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

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
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

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  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
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

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

Appearances

As of 28 April 2018[5]
No. Pos Nat Player TotalLeague OneLeague CupChallenge CupScottish Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK Jordan Hart 33025+005+002+001+00
2 DF Chris Higgins 26319+035+002+000+00
3 DF Patrick Boyle 36126+115+001+003+00
4 MF Brian Gilmour 1917+701+201+110+00
5 DF Michael Rose 40333+122+001+013+00
6 MF Andy Geggan 34625+145+021+002+00
7 FW Michael Moffat 451330+5115+021+103+00
8 MF Robbie Crawford 28521+134+021+001+00
9 FW Craig Moore 412715+16195+032+023+03
10 MF Alan Forrest 34916+1370+101+112+01
11 FW Declan McDaid 431328+665+031+002+14
12 MF Craig McGuffie 3846+2332+211+100+30
14 DF David Ferguson 34021+401+302+002+10
15 MF James Hilton 200+100+000+100+00
16 MF Jamie Adams 30521+453+000+002+00
17 FW Lawrence Shankland 332930+0260+000+003+03
18 MF Stuart Faulds 800+303+001+000+10
19 GK Ellis Hare-Reid 000+000+000+000+00
20 GK Lyle Avci 000+000+000+000+00
20 GK Jack Ruddy 13011+000+000+002+00
21 DF David Waite 100+000+001+000+00
22 MF Kieran Balfour 000+000+000+000+00
23 MF Ross Docherty 23114+205+011+001+00
24 MF Leon Murphy 1110+500+401+010+10
25 MF Luke McCowan 510+100+100+210+10
26 DF Craig Reid 29019+402+001+003+00
27 MF Mark Kerr 14014+000+000+000+00
28 DF Steven Bell 15115+010+000+000+00

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.
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