Ayr United 2 – 0 Raith Rovers

2:30PM | Sat 24th June

Linlithgow Rose

Prestonfield, Linlithgow

Raith 2-2 Partick Thistle

Fri 5th May (Home)

Sat 24th Jun (Away)

Linlithgow Rose

Tue 27th Jun (Away)

Montrose

Sat 1st Jul (Away)

Kelty Hearts

Sat 8th Jul (Away)

East Fife

	Team	Pd	GD	Pt
1	Dundee	36	26	63
2	Ayr United	36	18	58
3	Queen's Park	36	11	58
4	Partick Thistle	36	20	57
5	Morton	36	10	57
6	Inverness CT	36	5	55
7	Raith Rovers	36	-3	43
8	Arbroath	36	-18	34
9	Hamilton Academical	36	-32	31
10	Cove Rangers	36	-37	31
Updated: 5th May

Saturday December 3rd 2022

Rovers ‘all or nothing’ season continues – as does the pink strip hoodoo

This one pretty much went to form for the season: Rovers either win or lose, and Ayr has shown they’ve got the enviable ability to grind out victories. This is why the latter sit top of the league, whereas Rovers sit in 7th and starting to fall adrift of the top four.

Rovers made a couple of changes from last week’s cup win with Liam Dick and Kyle Connell coming back into the team, Ryan Nolan and Sam Stanton dropping to the bench.

The game started with Rovers on the front foot, controlling a lot of possession but struggling to carve out any real goal scoring opportunities. The best early chance fell to Connor O’Riordan but his header from a corner went over the bar.

Next up was Lewis Vaughan, but his shot from outside the box was deflected wide. Ayr threatened next as Kieran Ngwenya was caught in possession on the halfway line, Logan Chalmers charged forward for the hosts and his left-football shot curled just wide with Jamie MacDonald at full stretch.

It wasn’t long before Ayr broke the deadlock – on the 31st minute to be precise. A long ball wasn’t dealt with by O’Riordan and after some clever footwork from Chalmers, his cross was slotted home by Josh Mullin at the back post. Ayr 1-0 Rovers.

Lewis Vaughan sends the ball across goal from the bye-line

Half-time: Ayr Utd 1-0 Raith Rovers

As the hardy travelling Rovers’ fans were expecting a fast start to the second half (becoming a bit of a theme), it never really materialised. The biggest shout probably came from a penalty claim as Vaughan’s cross seemed to hit the arm of the Ayr defender – V.A.R. would probably have given it but this is a technology a long way away from affecting the Scottish Championship.

Albinson gets in before the in-rushing Lewis Vaughan

Ayr then went close with Mullin’s deflected shot looping just wide of MacDonald’s right post. But they didn’t have to wait long to confirm the three points were staying at Somerset. With 20 minutes to go, Rovers again conceded possession on halfway. Ayr stretched the play wide to the right, and after some nice footwork from Dipo Akinyemi, he floated over a cross which was met perfectly by Mullin to head into the bottom corner. Ayr 2-0 Rovers.

The 2nd goal effectively killed the game, and although Rovers made substitutions, a comeback never looked likely.

Disappointing day for Rovers while Ayr stay top of the league as we approach the half-way point in the season.

