Reilly’s Gavin his all to help Ton stay up
GAVIN REILLY insists he’s ready to put two years of injury hell behind him by firing Morton to safety in the Championship.
The striker made it three goals in his last two games as he bagged a double to help Dougie Imrie’s Ton down Ayr.
And the on-loan Livingston hitman reckons life under new gaffer Imrie is giving him the chance of a career rebirth.
Reilly, 28, said: “I’ve missed a lot of football in the last two years but I’m now getting back to where I believe I can be. It feels good to be getting those goals and assists again.
“I did my hamstring and knee and spent a lot of time out, so it’s been a tough two calendar years for me.
“But I’ve always said if the ball comes into the right areas, I’m confident I’ll be on the end of it.
“It looks good that I scored the two goals here but it was down to good teamwork that we created the chances.”
Reilly is also backing Imrie to haul Morton to safety, with the new boss unbeaten in three since arriving at Cappielow.
The striker said: “We’ve had a reaction to the new manager coming in.
“He’s not changed a lot in terms of personnel, but things have clicked.
“The guys are taking confidence and momentum at the moment and it’s all about building on these results. We’ve had glimpses of good results and performances this season but never followed it up.
“Now we’re doing that and putting a wee run together.
“Everyone knows how competitive the Championship is and if you can put a run of two or three wins together, it can put you in a really good position.
“It gives you the chance to look up the way rather than behind you.”
Ayr blew a golden chance to hit the front when top scorer Tomi Adeloye fluffed his lines with only keeper Jack Hamilton to beat on five minutes.
And they paid the price when Reilly volleyed home a firsthalf cross from Lewis Strapp.
United huffed and puffed to get back into the game but struggled to create any real chances.
And Ton put the game to bed midway through the second half when former Hearts and St Mirren man Reilly tapped home after great work by Goze Ugwu.
New Ayr head coach Lee Bullen said: “Goals change games and it was a big, big opportunity that we didn’t take early on.
“They took theirs and that was the difference in the game.
“But if you had given us six out of nine points from the last three fixtures we would have snatched your hand off.”
It feels good to be getting those goals and assists after missing a lot of games GAVIN REILLY IS MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME