New season... same old frailties

Saturday 6th August - Irn-Bru First Division
Ayr United 1, Hamilton Accies 2


During the summer I almost, almost, took the time to look through AUTV to note down the number of goals we conceded from corners and set pieces last season. Balls into the box that our defence didn't deal with. I didn't but it wasn't a surprise that our Achilles heal should cost us again as First Division football returned to Somerset Park.

It was a game dominated by corners, with sixteen in total, as both sides enjoyed sustained periods of pressure in the other's 18 yard box.  Hamilton's Dougie Imrie and United's Michael McGowan provided some quality deliveries but ultimately Hamilton - and 35 year-old 6ft 2in Accies centre-back Mark McLoughlin - were able to capitalise.

Ayr had started well, with Michael McGowan scoring after 8 minutes following a great move involving Roberts and Moffat. But that was undone 20 minutes later when Robertson, otherwise his classy self in the right-back slot, was out jumped by McLaughlin, Cuthbert nowhere having pulled off a full stretch to turn a Hopkirk shot out for the corner.  As the half progressed, United were sitting far too deep and allowing Accies to dictate without causing Cuthbert too much concern.  Roberts was the front man, with Moffat in a withdrawn role behind meaning Ayr lacked that out ball that could have relieved some pressure.

Into the second-half and it took just 10 minutes for Hamilton to grab what would prove to be the winner. Again McLaughlin got the better of Robertson following what appeared to be a wrestling match in the six yard box. It seemed incomprehensible that a foul hadn't been committed, either on Cuthbert - with the experienced Simon Mensing causing a nuisance on the goal line - or Robertson but referee George Salmond was uninterested.  Ayr really lack a physical presence across the whole team to deal with such dangerous set-pieces. Smith, Malone and Geggan may be brave but ultimately we weren't big enough or strong enough to hold out against such a bombardment.

Ayr did have chances to grab an equaliser that on the balance of play would have been deserved. Billy Reid withdrew the influential Crawford and brought on the defensive minded Canning and seemed to settle for what he had, despite United appearing to tire.  Brian Reid's men continued to press and Wardlaw, on as a sub should have done better with a ball knocked down to him seven or eight yards out by Campbell; Cerny made a great save from Robertson and perhaps the best chance fell to Trouten.  Running on to a great through ball from Geggan, the winger, with space still ahead of him to run into, tamely shot at Cerny.

In the end, it was disappointment at the manner of defeat but some positive signs in the way we competed with a Hamilton side that will be up their challenging at the end of season.  The defence, with two competitive clean sheets already under their belts, dealt with Hamilton in open play and the interplay between Moffat, Roberts and the midfield at times showed up well and earned us a great goal.

However a postscript to the game is the injury to Eddie Malone - thankfully not as serious as first feared - which really brings into focus how threadbare Brian Reid's squad is.  Further loan deals could be in the offing but it isn't lightweight  novices from the SPL U19s we need, notwithstanding Brian Reid's commendable commitment to playing football 'the right way'.

The Opposition: 
For all Billy Reid's guarantee that Hamilton will play some sublime football this season - with an emphasis on youth - it was two set pieces and an experienced, no-nonsense defence that won them the game. In terms of their playing-style, I was expecting more. Despite being tidy on the ball, young Ali Crawford in particular catching the eye, they certainly didn't outclass United and were not shy to launch it out of defence when required.  Its obvious that Accies are missing a striker or two to put away the chances Imrie and co. will create but, with Mensing and McLaughlin in defence - not to mention Cerny between the posts - they will be serious title contenders. Cerny was a £180,000 signing when he joined Accies in 2009 and that tells its own story in the difference between the two sides.


Match Links:
Matchday Live
Davie Sargent's Photos
Honestpage
Pie & Bovril 

[Archive] Will the Lions learn?

Here's a blog post I wrote back in May about the team Ayr fans loves to hate, Livingston. Not the normal sort of thing that will appear on @albinoanaconda, but a roundabout way of summarising last season's Second Division campaign. And subtly getting the boot stuck into Livi.  The lads at the Terrace Football Podcast were good enough to publish - their weekly programme is well worth a listen.