Full Time: Ayr Utd 2-0 Raith Rovers
Crowd: 2,094

By David Proudfoot

0
Welcome to today’s Championship game, Ayr United v Raith Rovers at Somerset Park. Weather wise it’s dry but cold.  Ref is Kevin Clancy supporting him is Dougie Potter and John Stewart
0
Ayr get the game underway. Raith shooting towards the home section this half
1
Game in its settling in phase at the moment
4
Good linking play by Raith there in midfield with Connolly eventually playing the ball to Ngwenya who tries to cross into the box but nothing comes of it
5
Connell has a shot but there is no power behind it and doesn’t trouble Albinson
6
An Easton freekick gets into the Ayr box but they head clear
7
Oh dear by Connell as his throw in goes off kilter and Ayr take  advantage of the loose ball
10
Easton gets the ball, he goes upfield but ball is intercepted in the Ayr box
11
From a Raith corner ball is met by the head of O’Riordan but his effort is wide
12
Vaughan’s through ball to Connell doesn’t come to fruition
16
Ayr try to make a break for it but Spencer is there to intercept
16
Raith corner after Connolly passes to Vaughan who takes the e ball to the byline
17
Easton takes it, ball falls into the box, Ayr clear but only as far as Brown who has a shot but his effort is wide
18
Ayr with a shot now but MacDonald gets down to smother
19
Freekick Raith deep in their half after a foul on Liam Dick from Akinyemi
23
So close for Vaughan as the ball is played back from the byline and falls to him. His shot is deflected and ball out for a corner
26
Vaughan plays the ball tight  at the byline he plays it back but Ayr are first to react and clear the danger
28
Threatening play by Raith there as Brown charges forward with the ball, he passes to Connolly, Ayr intercept ball falls back to Raith but offside is called as the ball  is passed
29
Ayr with a long shot effort as Chalmers has a go but it takes a deflection from MacDonald… Ayr corner
29
Ayr score
31
Pass comes from Chalmers and Mullin is there to slot home for Ayr
35
Vaughan intercepts an Ayr ball but his pass forward is to no one
36
Ayr with another shot and MacDonald palms away, Raith clear
37
Freekick Raith just in Ayr half as Easton is fouled
38
Millen with a lovely ball to Connell but his final effort goes just wide
39
Ayr on the threat as  Aikinyemi passes to Chalmers who has a pop, thankfully ball goes high over the bar
40
O’Riordan with a timely strong tackle as  Dempsey has his eye on charging forward
41
Brown charges forward but he can’t pass to his right so has to play the ball back
42
Ngwenya does well to stop Mullin from passing the ball into the danger area
43
Ayr corner as O’Riordan has to get rid as McKenzie presses in his heals
45
Ref blows for half time Ayr 1 (Mullin 30’) Raith 0
45
Raith get the second half underway… shooting towards their own fans
46
No half time changes
46
Free kick Ayr as Connolly fouls Dempsey
47
O’Riordan clears an Ayr ball planted in the box
49
Connnell’s pass to Vaughan isn’t good enough as Raith push forward
50
Akinyemi makes a low cross into the Raith box but thankfully Ayr don’t pounce in the box and the ball shoots through
51
Ayr fans are screaming for a penalty … Clancy says nah
52
Vaughan’s  long cross doesn’t make it to Millen
53
O’Riordan does well to stave off McKenzie as he passes the ball back to MacDonald who thumps the ball clear
55
Connolly has a shot but McGinty gets in the way
56
Freekick for Raith which is played quickly by Brown
57
Connolly plays the ball long to Vaughan who tries to cross it in, ball put out for a Raith corner
58
Easton this time tries to get the ball into the 6yard again Ayr clear for a Raith corner
60
Ayr freekick deep in Raith half
61
Freekick is taken but it’s wasted by Ayr as they go for the shot. Doesn’t trouble MacDonald who gathers
61
Mullin has a shot approx 25 yards out, his shot hits  the net supports must have taken a deflection on the way as Ayr corner
63
From a second Ayr corner ball falls to front post but a Raith clear
63
Raith sub off Easton and bring on Stanton
65
O’Riordan bundled to the ground in the box, they are looking for the foul but ref has other ideas
66
Stanton passes to Ngwenya who quickly passes back. Stanton has a pop but it hits off an Ayr player
67
Booking for Chalmers as he fouls Millen
68
Good ball from Stanton to Connell but the latters second touch is poor as Ayr intercept
69
Goal Ayr
69
Akinyemi gets the ball to Chalmers who scores
71
Raith sub off Spencer and bring on Gullan
71
Ayr sub off Chalmers and bring on Mitchell-Lawson
75
Reading for Ayr has an ambitious shot and as expected ball is wide
78
Raith make a triple substitution off goes Connolly and on comes Ross, off goes Ngwenya and on comes  Nolan and off goes Vaughan and on comes Frederiksen
80
Connell’s cross into the box goes over the byline… goal kick Ayr
81
Frederikson has a good flick on header but no one there to pick up the ball
83
Liam Dick heads out for an Ayr corner
84
Mullin gets the ball into the mix but thankfully MacDonald gathers
84
Nolan does well to put off Akinyemi
88
Ayr sub off Akinyemi and bring on Bryden and also sun off McKenzie and bring on Ashford
91
Ayr sub off Murdoch and bring on Smith and also sub off Ecrepont and bring on Watret
93
Todays attendance is 2094
93
Ref blows for full time Ayr 2 (Mullin 30’ 69’) Raith 0

Ayr Utd: Albinson, Reading, McGinty, McAllister, Ecrepont, Mullin, Murdoch, Dempsey, Chalmers, McKenzie, Akinyemi

Subs: McAdams, Smith, Young, Bilham, Ashford, Watret, Bangala, Mitchell-Lawson, Bryden

Raith Rovers: MacDonald, Dick, Millen, Spencer, Connolly, Vaughan, O’Riordan, Ngwenya, Connell, Brown (C), Easton

Subs: McNeil, Nolan, Gullan, McBride, Lang, Ross, Coulson, Frederiksen, Stanton