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Ayr United 2 v 1 Stranraer
Saturday 25th June 2022
On Saturday afternoon, Ayr United took on Cinch League 2 side Stranraer at Kilwinning Academy for a pre-season friendly. The Honest Men won 2-1 thanks to goals from Sam Ashford and Fraser Bryden.
The Ayr United 1st half team consisted of Charlie Albinson, Nick McAllister, Frankie Musonda, Sean McGinty, Finn Ecrepont, Daire O’Connor, Andy Murdoch, Paul Smith, Sam Ashford, Dario Viviani and Dipo Akinyemi.
Ayr United took the lead of the game after 18 minutes when Daire O’Connor played a great ball to the edge of the box which was stopped by Sam Ashford and the striker turned and fired the ball into the bottom right corner to give the Honest Men the lead over their opposition.
Ayr United nearly doubled their lead minutes before half time when Finn Ecrepont played a great cross into the box but the left backs effort went just past the right hand post and the Honest Men went into half time with the 1-0 lead.
Ayr United changed their full team at half time apart from captain Sean McGinty. The Ayr United 2nd half team consisted of Aidan McAdams, Jordan Houston, Michael Hewitt, Sean McGinty, Paddy Reading, Mark McKenzie, Michael Moffat, Ben Dempsey, James Dolan, Fraser Bryden and Max Guthrie.
13 minutes into the second half and Fraser Bryden nearly got himself on the scoresheet however his effort from 35 yards out was denied by the Stranraer keeper as he tipped it over the bar. 5 minutes later and James Dolan also created a great chance for the Honest Men however the winger’s effort hit off the right hand post but stays out of the net.
In the 66th minute, 2 ex Ayr United Youth Academy players linked up to give Stranraer their equaliser. James Hilton crossed a corner into the box and Trialist 9 slotted it into the net.
Stranraer were only on level terms for a minute as Ayr took the lead again a minute later thanks to Fraser Bryden. After a mistake from the Stranraer keeper, Bryden picked the ball up in the box and tapped it into the empty net from 8 yards out.
Max Guthrie had a number of chances however the young striker was denied by some great saves from the Stranraer keeper. Mark McKenzie also saw his effort from 20 yards out denied by a great save by the keeper. In the 41st minute, a triple save from the Stranraer keeper denied the consecutive efforts from Fraser Bryden, Max Guthrie and Mark McKenzie.
Stranraer had a few chances in the dying minutes of the game however a number of great saves from Aidan McAdams ensures Ayr United got the win over the Cinch League 2 side.
A great friendly which saw a mixture of experience and youth play in each half. The second half saw the strike partnership of Fraser Bryden and Max Guthrie who have a combined age of 33.
Ayr United (1st Half)
Albinson, McAllister, Musonda, McGinty, Ecrepont, O’Connor, Murdoch, Smith, Ashford, Viviani, Akinyemi
Ayr United (2nd Half)
McAdams, Houston, Hewitt, McGinty, Reading, McKenzie, Dempsey, Moffat, Dolan, Guthrie, Bryden Substitute: O’Kane
Half Time
Ayr United 1 Stranraer 0
Full Time
Ayr United 2 Stranraer 1
Ayr Goals
Sam Ashford (18’)
Fraser Bryden (67’)
Thanks to Karen Malcolm for the match report.