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.
| 2017–18 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Ian McCall | ||
| Stadium | Somerset Park | ||
| Scottish League One | 1st (Champions) | ||
| Scottish Cup | Fifth Round | ||
| League Cup | Second Round | ||
| Challenge Cup | Second Round | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Lawrence Shankland (26) All: Lawrence Shankland (29) | ||
| Highest home attendance | 9,346 v Rangers, Scottish Cup, 11 February 2018 | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 906 v Montrose, Challenge Cup, 29 August, 2017 | ||
| Average home league attendance | 1,532 | ||
|
| |||
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
| 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
Group Stage
| 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 |
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 | — |
Knockout phase
| 8 August 2017 Round 2 | 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
| 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 |
Scottish Cup
| 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 |
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 |  |
Jordan Hart | 33 | 0 | 25+0 | 0 | 5+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | |
Chris Higgins | 26 | 3 | 19+0 | 3 | 5+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | |
Patrick Boyle | 36 | 1 | 26+1 | 1 | 5+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | |
Brian Gilmour | 19 | 1 | 7+7 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 1+1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | |
Michael Rose | 40 | 3 | 33+1 | 2 | 2+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 1 | 3+0 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | |
Andy Geggan | 34 | 6 | 25+1 | 4 | 5+0 | 2 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | |
Michael Moffat | 45 | 13 | 30+5 | 11 | 5+0 | 2 | 1+1 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | |
Robbie Crawford | 28 | 5 | 21+1 | 3 | 4+0 | 2 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | |
Craig Moore | 41 | 27 | 15+16 | 19 | 5+0 | 3 | 2+0 | 2 | 3+0 | 3 |
| 10 | MF | |
Alan Forrest | 34 | 9 | 16+13 | 7 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 1 | 2+0 | 1 |
| 11 | FW | |
Declan McDaid | 43 | 13 | 28+6 | 6 | 5+0 | 3 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+1 | 4 |
| 12 | MF | |
Craig McGuffie | 38 | 4 | 6+23 | 3 | 2+2 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | |
David Ferguson | 34 | 0 | 21+4 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | |
James Hilton | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | |
Jamie Adams | 30 | 5 | 21+4 | 5 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | |
Lawrence Shankland | 33 | 29 | 30+0 | 26 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 3 |
| 18 | MF | |
Stuart Faulds | 8 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 19 | GK | |
Ellis Hare-Reid | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 20 | GK | |
Lyle Avci | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 20 | GK | |
Jack Ruddy | 13 | 0 | 11+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | |
David Waite | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | |
Kieran Balfour | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | |
Ross Docherty | 23 | 1 | 14+2 | 0 | 5+0 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | |
Leon Murphy | 11 | 1 | 0+5 | 0 | 0+4 | 0 | 1+0 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | |
Luke McCowan | 5 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+2 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | |
Craig Reid | 29 | 0 | 19+4 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | |
Mark Kerr | 14 | 0 | 14+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | |
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.
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champion; (O) Play-off winner; (P) Promoted.
Division summary
Updated to match(es) played on 28 April 2018. Source: [6]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Transfers
References
- "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.
- "Scottish League One: Ayr United pip Raith Rovers to title and automatic promotion". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "Summary - League Cup Group E". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
- "Ayr United FC Player Appearances". soccerbase.com. Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "League One 2017/2018". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "Higgins first signing of Summer". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "Return of the Moff". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "Andy Geggan to leave Dunfermline Athletic and sign Ayr United". dunfermlinepress.com. Dunfermline Press. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "Moorey signs for 2017/18". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "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.
- "Ferguson moves to Ayr United". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 13 July 2017. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "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.
- "Bell rings for United". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "United net keeper Ruddy". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "McCall adds auld acquaintance". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "Squad Update". alloaathletic.co.uk. Alloa Athletic FC. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "Annan Athletic Appoint New Manager". annanathleticfc.com. Annan Athletic FC. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "Gary Harkins Joins Morton". gmfc.net. Greenock Morton FC. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "Fleming is 'league's best keeper' says Peterhead boss McInally". eveningexpress.co.uk. Evening Express. 24 June 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "Nicky Devlin:Walsall sign Scottish right-back following Ayr United exit". BBC Sport. BBC. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "Peterhead land Cairney". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 14 July 2017. Archived from the original on 31 October 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "Falkirk sign defenders Jordan McGhee and Conrad Balatoni". BBC Sport. BBC. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "Welcome Farid El Alagui". edinburghcityfc.com. Edinburgh City FC. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "Lyle Avci Signs". Troon FC. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
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