Battling United fall to high-flying Rovers
New keeper Clarke can’t wait to play under boss Brown
AYR UNITED ............................... 1 RAITH ROVERS .......................... 2
Stuart Wilson at Somerset
Rookie keeper Josh Clarke says the chance to play under Scott Brown sold him on a Somerset switch.
The Celtic B goalie has been given the chance to become Ayr’s new number one for the rest of the season.
The teenager was thrown straight in for Saturday’s clash with Raith just hours after signing on loan from the Hoops.
And the former Chelsea and Bournemouth kid insists the opportunity to star under a Hoops legend like Brown was a no brainer.
He said: “The move happened very quickly but the lads have been very welcoming.
“I appreciate getting the chance here and it’s about getting game time and helping Ayr push towards promotion if I can.
“This is my first proper loan and will be great for my development.
“It’s very different dealing with the style of play and the crowd and that can only help me as a player.
“I had never met the gaffer prior to coming in but everyone at Celtic obviously speaks so highly of him.
“So I’m really appreciative of him bringing me here and hopefully I can repay him.
“I’m fully aware of the connection between him and Celtic so he’s a massive factor in me being here.”
Brown made the big call to go with Clarke between the sticks after Robbie Mutch’s injury at Airdrie last week, meaning Charlie Albinson had to settle for a place on the bench.
And it was Raith who got a flier when Ayr conceded slack possession in the middle of the park and Josh Mullin’s wicked cross was knocked home by Zak Rudden.
They almost doubled their lead quickly when Clarke was needed to deny Sam Stanton with a smart save under his bar.
But Ayr levelled after a scramble in the Rovers box ended with Roy Syla ramming home from close range.
Both sides threw everything at a wide open first half with chances at either end.
Dylan Easton rattled the bar for Rovers as they almost hit the front again following a lightning counter attack.
Logan Chalmers fired inches over from 25 yards as Ayr pressed but they were the masters of their own undoing on the stroke of half time.
Again they gifted possession in the middle of the park and as Raith broke, a brilliant ball by Rudden found Lewis Vaughan and he dinked Clarke to score.
Vaughan almost stretched Raith’s lead just after the interval - but Clarke was equal to his effort with a diving save.
Ayr were struggling to make any real headway and Brown turned to his bench for inspiration.
They almost levelled when Sean McGinty’s header was clawed on to the bar by Kevin Dabrowski.
The home side saw plenty of possession but Rovers were more than happy to sit in and defend their lead as Ayr’s frustration grew.
Jack Sanders saw a header tipped over and Anton Dowds flashed a shot just wide as Ayr staged a flurry in the closing moments.
But Rovers were able to see it out for another valuable three points in their quest for the title.
AYR: Clarke, McAllister, Sanders, McGinty, Musonda; Chalmers (McGeady 74), Syla (McHugh 80), Dempsey, Murphy (Willoughby 64); McKenzie (Bryden 80), Dowds. RAITH: Dabrowski, Brown, Watson, Ashcroft (Turner 43), Dick; Mullin, Stanton, Brown, Easton; Rudden (Hamilton 64), Vaughan (Matthews 78).
Referee: Steven McLean; Attendance: 2,276