot drive to put Ayr ahead. The visiting fans, whose prolonged journey — due to a traffic accident on the M77 — to the Indodrill Stadium led to a 15-minute delay in kick-off, were still celebrating as Alloa drew level within 60 seconds.
Iain Flannigan teed up Trouten just inside the area and the striker slotted home his 17th goal of the season.
Ayr’s second goal arrived seven minutes after the restart when Moffat ran on to Aaron Muirhead’s header and was clipped inside the box by goalkeeper Neil Parry.
Shankland scored his 30th goal of the season from the penalty spot by sending Parry the wrong way.
Moffat sealed the victory two minutes from time with a fierce shot.
Alloa manager Jim Goodwin said: ‘We are disappointed with the result, which probably flatters Ayr a little bit.’