2017–18 Ayr United F.C. season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ayr United
2017–18 season
ManagerIan McCall
StadiumSomerset Park
Scottish League One1st (Champions)
Scottish CupFifth Round
League CupSecond Round
Challenge CupSecond Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Lawrence Shankland (26)
All: Lawrence Shankland (29)
Highest home attendance9,346 v Rangers, Scottish Cup, 11 February 2018
Lowest home attendance906 v Montrose, Challenge Cup, 29 August, 2017
Average home league attendance1,532

The 2017–18 season was Ayr United’s 108th season of competitive football and their first season back in League One following their relegation from the Championship in the 2016–17 season.[1] Ayr also competed in the League Cup, Scottish Cup and the Challenge Cup.

Summary[]

Season[]

In their first season back in the third–tier of Scottish football, Ayr United finished in first place and were promoted as Champions back to the Scottish Championship after only one season in League One.[2]

Results and fixtures[]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Scottish League One[]

Main article: 2017–18 Scottish League One
5 August 2017 1 Albion Rovers 1 – 5 Ayr United Cliftonhill, Coatbridge
15:00 Shields Goal 87' Report McDaid Goal 2'
Moffat Goal 34'
Moore Goal 39', 70 pen.', 79'		 Attendance: 806
Referee: Graham Beaton
12 August 2017 2 Ayr United 3 – 0 Forfar Athletic Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Moore Goal 37'
McDaid Goal 37'
Crawford Goal 81'		 Report Attendance: 1,399
Referee: David Lowe
19 August 2017 3 Stranraer 3 – 4 Ayr United Stair Park, Stranraer
15:00 Wallace Goal 16'
Thomson Goal 79', 81'		 Report McDaid Goal 42'
Moore Goal 49'
Moffat Goal 59'
Boyle Goal 85'		 Attendance: 1,070
Referee: Craig Charleston
26 August 2017 4 Ayr United 1 – 2 Arbroath Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Higgins Goal 42' Report Kader Goal 45+2'
Whatley Goal 59'		 Attendance: 1,569
Referee: Mike Roncone
9 September 2017 5 Raith Rovers 2 – 1 Ayr United Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy
15:00 Vaughan Goal 50'
Thomson Goal 59'		 Report Shankland Goal 45+2'
Higgins Red card 88'		 Attendance: 2,286
Referee: Alan Muir
16 September 2017 6 Ayr United 3 – 3 Alloa Athletic Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Shankland Goal 4', 90+4'
Adams Goal 80'		 Report Reid Goal 36' (o.g.)
Cawley Goal 61'
Taggart Goal 84' (pen.)		 Attendance: 1,306
Referee: Euan Anderson
23 September 2017 7 Queen's Park 0 – 2 Ayr United Hampden Park, Glasgow
15:00 Report Adams Goal 23'
Shankland Goal 68'		 Attendance: 1,051
Referee: Alan Muir
30 September 2017 8 Ayr United 3 – 0 East Fife Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Shankland Goal 7'
Geggan Goal 50'
Higgins Goal 73'		 Report Page Red card 61' Attendance: 1,382
Referee: Barry Cook
14 October 2017 9 Ayr United 2 – 2 Airdrieonians Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Geggan Goal 55', 57' Report McGregor Goal 29'
Furtado Goal 65'		 Attendance: 1,513
Referee: Steven Reid
21 October 2017 10 Forfar Athletic 0 – 5 Ayr United Station Park, Forfar
15:00 Report Moffat Goal 15', 64', 81'
Shankland Goal 52'
Moore Goal 85'		 Attendance: 664
Referee: Steven Kirkland
28 October 2017 11 Ayr United 2 – 0 Stranraer Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Moffat Goal 66'
Shankland Goal 80'		 Report Robertson Red card 75'
Bell Red card 90+1'		 Attendance: 1,473
Referee: Mat Northcroft
4 November 2017 12 Arbroath 1 – 4 Ayr United Gayfield Park, Arbroath
15:00 Swankie Goal 86' Report Shankland Goal 36', 57'
Gold Goal 53' (o.g.)
Moore Goal 58'		 Attendance: 922
Referee: Alan Muir
14 November 2017 13 Ayr United 3 – 0 Raith Rovers Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Shankland Goal 16'
Crawford Goal 22'
Moore Goal 90+3'		 Report Attendance: 2,040
Referee: Barry Cook
25 November 2017 14 Alloa Athletic 1 – 2 Ayr United Recreation Park, Alloa
15:00 Taggart Goal 76' Report Moffat Goal 4'
Moore Goal 90+1'		 Attendance: 854
Referee: David Munro
2 December 2017 15 Ayr United 3 – 2 Albion Rovers Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Moore Goal 16'
Shankland Goal 73'
C.Higgins Goal 77'		 Report S.Higgins Goal 25'
Trouten Goal 75'		 Attendance: 1,426
