2017–18 Ayr United F.C. season

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.

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

Summary

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Season

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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

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  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Scottish League One

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

Scottish League Cup

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Group stage

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

Knockout round

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

Scottish Challenge Cup

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16 August 2017 Round 1 East Stirlingshire 1 – 5 Ayr United Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir
19:45 Report Murphy   26'
Gilmour   38'
Moore   54'
Forrest   58'
McCowan   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   28' Report Campbell   2' Attendance: 906
Referee: Grant Irvine

Scottish Cup

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

Squad statistics

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Appearances

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As of 28 April 2018[3]
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   SCO Jordan Hart 33 0 25+0 0 5+0 0 2+0 0 1+0 0
2 DF   SCO Chris Higgins 26 3 19+0 3 5+0 0 2+0 0 0+0 0
3 DF   SCO Patrick Boyle 36 1 26+1 1 5+0 0 1+0 0 3+0 0
4 MF   SCO Brian Gilmour 19 1 7+7 0 1+2 0 1+1 1 0+0 0
5 DF   SCO Michael Rose 40 3 33+1 2 2+0 0 1+0 1 3+0 0
6 MF   SCO Andy Geggan 34 6 25+1 4 5+0 2 1+0 0 2+0 0
7 FW   SCO Michael Moffat 45 13 30+5 11 5+0 2 1+1 0 3+0 0
8 MF   SCO Robbie Crawford 28 5 21+1 3 4+0 2 1+0 0 1+0 0
9 FW   SCO Craig Moore 41 27 15+16 19 5+0 3 2+0 2 3+0 3
10 MF   SCO Alan Forrest 34 9 16+13 7 0+1 0 1+1 1 2+0 1
11 FW   SCO Declan McDaid 43 13 28+6 6 5+0 3 1+0 0 2+1 4
12 MF   SCO Craig McGuffie 38 4 6+23 3 2+2 1 1+1 0 0+3 0
14 DF   SCO David Ferguson 34 0 21+4 0 1+3 0 2+0 0 2+1 0
15 MF   SCO James Hilton 2 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 0+1 0 0+0 0
16 MF   SCO Jamie Adams 30 5 21+4 5 3+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0
17 FW   SCO Lawrence Shankland 33 29 30+0 26 0+0 0 0+0 0 3+0 3
18 MF   SCO Stuart Faulds 8 0 0+3 0 3+0 0 1+0 0 0+1 0
19 GK   NZL Ellis Hare-Reid 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
20 GK   SCO Lyle Avci 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
20 GK   SCO Jack Ruddy 13 0 11+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0
21 DF   SCO David Waite 1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
22 MF   SCO Kieran Balfour 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
23 MF   SCO Ross Docherty 23 1 14+2 0 5+0 1 1+0 0 1+0 0
24 MF   SCO Leon Murphy 11 1 0+5 0 0+4 0 1+0 1 0+1 0
25 MF   SCO Luke McCowan 5 1 0+1 0 0+1 0 0+2 1 0+1 0
26 DF   SCO Craig Reid 29 0 19+4 0 2+0 0 1+0 0 3+0 0
27 MF   SCO Mark Kerr 14 0 14+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
28 DF   SCO Steven Bell 15 1 15+0 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0

Team statistics

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League table

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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) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted

Division summary

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Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536
GroundAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAAHAHAAHHHHAAAHAAHAH
ResultWWWLLDWWDWWWWWWWWLLWLDWLWWWDWWWWWLLW
Position111222322221111111112212222211111121
Updated to match(es) played on 28 April 2018. Source: [4]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League Cup Table

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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: [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

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References

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  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. ^ "Ayr United FC Player Appearances". soccerbase.com. Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  4. ^ "League One 2017/2018". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group E". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  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. ^ "Kilwinning Rangers win race for former Ayr United starlet Michael Wardrope". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  21. ^ "Fleming is 'league's best keeper' says Peterhead boss McInally". eveningexpress.co.uk. Evening Express. 24 June 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  22. ^ "Nicky Devlin:Walsall sign Scottish right-back following Ayr United exit". BBC Sport. BBC. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  23. ^ "Peterhead land Cairney". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 14 July 2017. Archived from the original on 31 October 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  24. ^ "Falkirk sign defenders Jordan McGhee and Conrad Balatoni". BBC Sport. BBC. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  25. ^ "Welcome Farid El Alagui". edinburghcityfc.com. Edinburgh City FC. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  26. ^ "Lyle Avci Signs". Troon FC. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.