Ayr United 2 – 2 Arbroath
Highlights courtesy of Ayr United TV
The Lichties left Somerset Park this afternoon with a point but will feel slightly hard done by that it wasn’t all three.
In treacherous conditions, with a wind which you would associate with Gayfield, Arbroath gave Ryan Dow his full debut with Scott Stewart slotting in at right back and Ricky Little returning to the back four.
Sean Adarkwa had a shot within just 60 seconds which won Arbroath a corner which was followed up with a second corner but Arbroath couldn’t make the early pressure pay.
At the other end Derek Gaston made a brilliant save to deny Josh Mullin and whilst the home side had the wind at their backs, Arbroath were lookingthe more dangerous with Adarkwa battling well up front.
The big moment of controversy came in the 37th minute when Referee Craig Napier awarded a penalty to Ayr United. Jayden Mitchell-Lawson went down and Napier told David Gold it was his challenge with Gold and his team mates adamant that there was no foul with Gold being booked for his protests.
Dempsey netted from the spot but there was more controversy to come as Arbroath looked to have won a foul on the edge of the Ayr United box, but the referee awarded the free kick which infuriated Manager Dick Campbell.
Dick was originally awarded a yellow card, but after not backing down, he was quickly shown a red card by Napier and sent to the stands.
Just before the half time whistle João Baldé came close but the Lichties went in to the break a goal down.
With the wind at their backs for the second half Arbroath were soon pressing and Sean Adarkwa was looking threatening and it wasn’t long before he scored his first goal for the club.
A cross by Michael McKenna was flicked on in the 57th minute by the head of Colon Hamilton which Adarkwa latched on to and opened the scoring.
Arbroath doubled their lead just 6 minutes later when a cross from the wing by Yasin Ben El-Mhanni’s cross was missed by everyone and landed in the back of the net.
Whilst Arbroath were looking dangerous on the attack, Ayr still liked dangerous on the counter and Gaston was forced into a good save.
In the 76th minute Sean McGinty headed in from a Mullin corner to draw the game level.
As the conditions started to deteriorate further, both sides had chances to win it but in either side could find another goal and it ended all square.
Ayr United
21 – Charlie Albinson
3 – Paddy Reading
5 – Sean McGinty (c)
15 – Alex Kirk
17 – Nicholas McAllister
31 – Paul Smith (McKenzie 45)
20 – Michael Hewitt
14 – Josh Mullin
8 – Ben Dempsey
11 – Jayden Mitchell-Lawson (Ashford 74)
9 – Dipo Akinyemi
Ayr United Substitutes
2 – Jordan Houston
22 – Mark McKenzie – 31; 45th
23 – Sam Ashford – 11; 74th
24 – Scott Tomlinson
25 – Finn Ecrepont
26 – Kinlay Balham
29 – David Ban-gala
1 – Aidan McAdams (GK)
Yellow Cards – Smith 43, Albinson 90
Goals – Dempsey 38 pen, McGinty 76
Arbroath
1 – Derek Gaston
12 – Scott Stewart
3 – Colin Hamilton
4 – Ricky Little
5 – Thomas O’Brien (c)
7 – David Gold
8 – Michael McKenna
25 – João Baldé
18 – Yasin Ben El-Mhanni (Linn 71)
24 – Sean Adarkwa
19 – Ryan Dow (Hilson 81)
Arbroath Substitutes
9 – Dale Hilson – 19; 81st
11 – Bobby Linn – 18; 71st
20 – Scott Bitsindou
22 – Florent Hoti
23 – Scott Allan
21 – Cammy Gill (GK)
Yellow Cards – Balde 34, Gold 37
Goals – Adarkwa 57, El-Mhanni 63
Attendance – 2064
Officials;
Referee: Craig Napier
Assistant Referee 1; Douglas Ross
Assistant Referee 2; Scott Anderson