Referee: Craig Charleston
9 December 2017 16 Ayr United 3 – 2 Queen's Park Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Moore Goal 24' (pen.)
McDaid Goal 79'
Forrest Goal 88'		 Report McVey Goal 42'
Reid Goal 48' (o.g.)		 Attendance: 1,320
Referee: Gavin Ross
16 December 2017 17 East Fife 1 – 4 Ayr United Bayview Stadium, Methil
15:00 Duggan Goal 36' Report Rose Goal 57', 72'
Moore Goal 75'
Shankland Goal 88'		 Attendance: 637
Referee: John McKendrick
23 December 2017 18 Airdrieonians 2 – 0 Ayr United Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie
15:00 Russell Goal 4'
Brownlie Goal 26'		 Report Attendance: 1,113
Referee: Scott Millar
30 December 2017 19 Ayr United 2 – 3 Forfar Athletic Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Moffat Goal 45'
Shankland Goal 67'		 Report Hornby Goal 75'
Aitken Goal 83', 88'		 Attendance: 1,477
Referee: Colin Steven
2 January 2018 20 Stranraer 1 – 5 Ayr United Stair Park, Stranraer
15:00 Turner Goal 80' Report Shankland Goal 8', 53'
Moffat Goal 39'
Forrest Goal 49', 63'		 Attendance: 1,143
Referee: Grant Irvine
6 January 2018 21 Ayr United 1 – 2 Arbroath Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Forrest Goal 4' Report Wallace Goal 68'
O'Brien Red card 82'
McIntosh Goal 88'		 Attendance: 1,436
Referee: Steven Kirkland
13 January 2018 22 Raith Rovers 1 – 1 Ayr United Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy
15:00 Spence Goal 47' Report Shankland Goal 34' Attendance: 3,064
Referee: Barry Cook
27 January 2018 23 Queen's Park 1 – 4 Ayr United Hampden Park, Glasgow
15:00 Cummins Goal 89' Report Moore Goal 5'
Forrest Goal 43'
McGuffie Goal 80', 87'		 Attendance: 1,233
Referee: Greg Aitken
3 February 2018 24 Ayr United 1 – 2 Alloa Athletic Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Shankland Goal 10' Report McCart Goal 14'
Stewart Goal 17'		 Attendance: 1,139
Referee: Craig Napier
17 February 2018 25 Ayr United 3 – 0 East Fife Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 McDaid Goal 32'
Shankland Goal 53'
Forrest Goal 60' (pen.)		 Report Attendance: 1,170
Referee: David Lowe
24 February 2018 26 Ayr United 3 – 0 Airdrieonians Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Geggan Goal 50'
Shankland Goal 81' (pen.), 84'		 Report Attendance: 1,456
Referee: Alan Newlands
10 March 2018 27 Ayr United 3 – 0 Raith Rovers Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Shankland Goal 34'
Adams Goal 43'
Moffat Goal 53'		 Report Attendance: 2,126
Referee: Gavin Ross
14 March 2018 28 Arbroath 1 – 1 Ayr United Gayfield Park, Arbroath
19:45 Denholm Goal 45' Report McGuffie Goal 86' Attendance: 653
Referee: Colin Steven
17 March 2018 29 Forfar Athletic 0 – 2 Ayr United Station Park, Forfar
15:00 Munro Red card 81' Report Moffat Goal 10'
Moore Goal 81' (pen.)		 Attendance: 629
Referee: Kevin Graham
20 March 2018 30 Albion Rovers 2 – 3 Ayr United Cliftonhill, Coatbridge
19:45 Hester Goal 39'
Trouten Goal 66'		 Report Moore Goal 28'
Adams Goal 36'
Shankland Goal 75'		 Attendance: 652
Referee: Stephen Finnie
24 March 2018 31 Ayr United 4 – 0 Queen's Park Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Shankland Goal 10', 29', 34'
Moore Goal 76' (pen.)		 Report Attendance: 1,600
Referee: Barry Cook
31 March 2018 32 East Fife 2 – 3 Ayr United Bayview Stadium, Methil
15:00 Duggan Goal 22', 53' Report Forrest Goal 4'
Bell Goal 72'
Moore Goal 88' (pen.)		 Attendance: 759
Referee: David Lowe
7 April 2018 33 Airdrieonians 1 – 2 Ayr United Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie
15:00 Carrick Goal 10'
Watt Red card 90+2'		 Report Crawford Goal 37'
Shankland Goal 70'		 Attendance: 1,129
Referee: Colin Steven
14 April 2018 34 Ayr United 1 – 2 Stranraer Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Adams Goal 16'
Shankland Red card 32'		 Report Anderson Goal 3'
Agnew Goal 85' (pen.)		 Attendance: 2,323
Referee: Euan Anderson
22 April 2018 35 Alloa Athletic 2 – 1 Ayr United Recreation Park, Alloa
15:00 Flannigan Goal 21'
Crane Goal 33'		 Report Moore Goal 50' Attendance: 1,749
Referee: Greg Aitken
28 April 2018 36 Ayr United 2 – 0 Albion Rovers Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Moore Goal 34'
McDaid Goal 86'		 Report Attendance: 2,441
Referee: Barry Cook

