2018–19 Ayr United F.C. season

Ayr United 2018–19 football season
Ayr United
2018–19 season
ManagerIan McCall
StadiumSomerset Park
Scottish ChampionshipFourth Place
Scottish CupFourth round
League CupQuarter-final
Challenge CupFirst round
Premiership play-offsQuarter-final
Top goalscorerLeague: Lawrence Shankland (24)
All: Lawrence Shankland (34)
Highest home attendance3,249 v Partick Thistle, Championship, 4 August 2018
Lowest home attendance1,227 v Stenhousemuir, League Cup, 24 July 2018
Average home league attendance2,157
Home colours
Away colours

The 2018–19 season was Ayr United’s 109th season of competitive football and their first season back in the Scottish Championship following their promotion from League One in the 2017–18 season.[1] Ayr also competed in the League Cup, Scottish Cup and the Challenge Cup.

Summary

Season

In their first season back in the second–tier of Scottish football, Ayr United finished in fourth place and qualified for the Premiership play-offs, losing to Inverness CT in the quarter-final.

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Scottish Championship

Ayr United v Partick Thistle
4 August 2018 1 Ayr United 2–0 Partick Thistle Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Shankland 7 pen.', 18' Report Attendance: 3,249
Referee: Craig Thomson
Inverness CT v Ayr United
11 August 2018 2 Inverness CT 0–0 Ayr United Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
15:00 Report Harvie Red card 30' Attendance: 2,376
Referee: Andrew Dallas
Ayr United v Dunfermline Athletic
25 August 2018 3 Ayr United 4–1 Dunfermline Athletic Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Forrest 5', 37'
Shankland 39'
Moffat 81'		 Report Longridge 55' Attendance: 2,597
Referee: Euan Anderson
Queen of the South v Ayr United
1 September 2018 4 Queen of the South 5–0 Ayr United Palmerston Park, Dumfries
15:00 Dobbie 12', 20 pen.', 22', 84'
Harkins 37'		 Report Harvie Red card 79' Attendance: 2,498
Referee: Colin Steven
Ayr United v Falkirk
15 September 2018 5 Ayr United 3–2 Falkirk Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Shankland 48'
Geggan 63'
Fasan 65 o.g.'		 Report Rudden 18'
Petravičius 25'		 Attendance: 2,250
Referee: Alan Newlands
Alloa Athletic v Ayr United
22 September 2018 6 Alloa Athletic 0–2 Ayr United Recreation Park, Alloa
15:00 Report Shankland 23', 65' Attendance: 949
Referee: Gavin Duncan
Greenock Morton v Ayr United
29 September 2018 7 Greenock Morton 1–5 Ayr United Cappielow, Greenock
15:00 Telfer 35' Report Shankland 19', 75'
Moore 73', 81'
McDaid 89'		 Attendance: 2,273
Referee: Steven McLean
Ayr United v Dundee United
6 October 2018 8 Ayr United 2–0 Dundee United Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Shankland 21'
McDaid 74'		 Report Attendance: 2,621
Referee: Greg Aitken
Ross County v Ayr United
20 October 2018 9 Ross County 2–1 Ayr United Victoria Park, Dingwall
15:00 McKay 23'
Mullin 34'		 Report Shankland 50' Attendance: 3,140
Referee: Steven McLean
Partick Thistle v Ayr United
27 October 2018 10 Partick Thistle 0–1 Ayr United Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
15:00 Report Rose 77' Attendance: 3,491
Referee: Bobby Madden
Ayr United v Alloa Athletic
30 October 2018 11 Ayr United 3–0 Alloa Athletic Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Shankland 46', 90+2'
Forrest 81'		 Report Attendance: 1,742
Referee: David Munro
Falkirk v Ayr United
3 November 2018 12 Falkirk 0–1 Ayr United Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Report Moore 51' Attendance: 4,310
Referee: Greg Aitken
Ayr United v Queen of the South
10 November 2018 13 Ayr United 1–1 Queen of the South Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Rose 75' Report Murray 81' Attendance: 2,539
Referee: John Beaton
Ayr United v Greenock Morton
17 November 2018 14 Ayr United 0–0 Greenock Morton Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Moore Red card 62' Report Attendance: 2,346
Referee: Willie Collum
Dundee United v Ayr United
30 November 2018 15 Dundee United 0–5 Ayr United Tannadice Park, Dundee
19:45 Report Shankland 3', 41', 87 pen.', 89'
