Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final: Ayr United 0-1(aet) Kilmarnock
They say patience is a virtue, and to be a Kilmarnock fan you need to have it in abundance, writes Andrew Southwick at Hampden Park.Already made to wait 15 years to celebrate another trophy win, their side made them wait for the all important winner that puts them a step closer to finding silverware again.
The Berlin wall came down quicker than Ayr's defence, but Dean Shiels' 106th minute winner was the least they deserved on a day they battered their Ayrshire rivals without breaking them.
It was a cup cracker to savour, but it took a while to get going. The best of a slow opening five minutes came from a low drive by Liam Kelly, but the defenders' leg did enough to take the sting out of the shot.
Moments later Dean Shiels was able to turn his marker and drive through the middle, however he was always struggling to stay upright and his shot lacked any punch.
Ayr's first big moment came after Gary Harkins foul gave Eddie Malone the opportunity to deliver a free-kick into the area, but he failed to find anyone in yellow.
In the 16th minute Kilmarnock won their first corner of the game. Shiels swung it in and goalkeeper Kevin Cuthbert came out sharply to collect. A minute later and they tried something different - Shiels playing a low ball outside the area to Garry Hay - but he blasted the ball wildly over.
By the 24th minute Kilmarnock were ramping up the pressure. Hay got to the byline, chipped it into the middle and John Robertson had no option but to head over. From the resulting corner kick from James Dayton, Cuthbert had to punch clear.
Ayr's Michael McGowan battles with Kilmarnock's Ben Gordon: Photo by Gary McLaughlin
Killie were beginning to sparkle. Dayton skipped past his man on the right, his cross was headed into the path of Hay who tested the goalkeeper with a fierce shot.
Andy Geggan followed Hay into the referee's book with a studs up challenge on Dayton just outside the area as Ayr struggled to cope with his trickery. The free-kick worked to the Honest Men's advantage though, as they counter attacked well with everyone pushed forward for Killie. Michael Moffat didn't have the pace to get all the way but found Alan Trouten who drew the foul and a yellow card from Kelly.
From the resulting free-kick Michael McGowan fired just a yard over the bar.
Back came Killie through another corner, and as Ayr defended in numbers Pascali headed just wide. Then Paul Hefferman's cheeky backheel put through Shiels but he failed to test the 'keeper.
Ben Gordon really should have done better in the 37th minute when he found space in the box, however he struck the ball straight at Cuthbert.
We had ourselves a cup semi-final cracker though. Kilmarnock were having the better of it but Ayr were willing to show their teeth and at 0-0 the game remained on edge.
Three minutes before half-time and Dayton skipped by Eddie Malone, pulled the ball back and delivered an inviting cross for Gary Harkins who headed over as Killie kept up their relentless charge.
Gordon felt he could have had a penalty sixty seconds later as he drove in to the box and fell to the turf, but it looked a soft appeal and referee McLean had little interest in his claims.
Five minutes in to the second half and Dayton was at it again; driving across the byline with the ball stuck to his feet. His cut back let him down though and he could only find the yellow shirts of Ayr.
Ayr were stacking up the yellow cards, with Moffat and McGowan both in the book early in the second half. The latter's foul gave Hay the opportunity from the free-kick not far from the box. It hit the wall and Ayr broke, and Dayton had to blot his copy book by hauling down Moffat as he drove forward.
You sensed a Kilmarnock goal was coming, but for all their endeavour, Ayr's goalkeeper Cuthbert wasn't being asked too many questions.
Kilmarnock continued to camp in their opponent's half, but shots from long distance was the best they could muster as Ayr defended well. That all changed in the 67th minute though as Cuthbert was forced into a great double save, first denying Dayton's awkward ball from the right, before denying Harkins at point blank range.
Killie were getting desperate, and Manuel Pascali summed up the mood as he punched the air in frustration as a goal-mouth scramble failed to land the opener. Moments later Dayton again caused trouble down the right hand side, but sent a poor ball into the area with Harkins lurking at the back post.
You couldn't blame the Ayr supporters for thinking it might just be their day as they continued to repel the attacks, but their side was offering little at the other end with Cammy Bell almost a spectator. They had yet to find an aswer to Dayton's dangerous runs either and Cuthbert again had to punch clear from a corner after the Kilmarnock winger's low ball caused havoc.
