AKINYEMI IS REAL DEAL
Hat-trick hero fires Ayr to joint-top spot
DIPO AKINYEMI is shaping as the Championship’s signing of the season after his hat-trick took his tally to 10 goals and signalled that Ayr United are to be viewed as genuine title contenders.
Brad Young, a 19-year-old striker on loan from Aston Villa, marked his first league start with a goal while Ben Dempsey wrapped up the rout with a deft finish to complete Queen’s Park’s agony.
It was an afternoon to savour for Lee Bullen, the Ayr head coach, who has stamped his mark on the side and is now seeing the rewards.
Ayr are now second in the table, one goal worse off than leaders Partick Thistle who visit Somerset Park later this month in what will be an eagerly anticipated clash.
Bullen said: ‘A result like that was coming after last week and previous games this season when we created so many opportunities but weren’t as ruthless as today.
‘If I’m Owen Coyle I’m thinking it’s never a 5-0 game because they put a lot into it but the difference was that we were ruthless and our keeper and defence were wonderful.
‘But that clean sheet is as important as any of the goals we scored.
‘I’m delighted for Ben Dempsey to get a goal. He wore a new pair of boots today and I wound him up beforehand and asked if there were any goals in them. It’s probably the one thing that has been missing from his game as he has been outstanding but he got that goal today.
‘You get days like that in football, they don’t come along too often so we’ll enjoy them but we’ve also got to be understanding that Queen’s Park put a lot into that game and 5-0 was probably a little bit harsh.
‘We needed a result today to try and get ourselves back on track and into the mix at the top of the table which has tightened right up again.’
Ayr showed their intent from the kick-off and only two minutes in Akinyemi charged down the right but his low cross was turned behind by the covering Stephen Eze.
Queen’s Park had an early sting when Dom Thomas fizzed in a drive which Charlie Albinson was relieved to turn behind for a corner.
Ayr hit the front after six minutes when Paddy Reading’s deep cross from the left was met by the head of Akinyemi who beat Calum Ferrie from a tight angle. The onrushing Young made sure on the line but the plaudits went to top scorer Akinyemi.
The Spiders attempted to reply when Simon Murray pulled the trigger at the back post but Albinson was off his line quickly to smother the danger.
Grant Savoury had an in-swinging corner tipped away from under the bar by Albinson but the end-to-end play continued when Akinyemi was just wide with a header from a Logan Chalmers corner.
Ayr doubled their lead after 36 minutes and it was that man Akinyemi again who kept his cool to pull the ball back and beat Ferrie to convert Josh Mullin’s pass.
Despite their two-goal cushion, Ayr had to be defensively alert and it took a goal-line clearance from Reading after the towering Eze powered in a header.
This frantic contest never let up and seconds before the interval Young showed strength and pace to dart clear but Ferrie stuck out a foot to keep out the youngster’s shot.
Akinyemi completed his hat-trick after 53 minutes, firing home from close range after a great run from Young set him up.
Rampant Ayr were in party mood and they made it 4-0 before the hour when Young supplied the finishing touch to some dazzling build-up by Chalmers, who was starting his first game after his loan signing from Dundee United.
Still the goals flowed and the inrushing Dempsey grabbed Ayr’s fifth of an unforgettable afternoon when he turned home a cross from Mullin.
The visitors were craving the final whistle and Chalmers went close to adding a sixth goal with a free-kick that flew just wide.
Queen’s Park head coach Coyle claimed: ‘We had some unbelievable chances in the game but when you don’t defend properly that’s what happens.
‘I’m annoyed because twice in the space of five days we passed up the opportunity to go top of the league. The manner of the goals is what disappoints me the most.’