Result is all White but he doesn’t want job
AYR UNITED 2
A Cammy Smith second-half double gave managerless Ayr only their second win in 10 games and dropped Morton, without a win since before Boxing Day, into the play-off spot.
United Academy coach Davie White, who was put in temporary charge following the departure of Mark Kerr after last Saturday’s home defeat to Arbroath, made three changes.
He brought in Andy Murdoch, Mark Mckenzie and goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo for Peter Urminsky, Joe Chalmers and Dario Zanatta, while Morton were unchanged.
Caretaker boss White said: “We certainly deserved the win and got the breaks.
“It was important we got a reaction. The start of the week was quite emotional.
“It was an important game to get over the line with a win.
“It should inspire and motivate them. We just need to drive forward.
“I have been at the club for a long time and adore the
Academy role. However, the first-team manager’s job is not for me.”
Ayr, who had suffered three successive defeats, took a while to settle, but, after 19 minutes, came close when Cammy Smith found Luke Mccowan in space. However, he hooked his 18-yard effort wide.
Morton had previously not lost to Ayr United in their last three meetings.
With the stakes so high for both sides, tempers flared in 27 minutes when Ton’s Aidan Nesbitt was floored by Aaron Muirhead. The Ayr midfielder was fortunate to escape with just a yellow.
The visitors, who have now lost just once in their last six trips to Cappielow in the last five years, looked the more threatening.
In 43 minutes, Muirhead and Smith combined to set up Mccowan, but the striker lashed the ball into the side-netting.
One minute later, United might have taken a precious lead into the break when Tom Walsh picked the ball up on the right, but his 15-yard angled drive was superbly pushed away by goalkeeper Aidan Mcadams.
The Honest Men, though, deservedly took the lead in 55 minutes when Walsh whipped over a cross from the right for Muirhead to volley the ball at the back post and Smith was
unmarked six yards out to tap the ball in.
Smith almost added a second in 77 minutes when he tried a speculative lob from 30 yards which Mcadams did well to beat away.
Soon after, Mcadams was in action again to parry away a terrific 20-yard shot from Mccowan.
The hosts, who had drawn six of their last nine league matches, had a great chance to draw level six minutes from time, but Nesbitt pulled his shot wide from 18 yards.
Three minutes from time, Michael Moffat and Mccowan combined to find Smith in acres of space in front of goal and he smashed the ball home from 10 yards.
Morton interim coach Anton Mcelhone said: “This was the same team which should have won at Hearts and Dundee.
“You have to find the motivation to go and win.
“We shouldn’t have to wait until 20 minutes from time. It’s our mistakes, we made the mistakes. If you don’t defend well enough, you don’t win games.
“We have not done enough this year. We have dropped too many points and not scored enough at home. It’s not good enough.
“It’s time to get our sleeves rolled up and for players to show who wants to be here next season.”