Ayr United 1
Annan Athletic 0
Scottish League Cup (Group F)

Match Report

Mark Kerr was delighted with the response from his young squad as they sealed an important three points ahead of their Championship opener.

Mark Kerr hailed his Ayr United young guns for showing maturity beyond their years as they went top of Group F in the Betfred Cup.

Michael Moffat's first half penalty - his 99th goal for the Honest Men - proved enough for the Championship side.

But it was Ayr's youthful look which pleased Kerr most, with seven of his squad aged 21 or under.

The boss told the Ayrshire Post: "The average age we've been working towards is 23 or 24 and tonight we had to go even younger with one or two out.

"The boys have done great and although we didn't play as well as we could have done, I felt we were pretty comfortable.

"We've had to soldier on a bit in the last couple of games with a few out and boys away with the Scotland under 21s.

But they'll be coming back this week and we'll all get a lift from that. It's been great for me to see the young boys come in and do so well. It makes me feel confident that when we need them this season - and we will - that they'll come in and do a good job for us."

Ayr were always doing enough in this one without looking at their free-flowing best as Annan kept them honest to the end.

After a quiet opening, the hosts went in front courtesy of Moffat's penalty in the 24th minute.

Dario Zanatta, playing through the middle, was hauled down by Matthew Douglas and spot king Moff stepped up to make no mistake.

Ayr went hunting a second and Moffat released Zanatta, only for the Canadian to fire over the bar.

Luke McCowan then saw a shot from distance deflected just wide as Annan clung on before the break.

But Ayr's momentum was hit when Zanatta limped off just before the interval and that gave the visitors encouragement after the restart.

Nathan Flanagan and Iain Anderson both went close to levelling as Ayr looked edgy.

But at the other end, sub Paul Smith was catching the eye after replacing Zanatta and he twice went close to a killer second for United.

His first effort was well saved by Alex Mitchell in the Annan goal, before he drew an even better stop from the keeper just moments later.

The visitors had loud appeals for a penalty turned down when Max Wright's shot was charged down by Ayr skipper Jack Baird.

And Flanagan was then denied by Viljami Sinisalo as the big Finn blocked his shot at the near post.

Ayr sub Jordan Houston almost sealed it with a late header which was saved but United were able to see it out for the points.

Ex-United favourite Peter Murphy, now boss of Annan, said: "We gave away a silly penalty which changed the game.

"We played a lot of nice football to a point but didn't create enough to go and win the game."

Match report written by Daily Record