Ayr United 3
Buckie Thistle 2
Scottish League Cup (Premier Sports Cup)

Match Report

BEN Dempsey admits Ayr only have themselves to blame after tumbling out of the Premier Sports Cup.

United fluffed their lines in a final day shootout against Highland League champs Buckie Thistle as a 3-2 win wasn't enough to challenge for the knockout stages. Despite three wins in Group B, Ayr will not progress after finishing third on goal difference.

Boss Scott Brown criticised his side for a lack of a "ruthless" instinct after spurning a number of golden chances, and new skipper Dempsey confessed they could - and should - have run up a cricket score.

He told the Ayrshire Post: "We always knew it was going to be a tough group, but you'd liked to have thought nine points would have been enough. Sadly that wasn't the case for us.

"We know if we'd taken our chances, we could easily have scored six or seven today. But at the same time we conceded two sloppy goals and that's not good enough. They caught us off guard a couple of times and we need to work on that and improve.

"It feels weird to be disappointed after finishing the group with nine points, but we've definitely shown enough in pre-season and the cup to know we're in good shape going into the league season."

Dempsey has been handed the captain's armband by Brown in what is his third season at United. The former Charlton midfielder admits it's a new role but one he's relishing.

He said: "I wasn't really expecting it when I came in at the start of the season but the gaffer has shown that faith in me and I'm relishing the role. It's a new resposibility for me and I'm just trying to take it game by game and be a leader out there for the boys. I'm not one to scream and shout for the sake of it but if there's something to be said then I'm not afraid to say it.

"It means a lot to have someone like the gaffer showing that faith in me - there's no better person than him to learn from in the game and I try and take it in each and every day in training. I just want to repay that trust he's shown in me."

Brown had restored Marco Rus to the starting line-up following his suspension while there was also a first start of the season for Jamie Murphy. And Ayr almost got a flier after just 20 seconds when Jay Henderson's long range lob was tipped over by Mark Ridgers.

George Oakley sent a point blank header straight at Ridgers before Ayr made their pressure tell when Henderson ran through to bury a fine effort. Then came the game's big flashpoint when Buckie's Josh Peters somehow stayed on the park after an X-rated lunge on George Stanger - ref Colin Steven only deeming it a yellow card.

But Ayr doubled their lead with a brilliantly taken goal when Dempsey fed Anton Dowds and his pass was turned home by Henderson. However, United couldn't reach the break with the two goal lead intact and their anger at Peters staying on the park intensified when the same man scored from a corner.

As Ayr turned to shoot towards the Railway End in the second half, their pursuit of goals ultimately fell flat as the visitors sat in and hit on the break to good effect. Dowds passed up another gilt edged chance before Buckie levelled when slack defending afforded Jack MacIver space to rifle past Harry Stone from 20 yards.

Ayr did force their way back in front when sub Jake Hastie, who injected some much needed urgency after half time, thundered home a fine finish. But it wasn't enough for Ayr to put themselves in the picture for a runners-up place.

Boss Brown slammed referee Steven for his first half call to keep striker Peters on the pitch, saying: "I don't know what he and the linesman are watching. It's one of the worst tackles I've seen in a long time. You're trying to score goals and you have the referee against you in that scenario - watching it back it was a disgrace.

"We've gone out because we didn't score enough goals and we didn't look ruthless enough. Yeah we created chances but we never really looked like scoring a lot. And we always look like giving people chances. These games are never easy and we warned them about that beforehand."

Match report written by Ayrshire Post