Ayr United Football Academy 19s Fire Into Quarterfinals of Scottish Youth Cup

Ayr under-19′s joined their senior counterparts this week in progressing through to the next round of the Scottish Cup, in this instance, it was the Scottish Youth Cup.

It’s been a while since the 19′s were in competitive action and with three enforced player omissions, the time was right to call up some of the potential stars from the younger academy sides, most notably 17′s midfield free kick specialist, Lee Lockhart, and up-and-coming striker from the 16′s, Mark Shankland.

Both played their part in an exciting match watched by a decent crowd at Somerset Park.

In a fast and frenetic start, neither team took the game by the scruff of the neck and it took 10 minutes before a goalkeeper had a save to make when Lockhart hit a tame free kick right into the hands of the visiting goalie.

From this save, the keeper moved the ball up the field and in a bizarre moment of defending by Ayr, a communication mix-up nearly caused an own goal as a defensive pass back whistled past the out rushing Daryll Jones and just before it hit the back of the net, a brilliant piece of defending from Alan Murdoch cleared the ball from the line to keep the game scoreless.

Ayr were dominating midfield with some nice play from Sean Kelly, Robbie Crawford and Lee Lockhart but for all their domination, the Ayr side couldn’t make the breakthrough and for the next 20 minutes the ball moved around the field, mainly in midfield, but no opportunities were made at either goal with the goalies barely touching the ball.

Lockhart tried his best to open the scoring again from a dead ball chance, again from a free kick. This time he was unlucky as his strongly powered strike clipped the post after beating the goalie.

He had another opportunity five minutes later after Ayr won another free kick just outside the box with a dubious looking last man handball to stop an attack, which won the defender a yellow card. The free kick was high and wide but young Lockhart was showing his appetite for goal.

Although Lockhart had the best chances to open the scoring in the match up to that point, he would have to be happy with an assist for the opening goal.

After receiving a brilliantly worked move by the day's captain, JJ Hawkshaw, Lockhart won a corner. He took the corner himself, playing in a wonderful ball over the top of the Clyde defenders for striker Darren Baird to fire in from close range while under pressure from the goalie.

It was a great time to take the lead, with only two minutes until the break and up until that point, the Ayr team had looked on top in all areas of the field. The players finished the half on a high after eventually breaking the deadlock, and this form would continue into the second 45.

Only two minutes into the second half, Baird was unlucky twice by having a shot deflected wide and then, after Dale McClelland crossed perfectly for him, the keeper knocked wide again under pressure. However, the signs looked good for Ayr to increase their lead.

The Clyde keeper was having a great game and would make more fantastic saves before the end of the match to keep the scoreline respectable for his side.

In the 53rd minute, two more saves were needed from the in-form keeper, firstly to keep out Stuart Milligan after a brilliant through ball from Lockhart had released him into the box, and then again when McClelland fired in a stunning goal-bound shot.

Alan Murdoch tried his luck from 35 yards which was ambitious for a centre half and on the return of the ball, Clyde broke down the left and with their first real shot on goal nearly scored as the well-hit shot took a deflection on its way toward goal and only stayed out thanks to some quick reflex thinking from the defence.

Clyde were pushing into the match at this mid-point of the second half and went close again with a shot from 18 yards that was lobbed over the keeper and fortunately for Ayr, looped over the bar as well.

Ayr’s coaches made a change, bringing on Roddy Paterson for Dale McClelland to try and mix things up a little.

In the next few minutes, shots from Sean Kelly and Robbie Crawford were both saved by the keeper and Paterson earned the Ayr side a free kick on the halfway line after being fouled by his marker, which earned the visiting side their second yellow of the match.

The resulting free kick saw Kelly play the ball into Milligan, but again he was thwarted by an inspired goalkeeper.

Completely against the run of play, Clyde did have the ball in the net on the 30-minute mark after a long cross into the tall striker but the assistant referee saw an infringement and flagged for a free kick for the home side, much to everyone’s relief.

This seemed to kick the Ayr players back into top gear as they peppered the away goal with countless shots on target looking for the second goal that would surely end the match.

This goal was to eventually come with 10 minutes remaining when Roddy Paterson received a great pass to fire in from a difficult angle 12 yards out. It was a terrific goal from the striker and reminded the watching Ayr United boss that he still knows the way to goal.

16′s player Mark Shankland would enter the fray before the match restarted and making way for him was midfielder Lockhart who had been unlucky not to get himself on the score sheet.

Shankland would have an immediate impact by almost playing Paterson in with a well-timed chip over the defenders, only to be outwitted by the keeper, again. However, he earned his team a corner.

The two substitutes would link well together for the remainder of the match, and in a move that involved Kelly and Crawford as well as themselves, they played Baird into a shooting position only for the goalie to make another superb flying save to keep the home side out.

Like a show at a funfair, Shankland was next to try and beat the goalie.

After receiving the ball on the 18-yard line from Milligan, he turned beautifully to deceive his defensive counterpart to make some space for his shot. The keeper was a match for the effort again however, and his work wasn’t finished as Paterson weaved his way through the defence and when 1-on-1 with the keeper, placed a well struck low daisy cutting shot toward the bottom right of the net, but the keeper dove low again keeping the ball out the goal.

This was to the last play of the match, and when the final whistle was blown, the joy on the Ayr players faces was clear for everyone to see.

They have now joined Hibs, Stenhousemuir and Livingston in the last eight. The winners from Aberdeen v St Mirren, Rangers v Hamilton, Celtic v Airdrie & Falkirk v Raith will also go into the hat for the draw in the last eight. Last year's competition saw Ayr drop out at the second round stage so a huge improvement has been made in terms of progress with the cup eventually being won by Celtic, defeating rivals Rangers 2-0.