Ayr United 3
Greenock Morton 2
Scottish Cup (Second Round)

Match Report

A SENSATIONAL second half display sent Ayr through to Round Three of the Tennent’s Scottish Cup on an afternoon of drama at Somerset Park.

Chris Robertson was the hero after bagging a brace to add to Gareth Wardlaw’s opener but Morton came roaring back during the pulsating tie which ended with United scraping through.

There was also time for three red cards with Ayr’s Paul Weaver walking for two bookable offences while Jason Walker and Derek Lilley were dismissed for the visitors.

United had been dealt a huge blow prior to kick-off when Jerome Vareille came down with a bout of tonsillitis and the side showed four changes from the one which lost at Cappielow on Tuesday night.

But the re-shaped United struggled to get going during a tense first half in which flowing football wasn’t on the agenda. The cup tie atmosphere lent itself to a scrappy midfield battle with only one good chance apiece before the break.

Ayr’s best sight of goal fell to Ian Cashmore in the 10th minute when he glanced a Craig Conway cross goalwards and saw the ball turned wide by a combination of Morton keeper David McGurn and the base of the post.

‘Ton waited until first half stoppage time before creating a good chance of their own when Lilley sent Jason Walker through on goal but the little striker had his low drive saved.

The second half was an explosive affair as Ayr flew out of the traps and hammered three past the stunned visitors within 20 minutes of the restart.

Wardlaw got things underway when he beat sub keeper Stefan Gonet to a Cashmore cross and nodded home from two yards out. Gonet had replaced the injured McGurn at half-time and his first task was to pick the ball from the back of the net.

Morton tried to hit back with a Jason Walker shot which Mark McGeown tipped over but Ayr were alive all over the park and soon stretched their lead when skipper Raymond Logan crossed for the towering Robertson to arrive and bullet home a header from 12 yards.

Robertson was playing deeper in midfield and the ‘Ton defence didn’t know what was hitting them as he arrived in the box yet again four minutes later to make it 3-0.

This time it was a lovely passing move which set up the goal as Conway fed Wardlaw and he shifted the ball wide for the unmarked Robertson to ram home number three from just inside the box.

Morton were shellshocked but threw themselves an immediate lifeline when Peter Weatherson netted from 18 yards with 22 minutes left on the clock.

It was then panic stations when sub Chris Templeman raked home a 20 yard drive with ten minutes to go as Somerset geared up for a thrilling finish.

However, the closing stages were marred by three red cards, the first of which went to Walker for tumbling inside the box. Referee Crawford Allan waved away the penalty claims and instead booked Walker for diving, meaning his second yellow and an early exit.

Next up for the trap door was Weaver who’d been walking a tightrope ever since his 8th minute booking. His second yellow remarkably saw him stay on the field momentarily as referee Allan appeared to have forgotten about the earlier caution. However, Mr Allan’s assistant quickly pointed out the misdemeanour and Weaver was on his way.

And as the game plunged into eight minutes of stoppage time, Lilley completed the card count as his dismissal brought down the curtain on a miserable afternoon for the visitors but a joyous one for Ayr who now look forward to a trip north to face Inverness.

Match report written by Ayr United FC Official Website