Scottish League Cup[]

Main article: 2017–18 Scottish League Cup § Group E

Group Stage[]

14 July 2017 Group Stage Ayr United 1 – 0 Kilmarnock Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Geggan Goal 39' Report Attendance: 6,417
Referee: John Beaton
18 July 2017 Group Stage Dumbarton 1 – 3 Ayr United Dumbarton Football Stadium, Dumbarton
15:00 Nadé Goal 45+2' Report Dowie Goal 36' (o.g.)
McDaid Goal 71'
Crawford Goal 88'		 Attendance: 615
Referee: Barry Cook
14 July 2017 Group Stage Ayr United 5 – 1 Clyde Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Crawford Goal 20'
Moore Goal 30' (64)
McDaid Goal 75'		 Report Attendance: 1,501
Referee: Colin Steven
29 July 2017 Group Stage Annan Athletic 1 – 6 Ayr United Galabank, Annan
15:00 Sinnamon Goal 85' Report Docherty Goal 1'
McGuffie Goal 3'
Moffat Goal 25'
Moore Goal 45'
Geggan Goal 67'
McDaid Goal 81'		 Attendance: 659
Referee: Steven Reid

Group E Table[]

Pos Team
 Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification AYR KIL CLY ANN DUM
1 Ayr United (Q) 4 4 0 0 0 15 3 +12 12 Qualification for the Second Round — 1–0 5–1 — —
2 Kilmarnock (Q) 4 3 0 0 1 9 3 +6 9 — — 4–2 — 3–0
3 Clyde 4 2 0 0 2 7 11 −4 6 — — — 2–1 2–1
4 Annan Athletic 4 0 1 0 3 2 10 −8 2 1–6 0–2 — — —
5 Dumbarton 4 0 0 1 3 2 8 −6 1 1–3 — — 0–0p —
Source: [3]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[4]
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated

