Arbroath 2-2 Ayr

Last updated : 03 April 2005 By Simon

Good solid performance from AFC here, but with Dumbarton picking up all 3 points at home to Alloa, it looks like we must win next week to have a chance of staying up!

Arbroath had a chance as early as the first minute, with John McGlashan putting a free header just wide of the right hand post. Two minutes later, Ian Diack went one better, as he put Arbroath into an early lead. Some good passing in midfield saw space open up in front of McGlashan who then slipped a great ball through for Diack to hit home into the top corner from a tight angle.


All the early pressure was by Arbroath, and we nearly doubled our lead on 11 minutes when Chris McLeod had his header saved on the line by Hillcoat, in the
Ayr goal. Ayr then equalised against the run of play. A cross into the box looked easy for the defence, but new signing Craig Coyle called for the ball, but missed it completely, which allowed Stuart Boyd to head home.

Arbroath had the final chance before half time, with Gavin Swankie sending a 30 yard free kick just wide off the near post. Arbroath started the 2nd half as they played in the first, with a 2nd goal coming soon after the restart. A Swankie corner went right across the goalmouth, and Chris McLeod headed in at the back post from 3 yards out.

It was all Arbroath at this point, with Ian Diack this time unlucky to have his half volley saved by John Hillcoat, who dived well to his right. This was to prove a crucial save, this Ayr leveling the game just seconds after this. Hillcoat kicked the ball straight up the pitch, and after a Boyd shot was blocked, Scott Chaplain fired the ball past Craig Coyle.

Arbroath were still in charge of the game, and were unlucky not to be ahead again in the 68th minute. A fantastic run by Swankie saw him hammer a low shot into the bottom corner from 12 yards out, but sadly Diack couldn’t get out of the way, and it took a slight deflection off his leg when he was in an offside position. Four minutes later Hillcoat pulled off a stunning save from a point blank Ian Diack header. With 5 minutes left, a Steven Rennie header was headed off the line.

Overall, Arbroath were VERY unlucky not to win on Saturday. The team played very well as a unit, and if we continue to play like that I still think we can stay up, despite Dumbarton winning. Keep the faith! Bring on Alloa!