The Lichties continued their amazing run of form on Saturday when a Michael McKenna goal in the 63rd minute extended their undefeated started in 2021 to 8 games!
As Jack Hamilton returned to the side, Kris Doolan dropped to the bench and he was joined by the returning James Craigen and new loan signing Carlo Pignatiello.
Ayr United suffered a blow as Number 1 keeper Viljami Sinisalo suffered injury in training so St Mirren’s Peter Urminsky was signed on an emergency loan on Saturday morning.
Arbroath made a wonderful start with Bobby Linn cutting in and unleashing a shot after just 45 seconds as Arbroath had all the possession for the opening 10 minutes.
Ayr did start to come back into the match and Jason Thomson had to be alert as he made a brilliant blocking tackle in the in the 12th minute before Derek Gaston made an excellent double save from the resulting corner kick.
Bobby linn won a corner in the 25th minute as his rasping shot was pushed over the bar, but Dario Zanatta should have opened the scoring for Ayr in the 32nd minute but his header was directly into the gloves of Gaston.
Gaston was again on fine form as he somehow saved Zanatta’s cheeky backheel in the 40th minute before Linn came close again with a free kick in the 42nd minute which was saved by Urminsky.
Half Time – Ayr United 0 – 0 Arbroath
Gaston again denied Zanatta in the 47th minute as he pushed his long range effort over the bar for a corner kick.
Dale Hilson who had been chasing absolutely everything tried his own cheeky effort in the 59th minute and was inches away as he connected to Linn’s cross, and Hilson came close again in the 61st as his header flashed across the goal as Arbroath started to really press.
Just 2 minutes later and Arbroath had the all important goal! Linn set up Williamson and his cross was headed out to the edge of the 18 yarder where McKenna hit the ball first time as he flew past Urminsky and into the back of the net!
Minutes later and McKenna and Linn were replaced by Craigen and Moore.
As the game petered out Arbroath were doing all the could to get the ball up into the Ayr box, with Kris Doolan coming on for Jack Hamilton in the 79th minute.
With the clock into stoppage time Lewis Moore almost scored a sublime goal as he past a few defenders with his shot just wide.
Full Time – Ayr United 0 – 1 Arbroath
Half Time Stats
Possession – Ayr United 54% – 46% Arbroath
Total Shots – Ayr United 5 – 1 Arbroath
On Target – Ayr United 2 – 0 Arbroath
Off Target – Ayr United 1 – 1Arbroath
Blocked – Ayr United 2 – 0 Arbroath
Corners – Ayr United 3 – 2 Arbroath
Fouls Committed – Ayr United 6 – 1 Arbroath
Full Time Stats
Possession – Ayr United 48% – 52% Arbroath
Total Shots – Ayr United 13 – 10 Arbroath
On Target – Ayr United 7 – 3 Arbroath
Off Target – Ayr United 3 – 7Arbroath
Blocked – Ayr United 3 – 0 Arbroath
Corners – Ayr United 5 – 5 Arbroath
Fouls Committed – Ayr United 14 – 12 Arbroath
Ayr United
29 – Peter Urminsky
4 – Aaron Muirhead
2 – Jordan Houston (Murdoch 68)
17 – Corrie Ndaba
19 – Dario Zanatta
3 – Patrick Reading
18 – Joe Chalmers
14 – Cameron Smith (Moffat 77)
10 – Tom Walsh (McKenzie 68)
11 – Luke McCowan
30 – Jack Baird
Substitutes
5 – Sam Roscoe
6 – Andrew Murdoch – 2; 68th
7 – Michael Moffat – 14; 77th
8 – Michael Miller
22 – Mark McKenzie – 10; 68th
23 – Brett McGavin
21 – Ellis Hare-Reid (GK)
Yellow Card – Ndaba 54
Arbroath
1 – Derek Gaston
2 – Jason Thomson
3 – Colin Hamilton
4 – Ricky Little
5 – Thomas O’Brien (c)
8 – Michael McKenna (Craigen 69)
12 – Scott Stewart
18 – Ben Williamson
19 – Jack Hamilton (Doolan 79)
9 – Dale Hilson
11 – Bobby Linn (Moore 68)
Substitutes
6 – Mark Whatley
7 – David Gold
14 – Kris Doolan – 19; 79th
16 – Lewis Moore – 11; 68th
22 – Carlo Pignatiello
28 – James Craigen – 8; 69th
21 – Scott Gallacher (GK)
Goal – McKenna 63
Yellow Card – C. Hamilton 75
Officials;
Referee: Grant Irvine
Assistant Referee 1: Ralph Gordon
Assistant Referee 2: David McKniff