Knockout phase[]

8 August 2017 Round 2 Hibernian 5 – 0 Ayr United Easter Road, Edinburgh
19:45 Stokes Goal 20', 59'
Murray Goal 31'
Ambrose Goal 69'
Matulevičius Goal 85'		 Report Attendance: 8,135
Referee: Kevin Clancy

Scottish Challenge Cup[]

Main article: 2017–18 Scottish Challenge Cup
16 August 2017 Round 1 East Stirlingshire 1 – 5 Ayr United Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir
19:45 Report Murphy Goal 26'
Gilmour Goal 38'
Moore Goal 54'
Forrest Goal 58'
McCowan Goal 88'		 Attendance: 274
Referee: David Munro
29 August 2017 Round 2 Ayr United 1 – 1 (a.e.t.)
(5 – 6 p)		 Montrose Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45 Moore Goal 28' Report Campbell Goal 2' Attendance: 906
Referee: Grant Irvine

Scottish Cup[]

Main article: 2017–18 Scottish Cup
18 November 2017 Round 3 Banks O'Dee 2 – 6 Ayr United Spain Park, Aberdeen
15:00 Watt Goal 9' (pen.), 26' (pen.)
Winton Red card 56'		 Report Shankland Goal 1', 37'
McDaid Goal 43', 45+1'
Moore Goal 63', 66'		 Attendance: 469
Referee: Craig Napier
20 January 2018 Round 4 Ayr United 4 – 1 Arbroath Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 McDaid Goal 9', 83'
Shankland Goal 58'
Moore Goal 90+3'		 Report McCord Goal 79' Attendance: 1,151
Referee: Mike Roncone
11 February 2018 Round 5 Ayr United 1 – 6 Rangers Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00 Forrest Goal 11' Report Morelos Goal 31', 72'
Cummings Goal 66'
Windass Goal 69', 81'
Murphy Goal 88'		 Attendance: 9,346
Referee: Nick Walsh

Squad statistics[]

Appearances[]

As of 28 April 2018[5]
No. Pos Nat Player Total League One League Cup Challenge Cup Scottish Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Scotland SCO Jordan Hart 33 0 25+0 0 5+0 0 2+0 0 1+0 0
2 DF Scotland SCO Chris Higgins 26 3 19+0 3 5+0 0 2+0 0 0+0 0
3 DF Scotland SCO Patrick Boyle 36 1 26+1 1 5+0 0 1+0 0 3+0 0
4 MF Scotland SCO Brian Gilmour 19 1 7+7 0 1+2 0 1+1 1 0+0 0
5 DF Scotland SCO Michael Rose 40 3 33+1 2 2+0 0 1+0 1 3+0 0
6 MF Scotland SCO Andy Geggan 34 6 25+1 4 5+0 2 1+0 0 2+0 0
7 FW Scotland SCO Michael Moffat 45 13 30+5 11 5+0 2 1+1 0 3+0 0
8 MF Scotland SCO Robbie Crawford 28 5 21+1 3 4+0 2 1+0 0 1+0 0
9 FW Scotland SCO Craig Moore 41 27 15+16 19 5+0 3 2+0 2 3+0 3
10 MF Scotland SCO Alan Forrest 34 9 16+13 7 0+1 0 1+1 1 2+0 1
11 FW Scotland SCO Declan McDaid 43 13 28+6 6 5+0 3 1+0 0 2+1 4
12 MF Scotland SCO Craig McGuffie 38 4 6+23 3 2+2 1 1+1 0 0+3 0
14 DF Scotland SCO David Ferguson 34 0 21+4 0 1+3 0 2+0 0 2+1 0
15 MF Scotland SCO James Hilton 2 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 0+1 0 0+0 0
16 MF Scotland SCO Jamie Adams 30 5 21+4 5 3+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0
17 FW Scotland SCO Lawrence Shankland 33 29 30+0 26 0+0 0 0+0 0 3+0 3
18 MF Scotland SCO Stuart Faulds 8 0 0+3 0 3+0 0 1+0 0 0+1 0
19 GK Scotland SCO Ellis Hare-Reid 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
20 GK Scotland SCO Lyle Avci 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
20 GK Scotland SCO Jack Ruddy 13 0 11+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0
21 DF Scotland SCO David Waite 1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
22 MF Scotland SCO Kieran Balfour 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
23 MF Scotland SCO Ross Docherty 23 1 14+2 0 5+0 1 1+0 0 1+0 0
24 MF Scotland SCO Leon Murphy 11 1 0+5 0 0+4 0 1+0 1 0+1 0
25 MF Scotland SCO Luke McCowan 5 1 0+1 0 0+1 0 0+2 1 0+1 0
26 DF Scotland SCO Craig Reid 29 0 19+4 0 2+0 0 1+0 0 3+0 0
27 MF Scotland SCO Mark Kerr 14 0 14+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
28 DF Scotland SCO Steven Bell 15 1 15+0 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0

