Ayr United 2
Dumbarton 0
League (Second Division)

Match Report

TWO goals in a frantic five minute spell helped Ayr record a festive win at Somerset Park.

Craig Conway and Dougie Ramsay struck either side of Dumbarton’s Scott Bannerman seeing red during a fiery first half.

And United took full advantage of the numbers game to see out the second 45 minutes without adding to their tally.

After a slow start to the game, things got heated with a series of meaty challenges which led to Dumbarton centre half Jamie Smith being lucky to stay on the field.

An early caution for the stopper was followed by a 21st minute bone cruncher in which he barged through the back of Chris Strain off the ball but survived the indignity an early bath.

Ironically, Smith then blew a great chance to fire the Sons in front when he ghosted in behind the static Ayr defence to slam a Bannerman free-kick against the legs of Mark McGeown.

Chris Gentile then saw an effort blocked by his own striker, Ian Russell, as it roared towards the bottom corner with Dumbarton on top.

But Ayr punished the misses as they broke the deadlock with a mazy run from Conway who beat two men before seeing his driven cross deflected home by a Dumbarton defender.

Tempers then rose as Bannerman lost the plot two minutes later with a crude lunge on Vareille which earned the midfielder a straight red card.

Ayr didn’t stand on ceremony and quickly stretched their lead when great work from Gareth Wardlaw saw him round the keeper and lay off for Conway to cross and Ramsay arrived to nod home from six yards.

United were thriving with the man advantage and should have made it 3-0 before the break when Vareille sent Wardlaw scampering down the right and his cross was bundled wide by Strain when he should have scored.

Dumbarton’s hands were tied but they made a fist of it during the second half early going when Andy Rodgers volleyed just wide from 25 yards to serve a timely reminder.

But Ayr had space to exploit with full back Andy Reid enjoying particular freedom and he sent a tracer bullet of a half volley inches wide from 25 yards as United looked to kill the game.

That moment should have arrived in the 66th minute when Conway’s quick feet were again the undoing of the Dumbarton defence and when he laid back for Strain, the former Troon midfielder saw his effort tipped over by Steven Grindlay.

Strain was at the heart of most attacking moves and he led a breakaway which set up a shooting chance for skipper Raymond Logan but his effort was again tipped over by the in-form Grindlay.

The final chance to put the icing on the cake fell to sub Ian Cashmore who, only seconds after coming on, sent a spectacular overhead kick just past the post for what would have been a stunning ending to a welcome three points.

Match report written by Ayr United FC Official Website