Kenny Shiel's men came forward again. Gordon fed Dean Shiels but he couldn't drive his shot on target. They had a penalty shout straight afterawards as Malone made a meal of a clearance and appeared to handle it, but it would have been harsh with no Killie players round him.
Then the best news all day for Brian Reid's men came when Dayton hobbled off injured with twelve minutes to go, with David Silva replacing him, however instantly Cuthbert had to tip over Shiels dangerous effort, before pushing wide Pascali's header from the corner.
Andy Geggan could have been the hero for Ayr as they saw a rare sight of goal in 82 minutes. Good passing play set him up in space outside the area, and Bell had to stretch to stop his curling left foot effort finding the net.
Killie went back up the other end though, and Hay's deflected shot wasn't far away.
We were one mistake away from this tie being settled, and as Hay lost the ball to McGowan the Ayr man had the freedom of Hampden to drive forward. His ball into the box was begging for a yellow shirt but Killie got it away and survived the scare.
As the full-time whistle signalled extra-time it was a despondent Kenny Shiels on the touchline, who turned and shook his head. The Northern Irishman couldn't believe his side had not booked their place in the final.
With another thirty minutes to go, could Killie keep up their pressure? They were looking for the first goal and David Silva drove a yard wide of the far post a minute in as they made it clear to their rivals penalties was not an option they wanted.
Killie were missing Dayton, but Silva was trying his best to raise them and his trickery was keeping Malone busy, but without the driving runs and with tiring legs all over the pitch the onslaught had subsided and Ayr looked to have got through the worst of it.
However Dean Shiels found a way through the middle three minutes before the break and played through Hefferman, but Robertson was there to deny him. From the corner, Hay sent an overhead kick over the bar.
All of a sudden Killie had raised the tempo again, and substitute Danny Racchi lobbed the ball inches over the bar after finding himself in space on the edge of the box.
Kenny Shiels sent on Danny Buijs for Garry Hay at the break, but boss Brian Reid elected to keep his third substitute on the bench at the start of the last period.
Finally, after 106 minutes, Kilmarnock found the breakthrough their play deserved, but boy did goalkeeper Kevin Cuthbert make them work for it. He continued a series of blocks, denying Hefferman and Shiels, before the latter finally managed to finish low into the net and send the fans massed behind the goal into raptures.
All of a sudden Ayr became an attacking threat, and so nearly were level again. Mark Roberts chipped the ball into the area and Silva almost headed into his own net.
Brian Reid was now forced to make his final change; Alan Trouten making way for Liam Tomsett, and he almost made an instant impact, firing a low ball that Bell could only parry, but Ayr had no-one far enough forward to take advantage.
After 120 minutes, and a great semi-final, both sides had no more left to give and Kilmarnock held on to take the Ayrshire spoils.
Andy Geggan followed Hay into the referee's book with a studs up challenge on Dayton just outside the area as Ayr struggled to cope with his trickery. The free-kick worked to the Honest Men's advantage though, as they counter attacked well with everyone pushed forward for Killie. Michael Moffat didn't have the pace to get all the way but found Alan Trouten who drew the foul and a yellow card from Kelly.
From the resulting free-kick Michael McGowan fired just a yard over the bar.
Back came Killie through another corner, and as Ayr defended in numbers Pascali headed just wide. Then Paul Hefferman's cheeky backheel put through Shiels but he failed to test the 'keeper.
Ben Gordon really should have done better in the 37th minute when he found space in the box, however he struck the ball straight at Cuthbert.
We had ourselves a cup semi-final cracker though. Kilmarnock were having the better of it but Ayr were willing to show their teeth and at 0-0 the game remained on edge.
Three minutes before half-time and Dayton skipped by Eddie Malone, pulled the ball back and delivered an inviting cross for Gary Harkins who headed over as Killie kept up their relentless charge.
Gordon felt he could have had a penalty sixty seconds later as he drove in to the box and fell to the turf, but it looked a soft appeal and referee McLean had little interest in his claims.
Five minutes in to the second half and Dayton was at it again; driving across the byline with the ball stuck to his feet. His cut back let him down though and he could only find the yellow shirts of Ayr.
Ayr were stacking up the yellow cards, with Moffat and McGowan both in the book early in the second half. The latter's foul gave Hay the opportunity from the free-kick not far from the box. It hit the wall and Ayr broke, and Dayton had to blot his copy book by hauling down Moffat as he drove forward.
