Ayr United v Clyde

Recap

A second half six-goal blitz dumped Clyde out of the Communities League Cup as a sublime David Winters strike opened the flood gates at rain-soaked Somerset Park.

During the first half The Bully Wee put in a stout defensive display similar to the previous weekend when Partick had to wait 75 minutes before making the breakthrough against Jim Duffy’s troops.

But on this occasion The Honest Men go their noses in front early in the second half and as thunder rumbled over head the visiting support could have been forgiven for thinking the gods were conspiring against them.

That was not the case just before the half time whistle blew when Lady Luck smiled on Clyde. Just when it looked like the sides would go into the dressing room all square, Michael Moffat got away from David Marsh on the right flank before sending the ball across Jamie Barclay’s goalmouth to the feet of Anthony Marenghi. The Ayr forward was a yard out with the empty net at his mercy but all of the 1000 plus punters in the stadium gasped in unison as Marenghi paid tribute to hapless Scotland striker Chris Iwelumo when he blasted over the bar when it looked easier to score.

That brought a happy conclusion to a satisfying first half for the visiting contingent but their contentment did not last long.

Winters, who had come off the bench to replace Michael McGowan midway through the first half, gave the home side a perfect pick-me-up. He took posession inside Clyde’s 18-yard box and placed the ball elegantly into the top corner with an audacious flick with the outside of his right foot.

Duffy felt the need to make changes and introduced John Neil for captain Paul Hay. The substitute made a positive start, playing a perfectly wieghted pass to Stuart McColm whose heavy touch as he raced into the box gave the Ayr defenders the chance to thwart what had looked like a promising move.

Moments later though Ayr doubled their advantage when Moffat wriggled free in the penalty box and drilled a low shot past the despairing Barclay who was about to get used to the feeling of picking the ball out of the net.

A third goal came on 62 minutes when Marenghi made up for his first half howler with an inch perfect cross that gave Jonathan Tiffoney an easy close range finish.

It was becoming increasingly uncomfortable viewing for the Bully Wee faithful, and more agony was piled on in 68 minutes when a long range shot from David Sinclair zipped across the soaking wet surface and nestled inside Barclay’s right hand post.

More goals looked on the cards as Clyde struggled to cope with Ayr’s slick persistence but there was a moment for the visitors to treasure when Neil struck a wonderful free kick from distance that made Ayr keeper Ally Brown redundant as it swirled beyong his helpless dive.

Then, on 87 minutes, United scored a fifth when Michael Oliver brought down Sinclair as he raced into the penalty box, giving referee Euan Anderson no choice but to award the spot kick which was neatly despatched past Barclay by a confident Moffat.

The final nail in the coffin came seconds before the final whistle when Sinclair repeated his earlier effort with another long range shot that concluded a painful afternoon for Duffy’s beleagured warriors.