Match Preview | Ayr United
Ayr United versus MORTON
Saturday 3 August 2019
Somerset Park, Ayr
Kick-off 3.00pm
by Ewan Boyle
Scene Setter
The Championship season finally kicks off for Morton with a trip to Ayr as their opening game of the campaign.
The game comes following Morton’s 3-3 draw and victory on penalties against Queen of the South which secured a last 16 Betfred Cup tie against Hibernian FC.
This will be Morton’s first away game of the season with their first home match coming against Alloa Athletic at Cappielow on the 10th August.
Morton will be hoping to kick the season off with a victory at Ayr to make sure they have something to work from for the season ahead.
Current Connections
Former Morton midfield maestro Andy Murdoch will be available for selection in the Ayr squad. The 24-year-old played around 75 times and scored 4 goals for the Ton as he was part of the team who made the Betfred Cup semi-final at Hampden Park against Aberdeen which ended in a 2-0 defeat.
Ex-Morton loan player Frank Ross is also included in the squad for Saturday’s game as he was signed as a loan deal by the Honest Men.
At the same time as former Greenock gaffer McCall brought Murdoch on board, he also secured the loan signing of goalkeeper Ross Doohan. Doohan was brought in as cover two seasons ago for the Ton.
Head to Head
Sat 29 Sep 2018: Morton 1-5 Ayr United (Ladbrokes Championship)
Sat 17 Nov 2018: Ayr United 0-0 Morton (Ladbrokes Championship)
Sat 16 Feb 2019: Morton 0-0 Ayr United (Ladbrokes Championship)
Tue 2 Apr 2019: Ayr United 1-1 Morton (Ladbrokes Championship)
Last Time Round
Ayr United and Greenock Morton shared a point as the two sides could not be separated for the third game in a row. However, the 1-1 scoreline perhaps doesn’t tell the full story as a resilient second half performance saw The Ton unlucky not to walk away from Somerset Park with all three points.
Ayr United started brightly passing quickly and getting the ball into the box. It only took until the 3rd minute of the game for Michael Moffat to get The Honest Men’s first shot away from outside the box but the ball going wide to the right.
Whenever Morton got hold of the ball, they looked to move forward but were frustrated by Ayr’s solid defence, who were quick to clear their lines and get rid of any danger as midfielder Chris Millar did his best to chisel a pass through.
Morton enjoyed a lot of play on the right-hand side throughout the night as Reghan Tumilty and Greg Kiltie worked pass after pass to string apart the Ayr United defence.
Officials
Referee: Gavin Duncan
Assistant one: John McCrossan
Assistant two: Jonathan Bell
Fan File
Away fans are accommodated in the West Stand, West Enclosure, if numbers dictate then also in the Railway End Terracing.
Entry Prices:
· Adult – £18
· Concession (Over 65s/Students/18-21/Wheelchair Users/Certified Ambulant) documentation/proof is required- £12
· Child (under 18s) – £6
Travel
By Road: Ayr United Football Club, Somerset Park, Tryfield Place, Ayr, KA8 9NB.
Inverkip Road A78 – A77 – High Road A719 (journey time around 1 hour 14 minutes)
OR
A78 – A8 – M8 – M77 (journey time around 1 hour 18 minutes)
By Rail: Greenock – Gilmour Street, Paisley – Ayr (journey time around 1 hour 30 minutes)
Ayr Railway Station is a 10-minute walk away from Somerset Park. Exit the station through the back entrance (to the left as you come off the platform, over the footbridge) and turn left once outside. Walk up to the roundabout at the fire station and go straight ahead at the roundabout, past the left-hand side of the Civic Theatre. Continue up Craigie Road to the traffic lights at the top. Go straight across the road at this junction then take a left and a right.
We have a number of supporters bus heading to the game and the details for all are as follows:
Gourock Morton Supporters Bus: Adults: £10, Concession: £8, Leaving Royalle Club at 1.15pm
Greenock Morton Supporters Bus: Adults: £9, U16/OAPs: £7, Leaving Greenock Morton Supporters Club at 1.00pm
Port Glasgow Morton Supporters Bus: Leaving the Sutherland Bar at 1.00pm
Parking
Car parking: Available in Craigie Park. When coming past the racecourse, the top of Craigie Road is blocked off, for ease go to the next roundabout, turn left to the fire station roundabout, parking is opposite. Car park is on the right. Barrier is in place to prevent high-sided vehicles entering.
Coach parking: Coaches can drop off in Craigie Street and park at the Ayrshire College, Dam Park. Pick up in Craigie Street.
