Three sent off as Annan-Ayr 'friendly' proves anything but

REFEREE John Beaton dished out three red cards as Ayr crashed to defeat against an inspired Annan side.

Ayr manager Brian Reid slammed his players after William Easton was red-carded in 21 minutes for foul and abusive language at the referee.

Then he handed out two more after blows in the tunnel at half-time. Ayr's Dean Keenan appeared to grasp Annan's David Cox round the neck and the home player retaliated.

They were both sent packing by Beaton and Ayr played the second half with nine men and Annan a man short.

Reid said: "The game was probably spoiled by the sendings off. We've got to show discipline and we didn't. He could have shown more leniency or common sense with William's sending off."

Worse was to follow for Ayr after they lost Easton as Martyn Campbell sent a low passback into the net past his own keeper David Crawford.

Then six minutes later Annan piled on the agony when Mike Jack played a ball through to Pat Walker who crossed it into the goalmouth. John MacBeth dummied it and Brian Gilfillan was on hand to slot the ball low into the net to make it 2-0. MacBeth added the third after Gilfillan's shot was blocked and the ball fell to the defender who scored from 12 yards.

A minute later the Ayr defence was all at sea as a long ball over the top found Pat Walker and the new signing lobbed the keeper from 18 yards.