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2017–18 Ayr United F.C. season

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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

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.

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 Red card 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 Red card 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 Red card 75'
Bell Red card 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 Red card 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 Red card 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 Red card 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 Red card 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 Red card 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 Scotland SCO Jordan Hart 33 0 25+0 0 5+0 0 2+0 0 1+0 0
2 DF Scotland SCO Chris Higgins 26 3 19+0 3 5+0 0 2+0 0 0+0 0
3 DF Scotland SCO Patrick Boyle 36 1 26+1 1 5+0 0 1+0 0 3+0 0
4 MF Scotland SCO Brian Gilmour 19 1 7+7 0 1+2 0 1+1 1 0+0 0
5 DF Scotland SCO Michael Rose 40 3 33+1 2 2+0 0 1+0 1 3+0 0
6 MF Scotland SCO Andy Geggan 34 6 25+1 4 5+0 2 1+0 0 2+0 0
7 FW Scotland SCO Michael Moffat 45 13 30+5 11 5+0 2 1+1 0 3+0 0
8 MF Scotland SCO Robbie Crawford 28 5 21+1 3 4+0 2 1+0 0 1+0 0
9 FW Scotland SCO Craig Moore 41 27 15+16 19 5+0 3 2+0 2 3+0 3
10 MF Scotland SCO Alan Forrest 34 9 16+13 7 0+1 0 1+1 1 2+0 1
11 FW Scotland SCO Declan McDaid 43 13 28+6 6 5+0 3 1+0 0 2+1 4
12 MF Scotland SCO Craig McGuffie 38 4 6+23 3 2+2 1 1+1 0 0+3 0
14 DF Scotland SCO David Ferguson 34 0 21+4 0 1+3 0 2+0 0 2+1 0
15 MF Scotland SCO James Hilton 2 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 0+1 0 0+0 0
16 MF Scotland SCO Jamie Adams 30 5 21+4 5 3+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0
17 FW Scotland SCO Lawrence Shankland 33 29 30+0 26 0+0 0 0+0 0 3+0 3
18 MF Scotland SCO Stuart Faulds 8 0 0+3 0 3+0 0 1+0 0 0+1 0
19 GK New Zealand NZL Ellis Hare-Reid 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
20 GK Scotland SCO Lyle Avci 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
20 GK Scotland SCO Jack Ruddy 13 0 11+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0
21 DF Scotland SCO David Waite 1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
22 MF Scotland SCO Kieran Balfour 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
23 MF Scotland SCO Ross Docherty 23 1 14+2 0 5+0 1 1+0 0 1+0 0
24 MF Scotland SCO Leon Murphy 11 1 0+5 0 0+4 0 1+0 1 0+1 0
25 MF Scotland SCO Luke McCowan 5 1 0+1 0 0+1 0 0+2 1 0+1 0
26 DF Scotland SCO Craig Reid 29 0 19+4 0 2+0 0 1+0 0 3+0 0
27 MF Scotland SCO Mark Kerr 14 0 14+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
28 DF Scotland 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.