IT WAS a long time coming but, after five postponements and a draw in the first meeting, Ayr emerged from this Homecoming Scottish Cup, third-round replay to clinch the prize they craved, a home tie with near-neighbours Kilmarnock in the fourth round.
Two goals inside five second- half minutes finally killed off the brave challenge of the Dundee junior side. But Lochee went out with their heads held high.
For long spells in the first half, a stranger might have wondered which was the senior si
de and which the junior. Lochee played the better football, while Ayr opted for a long-ball game, hoping to exploit the pace of Bryan Prunty up front.
But in terms of efforts on goal, the hosts were well ahead. Twice in the opening half-hour Dave Gormley failed to take straightforward headed chances at the near post, while Ryan Stevenson's shooting was also proving problematic for the visitors. Not that it was one-way traffic. Garry Middleton fired an eighth minute chance wide for the junior side, while he, Charlie Cargill and Craig Robertson gave the home defence some anxious moments.
However, Ayr made the breakthrough in 36 minutes when a corner by Ayr skipper Chris Aitken was headed on by Scott Walker and Neil McGowan stooped at the back post to nod home.
Ayr came out with all guns blazing after the break and as they pushed forward Lochee's Gareth Dailly, cousin of Rangers player Christian, was fortunate to escape with a booking after two bad tackles on Ryan Borris inside 30 seconds. Eight minutes after the restart, Gormley lunged forward to head Ayr further ahead from close range.
The Second Division side then went on to make the tie safe and set up a lucrative fourth-round tie at home to neighbours Kilmarnock with a third goal five minutes later. A deep cross from the left was collected by Borris, whose cut-back was fired home by Prunty from close range.
The juniors finally got some reward for their efforts in 76 minutes when a quick break out of defence ended with substitute Paul Blackwood lashing the ball home from 20 yards. A couple of minutes later, however, they were reduced to ten men when Cargill collected his second yellow card of the night.
Ayr United: Grindlay; Keenan, McGowan (Dempsie 59), Walker, Henderson, Stevenson, Borris, Aitken, Prunty, Gormley (Williams 83), Easton (Agnew 79). Subs not used: Weaver, Stewart.
Lochee United: Ross; Krobot, Kirk, Hay, MacMillan, Dailly (Abbot 89), Thomson (Blackwood 61), Cargill, Middleton, Hagan (Watson 84), Robertson. Subs not used: Bruce, Brown.
Attendance: 2,049. Referee: B Colvin.
The full article contains 453 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
