2018–19 Ayr United F.C. season

Ayr United
2018–19 season
Manager	Ian McCall
Stadium	Somerset Park
Scottish Championship	4th
Scottish Cup	Fourth round
League Cup	Quarter-final
Challenge Cup	First round
Premiership play-offs	Quarter-final
Top goalscorer	League: Lawrence Shankland (24); All: Lawrence Shankland (34)
Highest home attendance	3,249 v Partick Thistle, Championship, 4 August 2018
Lowest home attendance	1,227 v Stenhousemuir, League Cup, 24 July 2018
Average home league attendance	2,157
Home colours	Away colours
	← 2017–18 2019–20 →

The 2018–19 season was Ayr United’s 109th season of competitive football and their first season back in the Scottish Championship following their promotion from League One in the 2017–18 season.^[1] Ayr also competed in the Scottish Cup, League Cup, and the Challenge Cup.

Summary

Season

In their first season back in the second–tier of Scottish football, Ayr United finished in fourth place and qualified for the Premiership play-offs, losing to Inverness CT in the quarter-final.

Results and fixtures

Win Draw Loss Postponed

Scottish Championship

4 August 2018 1	Ayr United	2–0	Partick Thistle	Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00	Shankland 7 pen.', 18'	Report		Attendance: 3,249 Referee: Craig Thomson

11 August 2018 2	Inverness CT	0–0	Ayr United	Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
15:00		Report	Harvie 30'	Attendance: 2,376 Referee: Andrew Dallas

25 August 2018 3	Ayr United	4–1	Dunfermline Athletic	Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00	Forrest 5', 37' Shankland 39' Moffat 81'	Report	Longridge 55'	Attendance: 2,597 Referee: Euan Anderson

1 September 2018 4	Queen of the South	5–0	Ayr United	Palmerston Park, Dumfries
15:00	Dobbie 12', 20 pen.', 22', 84' Harkins 37'	Report	Harvie 79'	Attendance: 2,498 Referee: Colin Steven

15 September 2018 5	Ayr United	3–2	Falkirk	Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00	Shankland 48' Geggan 63' Fasan 65 o.g.'	Report	Rudden 18' Petravičius 25'	Attendance: 2,250 Referee: Alan Newlands

22 September 2018 6	Alloa Athletic	0–2	Ayr United	Recreation Park, Alloa
15:00		Report	Shankland 23', 65'	Attendance: 949 Referee: Gavin Duncan

29 September 2018 7	Greenock Morton	1–5	Ayr United	Cappielow, Greenock
15:00	Telfer 35'	Report	Shankland 19', 75' Moore 73', 81' McDaid 89'	Attendance: 2,273 Referee: Steven McLean

6 October 2018 8	Ayr United	2–0	Dundee United	Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00	Shankland 21' McDaid 74'	Report		Attendance: 2,621 Referee: Greg Aitken

20 October 2018 9	Ross County	2–1	Ayr United	Victoria Park, Dingwall
15:00	McKay 23' Mullin 34'	Report	Shankland 50'	Attendance: 3,140 Referee: Steven McLean

27 October 2018 10	Partick Thistle	0–1	Ayr United	Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
15:00		Report	Rose 77'	Attendance: 3,491 Referee: Bobby Madden

30 October 2018 11	Ayr United	3–0	Alloa Athletic	Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45	Shankland 46', 90+2' Forrest 81'	Report		Attendance: 1,742 Referee: David Munro

3 November 2018 12	Falkirk	0–1	Ayr United	Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00		Report	Moore 51'	Attendance: 4,310 Referee: Greg Aitken

10 November 2018 13	Ayr United	1–1	Queen of the South	Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00	Rose 75'	Report	Murray 81'	Attendance: 2,539 Referee: John Beaton

17 November 2018 14	Ayr United	0–0	Greenock Morton	Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00	Moore 62'	Report		Attendance: 2,346 Referee: Willie Collum

30 November 2018 15	Dundee United	0–5	Ayr United	Tannadice Park, Dundee
19:45		Report	Shankland 3', 41', 87 pen.', 89' Moffat 78'	Attendance: 6,097 Referee: Don Robertson

15 December 2018 16	Ayr United	3–3	Ross County	Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00	Shankland 21 pen.', 25' Geggan 43'	Report	Mullin 12' McKay 48 pen.' Cowie 52'	Attendance: 2,030 Referee: Bobby Madden

22 December 2018 17	Dunfermline Athletic	0–0	Ayr United	East End Park, Dunfermline
19:45		Report		Attendance: 4,916 Referee: Steven McLean

29 December 2018 18	Queen of the South	1–1	Ayr United	Palmerston Park, Dumfries
15:00	Todd 29'	Report	Moffat 41'	Attendance: 2,349 Referee: Alan Newlands

