U19s v Ayr United

Ten men enough to leave Ayr with three points.

AYR UNITED 1 DUNFERMLINE 2

Dunfermline U19`s travelled west to meet their Ayr United counterparts at Dam Park and for the third successive Sunday registered a win.

Hamish French`s side was missing Greg Paterson, Garry Leighton, John McCulloch and Charlie Bradshaw through injury, Derek Howie since he was on first team duty at Hamilton and Scott McBride now on loan to Arbroath.

Stuart Dearden heads over the bar

On a very difficult soft surface, the young Fifers always looked the better side. Stuart Dearden and Ryan Thomson had efforts over the bar before skipper Kris Maxwell put his team ahead in 16th minute from a Harry McGregor free kick. The ball was floated in from the left, Chris Lennon went up in a challenge with Ayr keeper Stuart Strachan forcing a fisted clearance that his defence failed to clear and MAXWELL stuck the ball home from 10 yards.

Kris Maxwell scores the first

Ayr, who sit 20th of 21 in this league made a strong attempt to get back into the game. Graham Mushet and Alex Woodburn forged an 18th minute chance but Lee Graham blocked Mushet`s shot and then Keir McSorley followed up causing Craig Bauld to parry the well connected shot around his left hand post.

Craig Bauld takes a cross

United kept up the pressure with Grant Kirkwood sweeping a diagonal ball to Mushet in the next minute. This time Bauld held the low drive.

The referee decided to show danger man, Maxwell red after a challenge on Ayr`s Elliot McDonald. The Pars striker slipped as he tackled and caught the Ayr man but the referee decided that there had been intent and rather surprisingly reduced the visitors to ten men with just 26 minutes gone.

Kris Maxwell leaves the field with more than an hour to play

Stuart Dearden then had a header at Paul Willis` corner cleared off the line. The ten men seemed to open up more spaces and capitalised as Ayr piled forward.

 
Off the line!

In 29 minutes Jason Hunter flicked on a clearance from his keeper and the impressive WILLIS burst through to net the Pars second from 12 yards. Chris Lennon was on the end of a Willis free kick three minutes later but narrowly missed to the left.

Paul Willis puts Dunfermline two ahead

Craig McTear goes down with ligament damage to his ankle

There was a five minute stoppage early in the second half after Ayr`s Craig McTear went over in a hole and this halted the attacking play that Pars had started the second 45 with.

Ryan Thomson tries an attempt at goal

Ayr had several attempts but none that really bothered Pars keeper Bauld. In 78th minute Dearden hit the post from a Willis corner and the contest seemed all but over until the referee made another controversial decision in the 87th minute. He awarded Ayr a penalty kick after the ball had bounced up and played Sandy Nairn`s arm. Woodward gave Bauld no chance from the spot but Ayr never looked like finding an equaliser even though the full five minutes were added to the 90.

Woodburn beats Bauld with a late penalty