Ayr United 2 - 0 Dumbarton: Loan star sets ring rusty

Published on Sunday 2 January 2011 18:16

Ayr United 2 Roberts 11 Pen; McKay 77 Dumbarton 0

HIBS manager Colin Calderwood left this game after 70 minutes, with Ayr 1-0 ahead, and missed the impact made by United substitute Danny McKay.

The loanee from Kilmarnock, made the game safe for the Honest Men with a well-taken goal and he may pose a threat to the Hibs defence in Saturday's Scottish Cup tie at Easter Road.

"I expected a bit of rustiness, but it was just so important that we got time on grass before the cup tie," said United manager Brian Reid after a six-weeks lay-off. "I'd have taken any kind of win - so to get two goals, keep a clean sheet and escape without an injury - I'm delighted."

Reid's men got the perfect start, Mark Roberts putting them ahead from the penalty spot in 11 minutes after Ryan McCann was upended in the box by Sons' Alan Cook.

"A soft penalty", moaned Dumbarton manager Alan Adamson, who was upset that referee Craig Charleston did not award his side a penalty in similar circumstances after half-time.

Dumbarton were more an attacking force after the break and, had trialist Pat Walker not been denied by a brilliant David Crawford save when one-on-one with the keeper in 58 minutes, things might have been different.

In 78 minutes, a counter-attack by Ayr saw McKay, less than a minute on the park, control a miscued headed clearance from Paul Nugent and fire below keeper Stephen Grindlay.