Ayr United 0 - 1 Forfar: Bryan Deasley's winner sees Forfar punish Ayr

Published on Wednesday 23 March 2011 16:40

Ayr United 0 Forfar Athletic 1 Deasley (86)

SUPERSUB Bryan Deasley, only on the park seven minutes, struck with a brilliant low shot to tighten-up the already close-run race for the Second Division promotion play-off places.

The goal was tough on Ayr, who had dominated territory and possession, but lacked a cutting edge. In a cracking start, however, the Honest Men might well have been 3-0 up inside the opening ten minutes.

Alan Trouten forced a diving save out of Scott Gallagher; Greg Ross made a last-gasp, goal-saving tackle on veteran Mark Roberts as he moved to tap home Gallagher's parry of a Michael Moffat pile-driver, before Moffat forced a great one-handed save out of Scotland Under-21 goalkeeper Gallagher.

The match failed to crawl out of the slough of mediocrity in a second half of few chances. Indeed apart from yellow cards to Ayr's Jim Lauchlan and Forfar's Ryan Dow and Ross Campbell from referee Brian Colvin, there was little to write home about until Ayr's appeal for a penalty in 71 minutes was turned down despite Michael Bolochoweckyj appearing to bring down the flying Jonathan Tiffoney. Trouten skied over from ten yards, when set-up by Roberts in 75 minutes before Deasley's late clincher.

Ayr United: Martin; Lauchlan, Chris Smith, Malone, M Campbell, Bannigan, Trouten, McLaughlin, Moffat, Roberts (Rodgers 85), Easton (Tiffoney 62). Subs not used: Jones, Woodburn, Robertson.

Forfar: Gallagher; Ross, McCulloch, Bolochoweckyj, Bishop,Sellars, R Campbell (Calum Smith 90), Hilson, Gibson (Templeman 79), Mowat, Dow (Deasley 79). Subs not used: Duffy, Brady.

Referee: B Colvin.

Attendance: 909.