NO OLD PALS’ ACT AS KELLY GRABS GLORY

STEPHEN KELLY says he felt no guilt whatsoever about hurting Rangers team-mate Robby McCrorie with a moment of magic on Saturday. Both youngsters are on season-long loans from Ibrox, Kelly at Ayr United and goalkeeper McCrorie at Queen of the South, but it was the midfield man who claimed the bragging rights on this occasion. Kelly’s stunning first-half volley gave McCrorie no chance and was to prove the difference at full-time despite plenty of Queens pressure during the 90 minutes. Victory saw Ayr climb up to third in the Championship table and remain undefeated at home this season. ‘The ball came to the edge of the box and I thought: “Hit it first time” and, thankfully, it ended up in the bottom corner,’ said Kelly. ‘Robby was giving me a little bit of stick before the game but it’s just a little bit of banter between mates. ‘Robby is a top goalie, probably up there as the best in the league as well as big Ross Doohan here at Ayr, so it was good to score past him and I’m not feeling any guilt about it. ‘Last time out at Dundee, we deserved to win but didn’t. Today might not have been pretty but we got the points, so that’s a positive. ‘It will be another huge game next weekend at Firhill before we play Dundee United. We want to be going into that one in good form.’ Kelly, whose strike was just his second professional goal after scoring a stunning free-kick against Stranraer in the Betfred Cup, knows he has to work on the defensive side of his game. ‘I got caught on the ball a few times, but the gaffer is trying to help me develop that side of my game,’ he added. ‘The physicality, fitness and strength is all harder than the level I am used to, but I am enjoying it.’