Ladbrokes League One

EAST FIFE 1

AYR UNITED 4

By Calum Campbell and Ian Robb

Pictures: David Sargent

UNITED stretched their unbeaten run to nine league games in what could honestly be described as the proverbial game of two halves with East Fife dominating the first half and in the lead through a Duggan goal.

Not many neutrals would have given Ayr a chance, but United fans know better, this is a team that just never gives up and they stormed their way to victory with an outstanding second half performance.

Manager Ian McCall felt that the balance of his team during the first half was not right, but two half-time substitutions and a tactical change in midfield gave United the impetus.

Apart from an early couple of attacks, United struggled against a very direct and hard-working East Fife, for whom Mark Lamont was impressive in midfield. Time after time Lamont, Smith and Wilkie cut through Ayr's defence with intricate pinpoint passes, creating opportunities for Duggan, Page and Piggot. To a great extent United were lucky, struggling to clear from their own box and profiting from some poor finishing by East Fife, missed chances the Fifers would come to rue not converting.

In 35 minutes, the hosts finally got the goal their play deserved. Dunsmore slid a beautiful ball through the Ayr defence into the path of Duggan in the penalty area and he stroked the ball past the despairing Michael Hart and into the net.

Ayr rang the changes at half time, with Jamie Adams and Declan McDaid replaced by Craig Moore and Brian Gilmour. Moore slotted in up-front to partner Shankland, with Gilmour sitting in a deep midfield role, while Forrest moved in behind the strikers. Suddenly the Honest Men were transformed into an attacking machine, with Gilmour, in one of his best performances of the season, providing the missing link between defence and the forward line.

Ayr pressed forward with wave after wave of attacks, finally getting the breakthrough they were looking for in 56 minutes. Alan Forrest lifted a high, curling corner into the centre of the box where Rose leapt above his marker to head the ball powerfully into the net.

East Fife were now causing few problems for the Ayrshire men being limited to set-pieces and long range shots. Hart, however, had to come to the rescue in 67 minutes when Docherty tried his luck with a 25-yard attempt.

In 72 minutes Ayr took the lead. Forrest took a corner on the left towards the back post, and with the defenders content to watch it curl out for a goal kick, Rose darted in to slam the ball home.

Two minutes later, Lawrence Shankland controlled a pass from Andy Geggan at the edge of the box before turning and slipping the ball through to Moore who stroked home. The vociferous Ayr support could not believe their team’s transformation since half-time.

East Fife had a brief rally which ended in a magnificent save from Jordan Hart. Lamont worked the ball to the edge of the box and Linton lifted it to the back post where Wilkie nodded on to the penalty spot and Duggan overhead kicked goalward. Gilmour tried to block but the ball spun towards the line where Hart instinctively clawed the ball away with one hand.

The visitors grabbed another goal in 87 minutes when Shankland received the ball 30 yards out, looked up, saw the keeper coming off his line, and sent home a piledriver of a shot.

Starman

Michael Rose 3

Lawrence Shankland 2

Brian Gilmour 1.