BRECHIN CITY UNDER 19’s 1 AYR UNITED UNDERS 19’s 3


Brechin City’s under 19 team were knocked out of the 3rd round of the Scottish Youth Cup after losing by 3-1 against Ayr United’s under 19 team at Links Park.

City trailed by 1-0 at half-time and were left a mountain to climb after they lost a couple of goals early in the second-half.

However, a goal from Paul Anderson in the 77th minute gave the team a slight glimmer of hope but unfortunately it was too little too late and no-one could deny that the Ayr youngsters deserved their victory at the end of the day.

City had claims for a penalty denied by the referee after 11 minutes when a Connor Gray shot from the edge of the penalty-box appeared to srike an arm and at the other end, seconds later, Ian Aitken broke free but blasted the ball wide of the target.

Mark Shankland got in behind the City defence four minutes and fired in a shot which Ben Tough saved easily and just a minute later, Shankland was well wide of the target with a shot from 35 yards.

City missed a great opportunity to grab the lead after 21 minutes when Steven Duffy played a great ball through the Ayr defence to Liam Scott but the striker shot narrowly past the post.

Ayr though, were gradually assuming control and they deservedly went ahead in the 26th minute.

Shankland collected a pass at the edge of the penalty-area and moved quickly across the box before curling home a right-foot drive.

The visitors were pushing forward and Aitken played a good pass to Roddy Paterson who shot wide from good position.

Ayr missed an even better chance seven minutes before the break when the impressive Shankland played agreat forward pass to Hutchinson but the striker shot wide of the target with the goal at his mercy.

City were first to press after the break and Marc Walker headed a Gray cross wide of the post in the 47th minute.

Shankland tried a shot for Ayr a minute later but it was again wide of the target.

However, the visitors booked their place in the 4th round with two goals within three minutes of each other.

In the 48th minute, Shankland played a great [ass through the City defence to Aitken who made no mistake from around two yards out and three minutes later, Shankland fired home a glorious right-foot drive from around 35 yards.

Despite being three goals down, City kept trying to move forward in an effort to reduce the deficit and they pulled a goal back after 77 minutes when an Anderson shot from just outside the box took a deflection on its way into the net.

Ironically, City had probably their best spell of the match thereafter in terms of possession and pressure but it was all too little too late and Ayr held on comfortably for a deserved win.