Team statistics[]

League table[]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Ayr United (C, P) 36 24 4 8 92 42 +50 76 Promotion to the Championship
2 Raith Rovers 36 22 9 5 68 32 +36 75 Qualification for the Championship play-offs
3 Alloa Athletic (O, P) 36 17 9 10 56 43 +13 60
4 Arbroath 36 17 8 11 70 51 +19 59
5 Stranraer 36 16 5 15 58 66 −8 53
Source: SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champion; (O) Play-off winner; (P) Promoted

Division summary[]

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536
GroundAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAAHAHAAHHHHAAAHAAHAH
ResultWWWLLDWWDWWWWWWWWLLWLDWLWWWDWWWWWLLW
Position111222322221111111112212222211111121
Updated to match(es) played on 28 April 2018. Source: [6]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Transfers[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Ayr United are relegated from the Championship after last day defeat to Raith Rovers". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 7 May 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Scottish League One: Ayr United pip Raith Rovers to title and automatic promotion". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group E". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Ayr United FC Player Appearances". soccerbase.com. Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  6. ^ "League One 2017/2018". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Higgins first signing of Summer". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Return of the Moff". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Andy Geggan to leave Dunfermline Athletic and sign Ayr United". dunfermlinepress.com. Dunfermline Press. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Moorey signs for 2017/18". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  11. ^ "Ayr United sign experienced defender Craig Reid as Player of the Year Greg Fleming set to quit Somerset Park side". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  12. ^ "Ferguson moves to Ayr United". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 13 July 2017. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Ayr United sign former Aberdeen striker Lawrence Shankland as Ian McCall bids to boost side's League One title bid". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Bell rings for United". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  15. ^ "United net keeper Ruddy". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  16. ^ "McCall adds auld acquaintance". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  17. ^ "Squad Update". alloaathletic.co.uk. Alloa Athletic FC. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Annan Athletic Appoint New Manager". annanathleticfc.com. Annan Athletic FC. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  19. ^ "Gary Harkins Joins Morton". gmfc.net. Greenock Morton FC. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  20. ^ "Fleming is 'league's best keeper' says Peterhead boss McInally". eveningexpress.co.uk. Evening Express. 24 June 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  21. ^ "Nicky Devlin:Walsall sign Scottish right-back following Ayr United exit". BBC Sport. BBC. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  22. ^ "Peterhead land Cairney". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 14 July 2017. Archived from the original on 31 October 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  23. ^ "Falkirk sign defenders Jordan McGhee and Conrad Balatoni". BBC Sport. BBC. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  24. ^ "Welcome Farid El Alagui". edinburghcityfc.com. Edinburgh City FC. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  25. ^ "Lyle Avci Signs". Troon FC. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
Retrieved from ""