Albion Rovers 0
Ayr United 0 (4-2 on pens)
Scottish League Cup (Group E)

Match Report

United kicked off their 2021/22 Premier Sports Cup campaign with a 0(4)-0(2) defeat on penalties to Albion Rovers at the Reigart Stadium on Saturday. A slow-paced 90 minutes ended goalless and took the game to a penalty shootout for the bonus point where two saves from Cammy Binnie decided in favour of the hosts.

Ayr started in a 3-5-2 formation with a back three of Aaron Muirhead, Jack Baird and Sean McGinty while Jordan Houston and Patrick Reading lined up on the wings. Andy Murdoch, Michael Miller and Cameron Salkeld sat in midfield behind an attacking duo of Mark McKenzie and Tomi Adeloye.

The first chance of the game went United’s way after just two minutes when McGinty met a Reading corner at the back post but sent his attempt wide under pressure.

Salkeld came close again on 9 mins when he rose to nod a cross from Adeloye goalwards, but it glanced wide. Moments later, Adeloye himself was through on goal, capitalising on a mix-up in the Rovers defence, and although he chipped his effort over the keeper, it was stopped by the crossbar.

Albion’s first chance arrived on 12 mins when keeper Aidan McAdams misjudged a long pass forward and rushed out of his area only for the ball to sail over his head. Declan Byrne was in place to meet it, but McGinty intervened and clattered into the striker.

Murdoch was the next player to challenge upfront when he drove down the right into the box on 24 mins. He connected with Salkeld, but the return cross couldn’t find him and the Rovers defence blocked without trouble.

Albion keeper Cammy Binnie was called into action for the first time with 28 minutes on the clock after Miller won a corner. Reading delivered and McGinty met the ball at the centre of the box for a header that forced Binnie into a smart save.

A quiet, uninspired first half ended with a dangerous cross from Adeloye that found Salkeld in the box, but Binnie grasped the header and kept the scoreline at 0-0.

Both teams looked frustrated at the restart with the game continuing to lack flow. David Wilson delivered a promising cross from the left, but Houston cleared off the line with a header before James McGowan could reach it.

Ayr stagnated and missed the creativity to create something, but even so Albion did not look bright either and failed to capitalise. Byrne was on the end of one of the hosts’ better chances on 66 mins, but his header went wide off the target.

A sign of life came from United on 75 mins through another corner delivered by Reading. McGinty met it at close range but headed the ball over the crossbar.

Charlie Reilly was inches away from opening the scoring on 76 mins when he broke forward from a Binnie pass. The midfielder chipped the ball to beat McAdams, but it bounced past the right post.

Adeloye came agonisingly close to a late winner when he beat two defenders to surge into the box and fire an attempt goalwards that was only kept out of the net by a brilliant save from Binnie.

With the scores even at full time, the match went to a penalty shootout for the bonus point. Miller was the first taker for United and saw his attempt saved by Binnie while Ryan Stevenson netted to give his side the advantage.

Muirhead and Murdoch made no mistake from the spot, but as Binnie saved from Adeloye, the door was open for Reilly to earn Rovers the bonus point.

Match report written by Official Ayr Utd Web