Greenock Morton 2
Ayr United 1
League (Second Division)

Match Report

AYR were unable to continue their recent revival at Cappielow as goals from Derek Lilley and Jim McAlister helped Morton to a hard fought win.

United’s consolation was a Gareth Wardlaw strike which ensured a nervy finish to a bitterly cold night in Greenock.

Despite the conditions, it was a hot game from the start and Ayr were first to threaten when Chris Strain fired over from 25 yards after being played in by Chris Robertson.

Morton were continually caught offside during a frustrating first half for the hosts but United’s risky style of defending almost cost them dear when McAlister beat the trap in the 9th minute and raced on to a Chris Millar through ball, only to fire wide.

Three minutes later an almost identical move saw the Ayr defence part as McAlister galloped on to a ball from Lilley but this time he shot straight at Mark McGeown.

Peter Weatherson then lashed an effort wide as the visitors came under an intense early spell of pressure which they managed to negotiate safely.

At the other end, Craig Conway was proving dangerous with whipping free-kick deliveries, with Robertson and Martyn Campbell both given free headers which they couldn’t convert.

The end to end game looked like being stalemate at half time until the Ayr defence shot themselves in the foot nine minutes from the interval.

They went to sleep at a free-kick in the centre circle which allowed the quick thinking Millar to play in Lilley through a non-existent United rearguard and he ran on to make no mistake in beating McGeown.

Ayr then enjoyed their best spell in the closing minutes of the half and should have been level within seconds of going behind when another dangerous Conway free-kick was sclaffed goalwards by ‘Ton defender Ryan Harding who was relieved to see David McGurn pull off a fingertip save to keep the ball out.

Yet another Conway free-kick saw Robertson rise to flash a header wide as Ayr tried to hit back and then Jerome Vareille unselfishly set up Strain in the box when the Frenchman could have shot himself by Strain’s effort went high and wide.

The second half was largely controlled by Morton with Ayr content to hit on the break and only a superb display from McGeown in goal kept United in the game.

He was left exposed to a number of one on one situations as the Ayr defence struggled to hold their shape and McAlister was left cursing the keeper as he was denied yet again after being sent through by Lilley.

But Ayr remained a threat and the lively Conway found space on the byline to cross for Vareille who almost netted with an audacious backheel which was tipped over by a stunned McGurn.

Ayr lost Strain to a knock sustained near the end of the first half and changed the system with Wardlaw coming off the bench as Robert Connor went all out for an equaliser.

It meant an open last 20 minutes and Morton were left wondering how they didn’t score more as sub Chris Templeman added himself to the list of those denied by McGeown in one on one chances.

‘Ton finally did net again with what looked to be the clincher on 72 minutes when David MacGregor cut back for McAlister to rifle past a helpless McGeown from 18 yards.

However, Ayr refused to give up and clawed their way back into contention when Robertson flicked on to Wardlaw who showed superb skill to chest down and drive home from just inside the box.

It set up a tense finish as Ayr pushed everything forward but couldn’t find another goal to grab a point.

Match report written by Ayr United FC Official Website