Moffat 78'		 Attendance: 6,097
Referee: Don Robertson
Ayr United v Ross County
15 December 2018 16 Ayr United 3–3 Ross County Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Shankland 21 pen.', 25'
Geggan 43'		 Report Mullin 12'
McKay 48 pen.'
Cowie 52'		 Attendance: 2,030
Referee: Bobby Madden
Dunfermline Athletic v Ayr United
22 December 2018 17 Dunfermline Athletic 0–0 Ayr United East End Park, Dunfermline
19:45 Report Attendance: 4,916
Referee: Steven McLean
Queen of the South v Ayr United
29 December 2018 18 Queen of the South 1–1 Ayr United Palmerston Park, Dumfries
15:00 Todd 29' Report Moffat 41' Attendance: 2,349
Referee: Alan Newlands
Ayr United v Falkirk
5 January 2019 19 Ayr United 0–1 Falkirk Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Rudden 56' Attendance: 2,729
Referee: Bobby Madden
Inverness CT v Ayr United
12 January 2019 20 Inverness CT 1–0 Ayr United Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
15:00 White 64' Report Attendance: 2,283
Referee: Alan Newlands
Ayr United v Dundee United
25 January 2019 21 Ayr United 1–0 Dundee United Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Moore 4' Report Gomis Red card 89' Attendance: 2,232
Referee: Don Robertson
Ayr United v Inverness CT
29 January 2019 22 Ayr United 2–3 Inverness CT Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 McDaid 53'
Shankland 85'		 Report Austin 9', 12'
Polworth 18'		 Attendance: 1,559
Referee: Nick Walsh
Alloa Athletic v Ayr United
2 February 2019 23 Alloa Athletic 1–3 Ayr United Recreation Park, Alloa
15:00 Trouten 30' Report Moffat 29', 88'
Shankland 52' (pen.)		 Attendance: 957
Referee: Mike Roncone
Greenock Morton v Ayr United
16 February 2019 24 Greenock Morton 0–0 Ayr United Cappielow, Greenock
15:00 Report Attendance: 2,335
Referee: Colin Steven
Ayr United v Dunfermline Athletic
23 February 2019 25 Ayr United 0–1 Dunfermline Athletic Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report Longridge 71' (pen.) Attendance: 2,202
Referee: David Munro
Ross County v Ayr United
26 February 2019 26 Ross County 3–2 Ayr United Victoria Park, Dingwall
19:45 McKay 35', 70', 75' Report Shankland 62'
Murdoch 73'		 Attendance: 3,489
Referee: Nick Walsh
Falkirk v Ayr United
8 March 2019 27 Falkirk 2–0 Ayr United Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
19:05 McGhee 27', 40' Report Attendance: 4,344
Referee: Alan Muir
Dunfermline Athletic v Ayr United
29 March 2019 28 Dunfermline Athletic 0–1 Ayr United East End Park, Dunfermline
19:05 Report McDaid 31' Attendance: 4,671
Referee: Gavin Duncan
Ayr United v Greenock Morton
2 April 2019 29 Ayr United 1–1 Greenock Morton Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Shankland 21 pen.' Report Kiltie 71' Attendance: 1,802
Referee: Willie Collum
Ayr United v Inverness CT
6 April 2019 30 Ayr United 0–1 Inverness CT Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Report McKay 66' Attendance: 1,566
Referee: Craig Thomson
Ayr United v Queen of the South
9 April 2019 31 Ayr United 1–0 Queen of the South Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Shankland 43 pen.' Report Attendance: 1,582
Referee: Greg Aitken
Dundee United v Ayr United
12 April 2019 32 Dundee United 2–1 Ayr United Tannadice Park, Dundee
19:05 Šafranko 63'
McMullan 74'		 Report Bell 24' Attendance: 4,392
Referee: Bobby Madden
Ayr United v Ross County
19 April 2019 33 Ayr United 1–3 Ross County Somerset Park, Ayr
19:05 Miller 12'
Docherty Red card 90+5'		 Report Graham 42', 46', 71' Attendance: 1,692
Referee: Euan Anderson
Ayr United v Partick Thistle
23 April 2019 34 Ayr United 0–1 Partick Thistle Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Report Gordon 17' Attendance: 2,429
Referee: Alan Newlands
Partick Thistle v Ayr United
27 April 2019 35 Partick Thistle 1–2 Ayr United Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
15:00 Gordon 9' Report Smith 17'
Muirhead 56'		 Attendance: 3,855
Referee: Nick Walsh
Ayr United v Alloa Athletic
4 May 2019 36 Ayr United 1–1 Alloa Athletic Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Shankland 37' Report Shields 33' Attendance: 1,665
Referee: Willie Collum