5 January 2019 19	Ayr United	0–1	Falkirk	Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00		Report	Rudden 56'	Attendance: 2,729 Referee: Bobby Madden

12 January 2019 20	Inverness CT	1–0	Ayr United	Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
15:00	White 64'	Report		Attendance: 2,283 Referee: Alan Newlands

25 January 2019 21	Ayr United	1–0	Dundee United	Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45	Moore 4'	Report	Gomis 89'	Attendance: 2,232 Referee: Don Robertson

29 January 2019 22	Ayr United	2–3	Inverness CT	Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45	McDaid 53' Shankland 85'	Report	Austin 9', 12' Polworth 18'	Attendance: 1,559 Referee: Nick Walsh

2 February 2019 23	Alloa Athletic	1–3	Ayr United	Recreation Park, Alloa
15:00	Trouten 30'	Report	Moffat 29', 88' Shankland 52' (pen.)	Attendance: 957 Referee: Mike Roncone

16 February 2019 24	Greenock Morton	0–0	Ayr United	Cappielow, Greenock
15:00		Report		Attendance: 2,335 Referee: Colin Steven

23 February 2019 25	Ayr United	0–1	Dunfermline Athletic	Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00		Report	Longridge 71' (pen.)	Attendance: 2,202 Referee: David Munro

26 February 2019 26	Ross County	3–2	Ayr United	Victoria Park, Dingwall
19:45	McKay 35', 70', 75'	Report	Shankland 62' Murdoch 73'	Attendance: 3,489 Referee: Nick Walsh

8 March 2019 27	Falkirk	2–0	Ayr United	Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
19:05	McGhee 27', 40'	Report		Attendance: 4,344 Referee: Alan Muir

29 March 2019 28	Dunfermline Athletic	0–1	Ayr United	East End Park, Dunfermline
19:05		Report	McDaid 31'	Attendance: 4,671 Referee: Gavin Duncan

2 April 2019 29	Ayr United	1–1	Greenock Morton	Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45	Shankland 21 pen.'	Report	Kiltie 71'	Attendance: 1,802 Referee: Willie Collum

6 April 2019 30	Ayr United	0–1	Inverness CT	Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00		Report	McKay 66'	Attendance: 1,566 Referee: Craig Thomson

9 April 2019 31	Ayr United	1–0	Queen of the South	Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45	Shankland 43 pen.'	Report		Attendance: 1,582 Referee: Greg Aitken

12 April 2019 32	Dundee United	2–1	Ayr United	Tannadice Park, Dundee
19:05	Šafranko 63' McMullan 74'	Report	Bell 24'	Attendance: 4,392 Referee: Bobby Madden

19 April 2019 33	Ayr United	1–3	Ross County	Somerset Park, Ayr
19:05	Miller 12' Docherty 90+5'	Report	Graham 42', 46', 71'	Attendance: 1,692 Referee: Euan Anderson

23 April 2019 34	Ayr United	0–1	Partick Thistle	Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45		Report	Gordon 17'	Attendance: 2,429 Referee: Alan Newlands

27 April 2019 35	Partick Thistle	1–2	Ayr United	Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
15:00	Gordon 9'	Report	Smith 17' Muirhead 56'	Attendance: 3,855 Referee: Nick Walsh

4 May 2019 36	Ayr United	1–1	Alloa Athletic	Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00	Shankland 37'	Report	Shields 33'	Attendance: 1,665 Referee: Willie Collum

Premiership Play–Off

7 May 2019 Quarter-final 1st Leg	Ayr United	1–3	Inverness CT	Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45	Rose 65'	Report	Trafford 33' White 51', 76 pen.'	Attendance: 2,171 Referee: Alan Muir

11 May 2019 Quarter-final 2nd Leg	Inverness CT	1–1 (4–2 agg.)	Ayr United	Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
19:45	Donaldson 79'	Report	McCowan 19'	Attendance: 2,323 Referee: Steven McLean

Scottish League Cup

14 July 2018 Group Stage	Ayr United	3–1	Greenock Morton	Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00	Shankland 48', 72', 75'	Report	Tidser 14'	Attendance: 1,586 Referee: Willie Collum

21 July 2018 Group Stage	Albion Rovers	0–2	Ayr United	Cliftonhill, Coatbridge
15:00		Report	Forrest 15' Bell 80'	Attendance: 519 Referee: Mike Roncone

24 July 2018 Group Stage	Ayr United	5–0	Stenhousemuir	Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45	Shankland 2', 8', 46' Moffat 41', 86'	Report		Attendance: 1,227 Referee: David Munro

28 July 2018 Group Stage	Partick Thistle	0–2	Ayr United	Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
15:00		Report	Moffat 6' Shankland 66'	Attendance: 2,871 Referee: Nick Walsh

