Gretna 3
Ayr United 0
League (Second Division)

Match Report

TWO late goals helped Gretna to a hard fought win after they were made to work by a battling Ayr side.

Both sides were reduced to ten men during a physical contest which saw United skipper Raymond Logan walk for a first half scrap with Ryan McGuffie.

The Gretna midfielder didn’t last much longer as he took an early bath just eight minutes into the second half before Ayr stormed back into contention.

United handed a debut to on-loan Hibs centre back Johnny Baillie and they needed his presence with Martyn Campbell and Barry McLaughlin both missing through hamstring injuries.

And it looked like the new boy and his teammates would be in for a torrid afternoon as Gretna started like a train and pinned Ayr back for long spells.

The front three of David Bingham, Kenny Deuchar and James Grady were causing United all sorts of problems, with Grady and Deuchar linking up to great effect during a one-sided first half.

Only Mark McGeown stood between Ayr and a humbling and the experienced keeper pulled off a number of first class saves to keep his team in the game.

However, it was Ayr who ironically could have been ahead in the early going when Andy Reid knocked down a Craig Conway cross in the 7th minute, but with the goal gaping Jerome Vareille couldn’t make proper contact from six yards and the chance was gone.

Gretna then turned the screw with Bingham and Deuchar both coming up against an inspired McGeown who looked determined not to be beaten.

Some sloppy defending in the 14th minute almost cost Ayr dearly as a Conway clearance fell straight to Grady and he dragged his shot inches wide.

Then McGeown earned his pay packet yet again with a tremendous stop to deny Deuchar who was clean through on goal but saw his effort saved by the legs of the Ayr keeper.

With the storm seemingly past, Ayr were the masters of their own undoing when Logan was handed a straight red card for felling McGuffie. Referee Dougie McDonald saw nothing of the incident but on the advice of his assistant, sent Logan packing.

Within seconds, Gretna upped the tempo and looked to make their advantage count with the pace of David Graham exploiting the extra space. He crossed for Deuchar to head just wide as Ayr rocked in the aftermath of Logan’s departure.

With the midfield in need of bolstering, Ayr sent on Paul Weaver in place of Chris Strain and looked to hold on to half time with possession the name of the game.

They came close to doing it but were undone by a piercing Graham run down the left as he charged unchallenged for 40 yards before cutting back for Grady to slam into the roof of the net.

It could have been worse by the break as Davie Nicholls sent a screamer over the bar from 30 yards before McGeown pulled off another magnificent save when diving full length to deny the same player.

But Ayr showed they were still fighting when Conway played in Gareth Wardlaw and the striker pulled out a smart save from Alan Main as the half came to a close.

United got the boost they needed early in the second half when McGuffie got his marching orders for persistent fouling and suddenly the game was back in the melting pot.

Ayr surged forward and began creating chances with sub Ian Cashmore, on for the injured Wardlaw, at the forefront of the action.

He saw two efforts blocked, the second of which drew loud appeals for a penalty from the Ayr players who claimed handball.

United then came within centimetres of levelling when Derek Townsley headed a Cashmore cross against his own bar with Main in no man's land.

But Gretna were still a danger on the break and Bingham twice went close as the United defence was pulled all over the place.

Baillie, however, shone on his debut and put the shackles on Grady during a frantic second period in which both sides began to tire.

With Ayr pushing forward, they left gaps at the back and Gretna took advantage with a late burst to seal the points.

Flying machine Graham crossed for Dene Shields to slam home from close range before salt was rubbed into the wounds with a last minute penalty from Graham himself after Mark Casey handled in the box.

Match report written by Ayr United FC Official Website