Ayr United
Airdrieonians
League (Championship)


Ayr United
-
Airdrieonians 

League (Championship)
Friday, March 29th, 2024
Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,871

Goalscorers
Anton Dowds (47)
Sean McGinty (50)
O'Connor (38')

Team Managers
Scott Brown
Unknown.

Starting Eleven
Josh Clarke
20. Roy Syla
5. Sean McGinty
14. George Stanger
21. Harry McHugh
17. Nick McAllister
23. Jack Sanders
22. Mark McKenzie
24. Scott Tomlinson
15. Jamie Murphy
16. Anton Dowds
40 Hemfrey
15 Megwa
16 Watson
6 Fordyce
5 Hancock
14 McMaster
24 Lyall
10 Frizzell
21 Telfer
7 O'Connor
11 Todorov

Bench
1. Charlie Albinson
30. Fraser Bryden
18. Paul Smith
27. Max Guthrie
17. Franny Amartey
Lucas McRoberts
2 Ballantyne
3 Taylor-Sinclair
8 McGregor
9 Gallagher
19 Dunlop
23 McGill
26 Donnell
28 Gallagher
43 Hutton

Substitutions
Fraser Bryden for Scott Tomlinson (45)
Franny Amartey for George Stanger (75)
Paul Smith for Roy Syla (84)
Lucas McRoberts for Anton Dowds (89)
None.

Cautions
None. None.

Red Cards
None. None.
Match Officials

David Munro (Referee)


Match Report


Ayr United boosted their Scottish Championship promotion hopes while denting visitors Airdrieonians' chances.

Airdrie led after Josh O'Connor latched on to Nikolay Todorov's header and lifted the ball over Josh Clarke.

Anton Dowds pounced on Craig Watson's loose header back to goalkeeper Robbie Hemfrey to slot in the hosts' equaliser just after half-time.

And Ayr quickly moved ahead when captain Sean McGinty headed in substitute Jamie Murphy's free-kick.

Dean McMaster's powerful rising drive had been tipped over by Ayr keeper Clarke and Airdrie's Adam Frizzell nicked an effort wide at 0-0. McMaster was later booked for a lunge on Harry McHugh, who had a deflected effort well saved by Hemfrey at 1-0.

Ayr United, who are six points clear of the relegation zone, climb two places to sixth and are a point off fourth-placed Airdrieonians, with Dunfermline Athletic in between also one point below the final promotion play-off place. There are four more second-tier fixtures on Saturday.

Reaction & as it happened
Ayr United manager Scott Brown: "It's good to see us looking up. The lads' endeavour has been exceptional. We knew we could be ruthless in front of goal and Anton [Dowds] was. Sean [McGinty is] in the right place, Sean's very aggressive. We know where we are and we need to try and dig ourselves out the situation, and hopefully we did that tonight. We need to try and get to 40 points as quick as we can."

Ayr United captain Sean McGinty: "It's fantastic. We've not been very good at home this season. It's a massive night for the football club. [Jamie Murphy] put it right in the perfect place and I've just directed it into the far corner. It's a big one tonight. Just delighted to get the three points."

Airdrieonians player/manager Rhys McCabe: "We get ourselves in front with a good goal but the sloppiness cost us. These are tough places to go. You have to match them with the physical side and the intensity. It's a reality check. I'm a glass half-full kind of guy. Sometimes it's good to be brought back to earth after so much success."

Match report written by BBC



Squad Statistics (as at March 29th, 2024)


2023-24 All Time
Age
Josh Clarke (GK) - 6 - 6 -
Roy Syla23 282282
Harry McHugh - 7171
George Stanger23 282282
Sean McGinty30 3621136
Jack Sanders - 8181
Nick McAllister23 282743
Jamie Murphy34 337337
Scott Tomlinson18 14 - 15 -
Mark McKenzie23 34314812
Anton Dowds27 26112611
Franny Amartey (sub)24 281281
Fraser Bryden (sub)19 325648
Paul Smith (sub)21 20 - 53 -
Lucas McRoberts (sub) - 1 - 1 -






League Table (as at March 29th, 2024)


Pld W D L Pts
1. Dundee United 30 17 8 5 59
2. Raith Rovers 29 17 7 5 58
3. Partick Thistle 30 12 10 8 46
4. Airdrieonians 29 11 6 12 39
5. Dunfermline Athletic 30 10 8 12 38
6. Ayr United 30 11 5 14 38
7. Morton 29 10 7 12 37
8. Queen's Park 30 9 9 12 36
9. ICT 30 7 11 12 32
10. Arbroath 29 6 5 18 23