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PROMOTION ASPIRATIONS UP IN THE AYR

Last updated : 06 October 2003 By Richard Jones

Last Saturday had seen the resurgence of the Saints team and their respective promotion ambitions. Today was the return to normal service with Saints falling foul to a last minute equaliser from 10 men, part time Ayr United.

Perthshire Picture Agency
Stark was forced into two changes from last weeks side, with Bernard and McLaughlin dropping out. Malone and Robertson were reinstated. The 442 approach was re-employed after its success last Saturday. The first half was a dull affair and the autumn chill settled into McDiarmid again. In the fourth minute, MacDonald made the first effort at goal. The ball was laid off by Mixu, but Peaso’s strike was deflected, lost its sting and was easily collected by Ludovic Roy in the Ayr goal. Seven minutes in, and Malone was fouled on the left wing. Robertson’s delivery was semi cleared to the edge of the box, but Donnelly’s left footed effort deflected wide for the first of Saint’s fifteen corners.

Saints were the first team to play with ten men, as Mixu left the field for stitches to a head wound. Ayr made use of the extra space and pressed forward. The Ayr left back McGrady cut inside John Robertson and released a powerful strike, which was comfortably saved by Cuthbert. After 17 minutes, Ayr were on the attack again. This time Cuthbert made a good block with his feet after Andrew Ferguson turned sharply in the box.

The re-introduction of Mixu after ten minutes of facial surgery immediately lead to a Saints attack. J. Robertson won a free kick down the right, and from the set piece Saints forced a corner. However, the corner was ineffective and Ayr regained possession. Saints proceeded to win a succession of corners, but failed to cause any real threat. This despite the height of Maxwell, Mixu and Dods. On the half hour mark, MacDonald fired in a 20 yard volley, from Mixu’s chested lay off but it was wide.

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The first 45 had been poor, with Saints struggling to deliver the lethal ball or finish. The crowd remained patient, as per request of the management, but frustration loomed. Parker was introduced in place of Malone on the hour mark, to add more zing to the attack. His pace, added immediate potency to the front line. In the 63rd minute, a right footed cross from Reilly found Maxwell at the back post, but from 7 yards, his header was well directed but lacked power, and was comfortably saved by Roy. In 65 minutes, Saints were becoming ever closer to penetrating the Ayr goal. This time, a deflected shot from 8 yards by Dods trickled beyond the defensive line. MacDonald reacted but his left footed lunge was blocked by Roy. Five minutes later and Dods had another chance. From Reilly’s cross, Maxwell challenged for the header, but again the ball fell to Dods on the penalty spot, but his drive was deflected out for a corner.

Perthshire Picture Agency
From the resultant corner, Saints finally scored. Maxwell’s header bounced in front of MacDonald. Even though the striker was with his back to goal, he performed an over head kick to take the lead. A minute later, and the tie appeared to be all over. Dunlop charged into a challenge with Dods, he arrived late and received his second yellow.




Ten minutes left of play, and Ayr were gaining momentum even with only ten men. They should have levelled after Cuthbert flapped at a cross from the left. The ball dropped and bounced in front of two Ayr players, but their effort skimmed the roof of the bar. Six minutes remaining and MacDonald had a good chance. Mixu crossed from the bye line, MacDonald was free at the back post, but his header went wide of the right post.

Two minutes left and Ayr levelled. The Saints defence was in disarray as Stewart Kean made up for his earlier miss, netting from a cross at the back post as Cuthbert tried in vain to claw the ball back out of the net to finish the game at 1-1.

This afternoon was an extremely poor display representing the story of the season so far. The result of last weekend is worth very little now. Promotion is steadily evaporating away by the week. The team this afternoon showed little offensive inspiration from 40 yards in. The stale tactic of knocking the ball across the midfield, followed by a speculative cross again did not work. By the time the ball has reached the wide player, the defence have formed for the predictable offence. Few players made the effort to alter the tactic and penetrate towards the middle of the box. Even if the team were short of McLaughlin and Bernard the opposition are considerably lesser, being a part time outfit and should not have been as difficult to break down. Ayr had only won one game this season, last week against Brechin. As a club with alleged aspirations for promotion, Saints should have handled the youthful part timers. Particularly with the opposition down to ten men.

The Ayr goal saw many leaving their seats in the East Stand. In 15 years of watching Saints I had not seen that reaction before. The crowd itself was disappointingly small, particularly coming off the result of last week. Perhaps Perth’s pessimists will sit smug this evening. The goals of last week were all in the wondergoal category and so happened to come at once and would be unlikely to be repeated again. Instead the normal service of an underperforming team would return.

Patience has been tested and expired in the 88th minute. The support remained diligent and polite to the team and management today, but again they were let down. The entertainment promised by Stark in the programme notes was followed by a stagnating creative unit who failed to unlock the Ayr defence and instead squirmished chances and set pieces. Deafening silence hushed round the stadium for much of the 90 minutes this afternoon as Saints exhibited their inability to break down a team. Perhaps, the 2000 spectators were wondering what had happened. What had changed in a week, or perhaps they were coming to terms with the incompetence on display. What they would spend their money on next week or even if the season ticket is refundable.

Billy Stark was disappointed again after the match yesterday.

"We failed to close out the game with a second goal. They defended well but we were off the pace we wanted to play at. I can’t remember losing as many scrappy goals as we have recently."