Premiership Play–Off

Ayr United v Inverness CT
7 May 2019 Quarter-final 1st Leg Ayr United 1–3 Inverness CT Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Rose 65' Report Trafford 33'
White 51', 76 pen.'		 Attendance: 2,171
Referee: Alan Muir
Inverness CT v Ayr United
11 May 2019 Quarter-final 2nd Leg Inverness CT 1–1
(4–2 agg.)		 Ayr United Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
19:45 Donaldson 79' Report McCowan 19' Attendance: 2,323
Referee: Steven McLean

Scottish League Cup

Ayr United v Greenock Morton
14 July 2018 Group Stage Ayr United 3–1 Greenock Morton Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Shankland 48', 72', 75' Report Tidser 14' Attendance: 1,586
Referee: Willie Collum
Albion Rovers v Ayr United
21 July 2018 Group Stage Albion Rovers 0–2 Ayr United Cliftonhill, Coatbridge
15:00 Report Forrest 15'
Bell 80'		 Attendance: 519
Referee: Mike Roncone
Ayr United v Stenhousemuir
24 July 2018 Group Stage Ayr United 5–0 Stenhousemuir Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Shankland 2', 8', 46'
Moffat 41', 86'		 Report Attendance: 1,227
Referee: David Munro
Partick Thistle v Ayr United
28 July 2018 Group Stage Partick Thistle 0–2 Ayr United Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
15:00 Report Moffat 6'
Shankland 66'		 Attendance: 2,871
Referee: Nick Walsh

Knockout round

Dundee v Ayr United
8 August 2018 Round 2 Dundee 0–3 Ayr United Dens Park, Dundee
19:45 Moussa Red card 77'
Kusunga Red card 90+3'		 Report Shankland 51', 86'
Moffat 89'		 Attendance: 3,151
Referee: John Beaton
Rangers v Ayr United
26 September 2018 Quarter-final Rangers 4–0 Ayr United Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow
19:45 Katić 16'
Middleton 31', 70'
Morelos 49'		 Report Attendance: 35,042
Referee: Bobby Madden

Scottish Challenge Cup

Queen's Park v Ayr United
14 August 2018 First Round Queen's Park 0–0
(4–2 p)		 Ayr United Hampden Park, Glasgow
19:45 Report Attendance: 834

Scottish Cup

Beith Juniors v Ayr United
24 November 2018 Third Round Beith Juniors 0–3 Ayr United Bellsdale Park, Beith
15:00 Report Shankland 64'
Docherty 79'
Moffat 88'		 Attendance: 1,780
Referee: Colin Steven
Auchinleck Talbot v Ayr United
19 January 2019 Fourth Round Auchinleck Talbot 1–0 Ayr United Beechwood Park, Auchinleck
15:00 McCracken 78' Report Attendance: 3,100
Referee: Euan Anderson

Squad statistics

Appearances

As of 11 May 2019[2]
No. Pos Nat Player Total League One League Cup Scottish Cup Other
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Scotland SCO Ross Doohan 47 0 36+0 0 6+0 0 2+0 0 3+0 0
2 DF Scotland SCO Chris Higgins 5 0 0+3 0 0+0 0 2+0 0 0+0 0
3 DF Scotland SCO Daniel Harvie 44 0 31+2 0 6+0 0 2+0 0 3+0 0
4 MF Scotland SCO Mark Kerr 30 0 18+4 0 5+1 0 0+0 0 1+1 0
5 DF Scotland SCO Michael Rose 44 1 34+0 0 5+0 0 2+0 0 3+0 1
6 MF Scotland SCO Andy Geggan 28 2 22+1 2 3+0 0 2+0 0 0+0 0
7 FW Scotland SCO Michael Moffat 44 10 29+5 5 4+2 4 2+0 1 1+1 0
8 MF Scotland SCO Robbie Crawford 44 0 30+3 0 5+1 0 2+0 0 2+1 0
9 FW Scotland SCO Craig Moore 26 4 8+12 4 1+3 0 1+0 0 1+0 0
10 MF Scotland SCO Alan Forrest 25 4 10+7 3 6+0 1 0+0 0 0+2 0
11 FW Scotland SCO Declan McDaid 45 4 20+14 4 1+5 0 2+0 0 3+0 0
12 MF Scotland SCO Craig McGuffie 16 0 0+9 0 1+3 0 0+2 0 1+0 0
14 DF Scotland SCO David Ferguson 6 0 1+2 0 3+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
15 DF Scotland SCO Steven Bell 33 2 21+5 1 2+2 1 1+1 0 1+0 0
16 MF Scotland SCO Jamie Adams 19 0 9+4 0 5+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
17 FW Scotland SCO Lawrence Shankland 41 34 29+2 24 6+0 9 1+0 1 2+1 0
18 MF Scotland SCO Andy Murdoch 44 1 33+1 1 6+0 0 1+0 0 3+0 0
19 GK New Zealand NZL Ellis Hare-Reid 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
20 MF Scotland SCO James Hilton 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
22 DF Scotland SCO Finn Ecrepont 1 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
23 MF Scotland SCO Ross Docherty 23 1 9+10 0 0+0 0 1+1 1 2+0 0
25 MF Scotland SCO Luke McCowan 9 1 2+3 0 0+0 0 0+1 0 2+1 1
27 DF Scotland SCO Liam Smith 39 1 32+1 1 1+0 0 1+1 0 3+0 0
28 MF Scotland SCO Nicky Cadden 11 0 6+4 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+1 0
29 MF Scotland SCO Calvin Miller 14 1 8+5 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+1 0
30 DF Scotland SCO Aaron Muirhead 11 1 8+1 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0

