Threadb-Ayr squad draws Albion blank
United labour to goalless draw against Rovers
If David Hopkin needed a reminder of the task facing him over these next few weeks, this was it.
Ayr’s league opener at Kilmarnock on August 2 looms ever closer into view.
And on the evidence of this Premier Sports Cup stalemate at Albion Rovers, there remains much ground for the new-look United to make up.
Hopkin needs an influx of fresh faces. That much is obvious.
Only four youngsters made the bench at Cliftonhill on Saturday as Ayr pitched up light on reserves.
And so it maybe came as no surprise that simply getting 90 minutes into his starting XI was viewed as something of a bonus for Hopkin.
“It probably sums up where we are right now and what we need to bring in,” said the boss at full time.
“But I look at the defence right now and have to be happy that very few teams are getting shots in at our keeper.
“We are looking very solid and that was a major priority
of mine when I came in.”
United were relatively untested during the 90 minutes here and, but for some wasteful finishing, could have put this tie to bed early on.
Tomi Adeloye looked lively on his debut and teed up Cammy Salkeld to head just wide on 10 minutes.
Just 60 seconds later,
Adeloye should have buried a chance of his own when clipping the bar after racing clean through.
Sean McGinty twice went close with headers from corners that, on another day, would have burst the net.
But the new skipper had to make do with a reasonably quiet afternoon otherwise.
Adeloye almost won the tie late on after a moment of brilliance saw him charge clear of two defenders and draw a great save from Cammy Binnie.
But Ayr were never turning on the taps to any great degree and their fate was sealed on penalties as the League Two side ran out 4-2 winners with Adeloye and Mikey Miller missing from the spot for Ayr.
AYR: McAdams, Houston Baird, McGinty, Reading; Muirhead; Salkeld, Murdoch, Miller, McKenzie (Ecrepont 81), Adeloye. UnusedSubs: Hewitt, Jeanes, Smith.