Match Report - By Steven Mew

Before the match, both sides had the chance to rise up to 2nd place if they came away with a victory and other results went their way. It was the visitors who left Glebe Park with all three points but due to other results elsewhere, they could only leapfrog City into 4th place but their outstanding away form continues.

City have had horrendous injury problems since the start of the season, meaning Michael O’Neill could only choose the same 16 players week in, week out. However, the injuries are starting to clear up and now only three players remain sidelined. Craig McEwan and Grant Johnson have recently returned to action but long term absentees Steven Ferguson and Kevin Byers are still out, while Stuart Ferguson is nearly back to full fitness. Craig McEwan marked a remarkable comeback from injury against Raith last Saturday and managed to play the full 90 minutes, and he held on to his place for yesterday afternoon’s match against the Honest Men.

Former Ayr keeper, Craig Nelson, was between the sticks for City and is still a popular figure amongst the Ayr supporters, who at many times during the match chanted the experienced keeper’s name, despite playing for the opposition. The aforementioned Craig McEwan started in defence alongside White, Ward and Walker while the midfield of Hampshire, Callaghan, Johnson and Smith were hoping to create some chances for the front two pairing of Chris Geddes and former Ayr man Paddy Connolly.

The Honest Men, who have been terrific on their travels this season, started off the better of the two teams and created a couple of decent chances early on. Ryan Caddis, who caused left back Scott Walker problems throughout the game, managed to get past the experienced defender on the right hand side before cutting in and firing a shot towards goal which blocked by Craig Nelson. Chris Strain was next to threaten Nelson when his long range effort was palmed away by Nelson for a corner.

Brechin eventually managed to get involved in the game a bit more and came close when Hampshire’s dangerous low cross from the right hand side flashed right across the face of goal with no takers, and the ball was cleared to safety by the Ayr defence.

However, it was the visitors who deservedly went in front when they opened the scoring ten minutes before the break. An Ayr attack wasn’t cleared away properly by the Brechin defence and the ball fell kindly for Paul Weaver just outside the area and his low shot took a slight deflection before hitting the back of net, giving Nelson no chance. The former Celtic and Blackburn youth player has put in some fantastic performances this season and was clearly delighted to get on the score-sheet.

The visitors continued to dictate the play in midfield and really should have been two up at the break. Paul Weaver and Frenchman Jerome Varielle linked up well to set up David Dunn but he could only strike his shot over the bar. That appeared to be the last piece of action in the first half, and with City going in at the break 1-0 down, some drastic changes were needed.

The Honest Men started the second half the way they ended the first as Ryan Caddis fired just wide of the goal with the Brechin defence all at sea. However, just two minutes later a through ball for Chris Geddes was just a little over hit and Mark McGeown raced off his line to save at the feet of the striker.

Scott Walker was having a torrid time at left back trying to stop the pacey Ryan Caddis who got past several players before he was eventually stopped in his tracks by the defence, but the ball fell for Chris Strain who curled his effort narrowly over the bar.

Minutes later, however, the supporters at Glebe Park witnessed what will be one of the misses of the season. Chris Strain sent Jerome Varielle scampering clear but Nelson got down well to deny the Frenchman, and the ball fell to Ryan Caddis who dodged the despairing dive of Nelson before he somehow blazed over in front of an open goal. This was a big let off for City, who desperately needed to plug the gaps in defence as they were simply being torn apart by the youthful exuberance of the visitors.

Ayr were spreading the ball neatly across the park but it was Brechin who started putting some pressure on the Ayr defence. Chris Geddes slammed the ball over the bar from an angle while a stramash in the goalmouth only resulted in a free-kick for Ayr after Mark McGeown spilled a shot inside the area.

With twenty minutes left on the clock, the Honest Men effectively ended the game as a contest as they doubled their advantage. Jerome Varielle received a pass from David Dunn inside the area, held off John Ward before swivelling neatly and striking low into the net.

Normally twenty minutes is more than enough time to get back into the game, but City really didn’t look like scoring a consolation at all as Ayr completely dominated throughout. Brechin did create a couple of chances in the closing stages but neither troubled McGeown in the Ayr goal. David White got on the end of a cross from the left but his header ended on the roof of the net, while Iain Russell somehow headed over the bar from around 5 yards out.

The ref blew for full time and Ayr fully deserved their victory. City were simply not at the races and face a tough task of getting anything from their trip to Cappielow next week-end as they take on league leaders Morton who are currently unbeaten in the league.

Other Results - Bell's League Division 2

Forfar Athletic 1 Morton 3

Morton comfortably defeat Forfar at Station Park.

Raith Rovers 0 Alloa Athletic 0

Raith Rovers yet to win at home under Levein.

Stirling Albion 2 Peterhead 0

Comfortable home victory for the Bino's over Peterhead.

Stranraer 1 Cowdenbeath 0

Stranraer spring a surprise by beating the Blue Brazil.