You sensed a Kilmarnock goal was coming, but for all their endeavour, Ayr's goalkeeper Cuthbert wasn't being asked too many questions.
Kilmarnock continued to camp in their opponent's half, but shots from long distance was the best they could muster as Ayr defended well. That all changed in the 67th minute though as Cuthbert was forced into a great double save, first denying Dayton's awkward ball from the right, before denying Harkins at point blank range.
Killie were getting desperate, and Manuel Pascali summed up the mood as he punched the air in frustration as a goal-mouth scramble failed to land the opener. Moments later Dayton again caused trouble down the right hand side, but sent a poor ball into the area with Harkins lurking at the back post.
You couldn't blame the Ayr supporters for thinking it might just be their day as they continued to repel the attacks, but their side was offering little at the other end with Cammy Bell almost a spectator. They had yet to find an aswer to Dayton's dangerous runs either and Cuthbert again had to punch clear from a corner after the Kilmarnock winger's low ball caused havoc.
Kenny Shiel's men came forward again. Gordon fed Dean Shiels but he couldn't drive his shot on target. They had a penalty shout straight afterawards as Malone made a meal of a clearance and appeared to handle it, but it would have been harsh with no Killie players round him.
Then the best news all day for Brian Reid's men came when Dayton hobbled off injured with twelve minutes to go, with David Silva replacing him, however instantly Cuthbert had to tip over Shiels dangerous effort, before pushing wide Pascali's header from the corner.
Andy Geggan could have been the hero for Ayr as they saw a rare sight of goal in 82 minutes. Good passing play set him up in space outside the area, and Bell had to stretch to stop his curling left foot effort finding the net.
Killie went back up the other end though, and Hay's deflected shot wasn't far away.
We were one mistake away from this tie being settled, and as Hay lost the ball to McGowan the Ayr man had the freedom of Hampden to drive forward. His ball into the box was begging for a yellow shirt but Killie got it away and survived the scare.
As the full-time whistle signalled extra-time it was a despondent Kenny Shiels on the touchline, who turned and shook his head. The Northern Irishman couldn't believe his side had not booked their place in the final.
With another thirty minutes to go, could Killie keep up their pressure? They were looking for the first goal and David Silva drove a yard wide of the far post a minute in as they made it clear to their rivals penalties was not an option they wanted.
Killie were missing Dayton, but Silva was trying his best to raise them and his trickery was keeping Malone busy, but without the driving runs and with tiring legs all over the pitch the onslaught had subsided and Ayr looked to have got through the worst of it.
However Dean Shiels found a way through the middle three minutes before the break and played through Hefferman, but Robertson was there to deny him. From the corner, Hay sent an overhead kick over the bar.
All of a sudden Killie had raised the tempo again, and substitute Danny Racchi lobbed the ball inches over the bar after finding himself in space on the edge of the box.
Kenny Shiels sent on Danny Buijs for Garry Hay at the break, but boss Brian Reid elected to keep his third substitute on the bench at the start of the last period.
Finally, after 106 minutes, Kilmarnock found the breakthrough their play deserved, but boy did goalkeeper Kevin Cuthbert make them work for it. He continued a series of blocks, denying Hefferman and Shiels, before the latter finally managed to finish low into the net and send the fans massed behind the goal into raptures.
All of a sudden Ayr became an attacking threat, and so nearly were level again. Mark Roberts chipped the ball into the area and Silva almost headed into his own net.
Brian Reid was now forced to make his final change; Alan Trouten making way for Liam Tomsett, and he almost made an instant impact, firing a low ball that Bell could only parry, but Ayr had no-one far enough forward to take advantage.
After 120 minutes, and a great semi-final, both sides had no more left to give and Kilmarnock held on to take the Ayrshire spoils.
Man of the match: James Dayton - driving runs all day kept the pressure on.
Ayr United: Cuthbert, Tiffoney, Malone, J.Robertson, Smith, Geggan, Trouten (Tomsett 112), McKernon (Dodd 76), Moffat, Wardlaw (Roberts 60), McGowan.
Subs: R.Robertson, McWilliams.
Kilmarnock: Bell, Gordon, Hay (Buijs 105), Fowler, Pascali, Nelson, Shiels, Kelly, Heffernan, Dayton (Silva 79), Harkins (Racchi 89).
Subs: Kroca, Letheren.
Referee: Steven McLean
Attendance: 25,057
Add comment
