Edinburgh City

Last updated : 17 January 2007 By Honestman

2004 Cup Match
Ayr United played Edinburgh City on 11th December 2004 in a Scottish Cup at Somerset Park.

Two late goals eased Ayr through to a Third Round clash with Stranraer after the plucky Edinburgh City threatened to cause an upset at Somerset Park. The Honest Men had failed to capitalise on Andrew Ferguson's early opener and rode their luck on more than one occasion as they made heavy weather of seeing off the amateurs.

There seemed little chance of a shock on the cards at kick-off but it was Edinburgh who made the better start and took the game to their Second Division hosts.

In six minutes, Marc Smyth was called upon to clear the danger as City striker Craig Young bore down on the Ayr goal after being put through by Grant Carnie.

United's response was a neat move down the left which saw Scott McCulloch, moved to left back for today's game, cut the ball back for Neal Gilmour who curled an effort just over from 12 yards.

With 24 minutes on the clock, Ayr made the breakthrough when Gilmour picked out the unmarked Ferguson to bury a textbook header into the bottom corner of the net and seemingly provide a platform for more goals.

Five minutes later, United produced one of their best moves of the match when Darren Henderson crossed for Ferguson who, with his back to goal, set up Tommy Tait for a crack at goal which was tipped over by Alan Mackintosh.

But 60 seconds later, Ayr were reminded that the game was far from over when Edinburgh blew a great chance to level. Peter Cherrie fluffed an attempted pass to Barry McLaughlin straight into the path of Young, and he should have done better but could only send his effort tamely wide of the post.

Most of Ayr's best play was channelled through Ferguson and he was the setup man for a McCulloch drive which flew just wide as United searched for a second goal which would surely kill the game.

Half time arrived with only one goal and very little to choose between the sides and Mark Shanks handed a debut to latest recruit Alex Nesovic, who replaced the ineffective Gilmour.

The change immediately gave Ayr a better balance with Henderson moving out wide and Nesovic playing in midfield. And it was a dangerous cross from Henderson which gave Craig Conway the chance to score on 55 minutes, but the little winger crashed his effort against the post from an almost impossible angle.

A minute later, Henderson again caused trouble in the box with a dangerous ball in which Ferguson met after pulling off his marker before sending a shot straight at the keeper.

But just as Ayr were stepping up the pace, Edinburgh almost caught them on the break when Igor Elola wrestled clear of Tait at the edge of the box and fired an effort inches wide of Cherrie's goal to make home hearts skip a beat.

The warning was noted and Ayr duly put the game beyond doubt with just over 20 minutes remaining. A Conway corner was only half cleared to Ferguson and his shot was too hot to handle for Mackintosh, allowing Henderson to slam home the rebound from six yards.

Three minutes later a cross cum shot from substitute Gareth Wardlaw required Mackintosh to be alert and tip over the bar as the Edinburgh defence started to stretch. A minute on they were breached again as Douglas Gair conceded a fairly innocuous penalty for pushing and Willie Lyle took his rare chance for a goal by converting from the spot.

From there, the goals tally could have increased as tiredness finally caught up with the non-leaguers. Ferguson saw an effort hooked off the line before McCulloch sent a header just wide.

With three minutes remaining, Conway jinked through the defence and saw his driven shot superbly tipped around the post by Mackintosh as Ayr finished strongly winning ultimately by 2-0.