Knockout round

8 August 2018 Round 2	Dundee	0–3	Ayr United	Dens Park, Dundee
19:45	Moussa 77' Kusunga 90+3'	Report	Shankland 51', 86' Moffat 89'	Attendance: 3,151 Referee: John Beaton

26 September 2018 Quarter-final	Rangers	4–0	Ayr United	Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow
19:45	Katić 16' Middleton 31', 70' Morelos 49'	Report		Attendance: 35,042 Referee: Bobby Madden

Scottish Challenge Cup

14 August 2018 First Round	Queen's Park	0–0 (4–2 p)	Ayr United	Hampden Park, Glasgow
19:45		Report		Attendance: 834

Scottish Cup

24 November 2018 Third Round	Beith Juniors	0–3	Ayr United	Bellsdale Park, Beith
15:00		Report	Shankland 64' Docherty 79' Moffat 88'	Attendance: 1,780 Referee: Colin Steven

19 January 2019 Fourth Round	Auchinleck Talbot	1–0	Ayr United	Beechwood Park, Auchinleck
15:00	McCracken 78'	Report		Attendance: 3,100 Referee: Euan Anderson

Squad statistics

Appearances

As of 11 May 2019^[2]

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		League One		League Cup		Scottish Cup		Other
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	SCO	Ross Doohan	47	0	36+0	0	6+0	0	2+0	0	3+0	0
2	DF	SCO	Chris Higgins	5	0	0+3	0	0+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
3	DF	SCO	Daniel Harvie	44	0	31+2	0	6+0	0	2+0	0	3+0	0
4	MF	SCO	Mark Kerr	30	0	18+4	0	5+1	0	0+0	0	1+1	0
5	DF	SCO	Michael Rose	44	1	34+0	0	5+0	0	2+0	0	3+0	1
6	MF	SCO	Andy Geggan	28	2	22+1	2	3+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
7	FW	SCO	Michael Moffat	44	10	29+5	5	4+2	4	2+0	1	1+1	0
8	MF	SCO	Robbie Crawford	44	0	30+3	0	5+1	0	2+0	0	2+1	0
9	FW	SCO	Craig Moore	26	4	8+12	4	1+3	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
10	MF	SCO	Alan Forrest	25	4	10+7	3	6+0	1	0+0	0	0+2	0
11	FW	SCO	Declan McDaid	45	4	20+14	4	1+5	0	2+0	0	3+0	0
12	MF	SCO	Craig McGuffie	16	0	0+9	0	1+3	0	0+2	0	1+0	0
14	DF	SCO	David Ferguson	6	0	1+2	0	3+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
15	DF	SCO	Steven Bell	33	2	21+5	1	2+2	1	1+1	0	1+0	0
16	MF	SCO	Jamie Adams	19	0	9+4	0	5+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
17	FW	SCO	Lawrence Shankland	41	34	29+2	24	6+0	9	1+0	1	2+1	0
18	MF	SCO	Andy Murdoch	44	1	33+1	1	6+0	0	1+0	0	3+0	0
19	GK	NZL	Ellis Hare-Reid	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
20	MF	SCO	James Hilton	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
22	DF	SCO	Finn Ecrepont	1	0	0+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
23	MF	SCO	Ross Docherty	23	1	9+10	0	0+0	0	1+1	1	2+0	0
25	MF	SCO	Luke McCowan	9	1	2+3	0	0+0	0	0+1	0	2+1	1
27	DF	SCO	Liam Smith	39	1	32+1	1	1+0	0	1+1	0	3+0	0
28	MF	SCO	Nicky Cadden	11	0	6+4	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+1	0
29	MF	SCO	Calvin Miller	14	1	8+5	1	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+1	0
30	DF	SCO	Aaron Muirhead	11	1	8+1	1	0+0	0	0+0	0	2+0	0

Team statistics

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion, qualification or relegation
2	Dundee United	36	19	8	9	49	40	+9	65	Qualification for the Premiership play-off semi-final
3	Inverness Caledonian Thistle	36	14	14	8	48	40	+8	56	Qualification for the Premiership play-off quarter-final
4	Ayr United	36	15	9	12	50	38	+12	54	Qualification for the Premiership play-off quarter-final
5	Greenock Morton	36	11	13	12	36	45	−9	46
6	Partick Thistle	36	12	7	17	43	52	−9	43

Source: SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Points in head-to-head matches; 5) Goal difference in hth matches; 6). Goals scored in hth matches; 7). Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).^[3]

Division summary

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36
Ground	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	A	A	H	H	H	A	H	H	A	H
Result	W	D	W	L	W	W	W	W	L	W	W	W	D	D	W	D	D	D	L	L	W	L	W	D	L	L	L	W	D	L	W	L	L	L	W	D
Position	1	3	1	6	3	1	1	1	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	3	3	3	3	4	3	3	3	3	3	4

