Alloa Athletic 0
Ayr United 4
League (Second Division)

Match Report

AYR went goal crazy to bag their second win on the bounce at a rain lashed Recreation Park.

Jerome Vareille led the way on his return from injury with a brace while goals from Raymond Logan and Gareth Wardlaw completed the rout.

Vareille replaced Wardlaw in what was the only change to the side which beat Raith and Ayr were unlucky not to be ahead inside five minutes when a lovely passing move ended with Chris Robertson heading over a Paul Hyslop cross from point blank range.

But Alloa, boosted by a 9-0 cup canter against Selkirk in midweek, soon got on top of the game and Jamie Stevenson wasted a great chance to put the Wasps in front when he curled an effort wide from 12 yards.

John Ovenstone then crossed for towering striker Andy Brown to head just over the bar as the Ayr back three battled to stay in control.

They were creaking again just 60 seconds later as Steven Learmonth hit the byline but his dangerous cut-back thankfully had no takers in front of goal.

When Ayr got the breakthrough it came against the run of play as Mark Casey’s free-kick to the backpost was met by Robertson and his header crashed off the bar, but skipper Logan charged in to nod home the rebound from a yard.

The sting had been taken out of the Wasps and they were killed stone dead at the start of the second half with a double salvo from Vareille.

His first came after great work from Craig Conway down the left who beat two men before crossing for Hyslop to see a shot saved, but the ball found its way to Vareille and he slammed home from 8 yards.

It was 3-0 within a minute as the Frenchman swivelled to hook home a clinical volley from a Robertson cross as United showed flashes of the football which won them many a plaudit at the start of the season.

With his job done, Vareille was withdrawn to replaced by Ian Cashmore while Hyslop hobbled off with a groin complaint after playing his part in the second goal.

The lively Chris Strain flashed an effort just wide and Cashmore almost capitalised on an error by Wasps keeper James Evans but fired over as Ayr went for more goals.

Alloa kept fighting but it was a lost cause and efforts from Stevenson and Hamilton drifted wide to sum up their afternoon.

Chris Townsley came closest to a consolation but saw his header cleared off the line by Paul Weaver.

United added the icing on the cake in the closing stages when sub Wardlaw raced clear to slam home from 18 yards.

Match report written by Ayr United FC Official Website