Ross is happy to choose strife in Fife
ETHAN ROSS would have been forgiven for allowing the prospect of some warm-weather training in Dubai to colour his judgment when offered a loan move away from Aberdeen this month. However, the teenager has shown admirable maturity by swapping the prospect of some fun in the sun for the hard graft of trying to help lift Dunfermline out of their current malaise. Ross joined the Pars on loan on Friday and was ‘pleasantly surprised’ to find himself in the starting line-up for the visit of Ayr United just 24 hours later. Rated highly enough at Pittodrie to have been entrusted with his first-ever start for the Dons in October, in the 1-1 draw with Hibernian, the attacking midfielder would have made up the numbers when Aberdeen jet out to the Gulf tomorrow. Instead, the youngster, who travelled to Dubai with Aberdeen 12 months ago, has higher goals in mind and is adamant the wind and rain of life in Fife is more appealing as he bids to build up valuable game-time with Dunfermline. ‘If I had stayed at Aberdeen, I would have been away to Dubai — but East End Park is just as good,’ he said. ‘As soon as I knew Dunfermline were keen, I was ready to go. If I had hung on until after Dubai, they might have gone out and got somebody else. I knew when this opportunity came that I had to take it. ‘I have been to Dubai, so I don’t need to go again, do I? Dubai is really good for the boys — it gets them away all together — but I am focused on my time here at Dunfermline. ‘I am looking to get as much game-time as I can out of the loan at a really high level in the Championship. Saturday
was really close to what I have seen in the Premiership, I’d say.’ Ross was keen to get involved early on as Dunfermline dominated from kick-off against Ayr. Seeking to arrest a run of three consecutive defeats, the Pars bristled with attacking intent. Yet, somehow they went in at the interval a goal behind and ultimately succumbed to a worrying fourth loss in a row. Kyle Turner came closest for the Fifers, striking the upright with an inswinging free-kick. A header by Ayr skipper Steven
Bell hit the home crossbar but the Honest Men’s 38th-minute clincher was out of keeping with what had gone before. By player-manager Mark Kerr’s own admission, Ayr had curbed their usual free-flowing game in search of just a second win in eight matches — but managed to string together 26 passes involving all ten outfield players before Craig Moore diverted Alan Forrest’s shot into the bottom corner when it was straying wide of the target. ‘It was a massive result,’ said
Moore. ‘The performance wasn’t pretty but it was just about getting the win somehow.’
DUNFERMLINE (4-4-2): Scully; Comrie, Devine, Ashcroft, Martin; Dow (Thomson 55), Paton, Turner (Todd 82), Ross (McCann 65); Nisbet, Kiltie.
Subs not used: Murray, McGill, Gill, Edwards. Booked: None.
AYR UNITED (4-4-2): Doohan; Geggan (Houston 64), Muirhead, Bell, Harvie; Docherty, Kerr, Kelly, McGowan (McGuffie 62); Moore (Moffat 77), Forrest. Subs not used: Roscoe-Byrne, Doolan, Houston, Hare-Reid, McKenzie. Booked: Geggan, Docherty. Man of the match: Aaron Muirhead. Referee: Mike Roncone. Attendance: 3,915.