Team statistics

League table

Pos Team
  • v
  • t
  • e
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
2 Dundee United 36 19 8 9 49 40 +9 65 Qualification for the Premiership play-off semi-final
3 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 36 14 14 8 48 40 +8 56 Qualification for the Premiership play-off quarter-final
4 Ayr United 36 15 9 12 50 38 +12 54
5 Greenock Morton 36 11 13 12 36 45 −9 46
6 Partick Thistle 36 12 7 17 43 52 −9 43
Source: SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Points in head-to-head matches; 5) Goal difference in hth matches; 6). Goals scored in hth matches; 7). Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[3]

Division summary

Updated to match(es) played on 28 April 2018. Source: [4]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League Cup table

Pos Team
  • v
  • t
  • e
 Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification AYR PAR GMO STE ALB
1 Ayr United (Q) 4 4 0 0 0 12 1 +11 12 Qualification for the Second round — — 3–1 5–0 —
2 Partick Thistle (Q) 4 3 0 0 1 6 3 +3 9 0–2 — 2–1 — —
3 Greenock Morton 4 2 0 0 2 9 5 +4 6 — — — 2–0 5–0
4 Stenhousemuir 4 1 0 0 3 4 9 −5 3 — 0–2 — — 4–0
5 Albion Rovers 4 0 0 0 4 0 13 −13 0 0–2 0–2 — — —
Source: [5]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[6]
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated

Transfers

Players in

Player From Fee
Scotland Daniel Harvie Scotland Aberdeen Free[7]
New Zealand Ellis Hare-Reid Spain Orihuela Free[8]
Scotland Andy Murdoch Scotland Greenock Morton Free[9]
Scotland Ross Doohan Scotland Celtic Loan[9]
Scotland Liam Smith Scotland Hearts Free[10]
Scotland Aaron Muirhead Scotland Falkirk Free[11]
Scotland Calvin Miller Scotland Celtic Loan[12]
Scotland Nicky Cadden Scotland Livingston Loan[13]

Players out

Player To Fee
Scotland Lyle Avci Scotland Stranraer Free[14]
Scotland Jordan Hart Scotland Queen's Park Free[15]
Scotland Craig Reid Scotland East Kilbride Free[16]
Scotland Leon Murphy Scotland Glenafton Athletic Loan
Scotland David Waite Scotland Auchinleck Talbot Free
Scotland Patrick Boyle Scotland Peterhead Free[17]
Scotland Craig McGuffie Scotland Raith Rovers Loan[11]
Scotland David Ferguson Scotland Dumbarton Loan[11]
Scotland Chris Higgins Scotland East Fife Loan[18]

References

  1. ^ "Scottish League One: Ayr United pip Raith Rovers to title and automatic promotion". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Ayr United FC Player Appearances". soccerbase.com. Soccerbase. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Championship 2017/2018 - Season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  4. ^ "League One 2017/2018". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group E". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Harvie signs for United". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Kiwi keeper Ellis Hare-Reid signs for Scottish second tier club Ayr United". stuff.co.nz. Stuff. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Thursday treble signing". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Smith is latest signing". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  11. ^ a b c "Muirhead signs 18 month deal". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  12. ^ "Celtic kid Calvin Miller hopes to impress Brendan Rodgers with Ayr United loan switch". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Livingston winger Nicky Cadden vows to help Ayr United's Championship title bid after deadline day move". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Avci signs for Stranraer". stranraerfc.org. Stranraer FC. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  15. ^ "We've signed a keeper". queensparkfc.co.uk. Queen's Park FC. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  16. ^ "East Kilbride new boy Craig Reid hoping promotion experiences can pay off for Kilby". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  17. ^ "McInally says Boyle signed due to blue toons reputation among the players". eveningexpress.co.uk. Evening Express. 25 August 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Chris Higgins Joins On Loan". eastfifefc.info. East Fife FC. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
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