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

League Cup table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification	AYR	PAR	GMO	STE	ALB
1	Ayr United (Q)	4	4	0	12	1	+11	12	Qualification for the Second round	—	—	3–1	5–0	—
2	Partick Thistle (Q)	4	3	1	6	3	+3	9	Qualification for the Second round	0–2	—	2–1	—	—
3	Greenock Morton	4	2	2	9	5	+4	6		—	—	—	2–0	5–0
4	Stenhousemuir	4	1	3	4	9	−5	3		—	0–2	—	—	4–0
5	Albion Rovers	4	0	4	0	13	−13	0		0–2	0–2	—	—	—

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

Players in

Player	From	Fee
Daniel Harvie	Aberdeen	Free^[7]
Ellis Hare-Reid	Orihuela	Free^[8]
Andy Murdoch	Greenock Morton	Free^[9]
Ross Doohan	Celtic	Loan^[9]
Liam Smith	Hearts	Free^[10]
Aaron Muirhead	Falkirk	Free^[11]
Calvin Miller	Celtic	Loan^[12]
Nicky Cadden	Livingston	Loan^[13]

Players out

Player	To	Fee
Lyle Avci	Stranraer	Free^[14]
Jordan Hart	Queen's Park	Free^[15]
Craig Reid	East Kilbride	Free^[16]
Leon Murphy	Glenafton Athletic	Loan
David Waite	Auchinleck Talbot	Free
Patrick Boyle	Peterhead	Free^[17]
Craig McGuffie	Raith Rovers	Loan^[11]
David Ferguson	Dumbarton	Loan^[11]
Chris Higgins	East Fife	Loan^[18]

References

^ "Scottish League One: Ayr United pip Raith Rovers to title and automatic promotion". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
^ "Ayr United FC Player Appearances". soccerbase.com. Soccerbase. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
^ "Championship 2017/2018 - Season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
^ "League One 2017/2018". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
^ "Summary - League Cup Group E". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
^ "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
^ "Harvie signs for United". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
^ "Kiwi keeper Ellis Hare-Reid signs for Scottish second tier club Ayr United". stuff.co.nz. Stuff. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Thursday treble signing". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
^ "Smith is latest signing". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Muirhead signs 18 month deal". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
^ "Celtic kid Calvin Miller hopes to impress Brendan Rodgers with Ayr United loan switch". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
^ "Livingston winger Nicky Cadden vows to help Ayr United's Championship title bid after deadline day move". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
^ "Avci signs for Stranraer". stranraerfc.org. Stranraer FC. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
^ "We've signed a keeper". queensparkfc.co.uk. Queen's Park FC. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
^ "East Kilbride new boy Craig Reid hoping promotion experiences can pay off for Kilby". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
^ "McInally says Boyle signed due to blue toons reputation among the players". eveningexpress.co.uk. Evening Express. 25 August 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
^ "Chris Higgins Joins On Loan". eastfifefc.info. East Fife FC. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.

[1] "Scottish League One: Ayr United pip Raith Rovers to title and automatic promotion". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.

[2] "Ayr United FC Player Appearances". soccerbase.com. Soccerbase. Retrieved 13 May 2020.

[3] "Championship 2017/2018 - Season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 22 April 2017.

[4] "League One 2017/2018". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 11 May 2020.

[5] "Summary - League Cup Group E". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.

[6] "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.

[7] "Harvie signs for United". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.

[8] "Kiwi keeper Ellis Hare-Reid signs for Scottish second tier club Ayr United". stuff.co.nz. Stuff. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.

[Thursday_treble_signing_–_Ayr_United_Football_Club-9] "Thursday treble signing". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.

[10] "Smith is latest signing". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.

[Muirhead_signs_18_month_deal_–_Ayr_United_Football_Club-11] "Muirhead signs 18 month deal". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.

[12] "Celtic kid Calvin Miller hopes to impress Brendan Rodgers with Ayr United loan switch". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.

[13] "Livingston winger Nicky Cadden vows to help Ayr United's Championship title bid after deadline day move". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.

[14] "Avci signs for Stranraer". stranraerfc.org. Stranraer FC. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.

[15] "We've signed a keeper". queensparkfc.co.uk. Queen's Park FC. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.

[16] "East Kilbride new boy Craig Reid hoping promotion experiences can pay off for Kilby". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.

[17] "McInally says Boyle signed due to blue toons reputation among the players". eveningexpress.co.uk. Evening Express. 25 August 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.

[18] "Chris Higgins Joins On Loan". eastfifefc.info. East Fife FC. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.

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