It was an underwhelming title win.  Less than 400 fans travelled the forty-or-so minutes to see it confirmed at Stenhousemuir, around a thousand more saw the trophy lifted at Almondvale.  Underwhelming not because Livingston weren’t the best side in the Second Division this season, but because of its sheer inevitability.  Favourites from the start, closest challengers Ayr United had the opportunity at the start of February to make it interesting and close to gap to one point with a game in hand – but a 3-0 win for the Lions at Somerset Park, on the back of a 2-0 victory versus Brechin City the previous week, started the procession as full-time Livi continued a run of 14 games between mid-January and the end of March where they dropped just two points.

While Livingston powered to the title, the cup exploits and weather-enforced schedule imposed on Ayr and Brechin took its toll.  The Honest Men lost six of their seven fixtures re-arranged for midweek, the win ironically coming against a Brechin side who almost contrived to throw away even a play-off spot as memories of their thrilling quarter-final tie at Glebe Park versus St. Johnstone faded fast.

Livingston’s response to their title?  Their consecutive promotions were the ‘fault’ of the short-sighted SFL Chairmen that condemned them to the bottom tier of Scottish football in 2009, and that clubs like Ayr had now ‘paid’ for their decision.  But who was paying  for Livingston’s rapid rise through the lower reaches of Scottish football?   At the time when Stirling Albion have announced Jocky Scott’s budget in the Second Division will be £120,000, Livingston Chief Executive Ged Nixon admitted Livi’s season in the Third Division cost them £1.2 million. 

Only now as preparations begin for life in the First Division do Livingston, according to Nixon, have the opportunity to start making steps toward living within their financial means, a clear admission that maintaining a full time squad in the Third and Second Division was never sustainable.  Livingston have in effect responded to their punishment for going into administration – for a second time – by continuing the practices that got them into trouble in the first (and second) place.  

Livingston’s justification for this approach again points the finger at the SFL.  Their side of the story is that in August 2009 the League asked the new Board at Almondvale to honour all the playing contracts at the club – or they would have to resign their position in the league.  Livingston agreed on the understanding they would be kicking-off in the First Division that weekend. Then they were demoted to the Third Division. 

So while administration and relegation, on the face of it, provided Livingston with the perfect opportunity to begin the process of balancing the books, they in fact couldn’t.  They had commitments.  The SFL, the clubs they would steamroller on during their two year ‘delay’ in the Third and Second Divisions, had forced them into it.  What this doesn’t explain is the post-administration and demotion recruitment of Tony Bullock, David Cowan, Robbie Winters, Kenny Deuchar and Iain Russell.  All players who would walk into any lower-league side able to offer full time football and a decent wage. 

While the terms of the investment made by their new Board of Directors to get Livingston (back) to where they are is unclear,  the gamble – be it necessitated by the SFL or otherwise – has paid off.  Livingston, according to Nixon, will be one of the most financially stable clubs in the First Division and alongside Queen of the South, Dundee and Falkirk he may well be right.  But there will remain a doubt – especially amongst those supporters of teams whose clubs, rather than Livingston, have paid for their previous misdemeanours – whether Livingston can compete in the First Division while balancing the books, something which may be a rarity in Scottish football but Livingston have specialised in taking to the extreme. The evidence of their promotion back to the First Division, and the signings that have helped them get there, would suggest not.     

@albinoanaconda makes debut

Blogging is for knobs, isn't it? Really. I mean, who give a f**k what I think about anything? Its all a bit self-indulgent and presumptuous. But, having set up www.twitter.com/albinoanaconda in March 2009 to bring updates from Ayr United games to my pals in the Aberdeen Branch AUSC its at 340 followers now, bringing the latest United-related news, rumors and banter to twitter. So maybe, just maybe, some of those folks would be interesting in reading some more (extended in character count if nothing else...) ramblings about the latest going ons at Somerset Park? Hopefully. I can't promise anything other than it will be more insightful than the usual North Terrance chat: "he'll no do"; "change it, Reid" and "mon tae f**k, Ayr. This is pish..."