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Page 7

GREAT START FOR AYR-
Ayr United seemed to he poised for a highly successful season on the evidence of
their first three results. A 2-I defeat here kept them within striking distance of Hihs
in the Anglo Scottish Cup and they followed an away draw against Partick Thistle
with an exciting home victory over Celtic.
Big Walker McCall scored twice to floor the champions and Ayr were off to a
filler. However, Hibs qualified in the Anglo event and Ayr’s fortunes began to
change.
They had terrible trouble in eliminating Queen’s Park in the League Cup. After
winning the home leg through a Gordon Cramond goal. Ayr were beaten at
Hampden where the amateurs won l·0.
‘There was deadlock in extra time and United showed the necessary nerve to
qualify on a 4-2 penalty count.
In the meantime. they had lost to St Mirren in the championship and further
defeats followed from Aberdeen, Motherwell, Rangers and Dundee United. And
Ayr did not manage to score a single goal in these matches.
So it is no great surprise that manager Alex Stuart has tried as Variety of switches
in an effort to produce a more formidable formation. He has used 15 players in the
last two League games and will probably go for a different line·up today following
two home defeats. since United beat Forfar 2-1 in the league Cup in midweek.
Since the previous games with Hibs at the start of the season. Ayr have changed
their full hacks. Brian Rodman and Willie Kelly alternating with Joe Filippi. the
versatile defender who can play anywhere at the back, and veteran John Murphy.
who has been on the Ayr payroll for 14 years. _
Ricky Fleming and Alex McAnespie are still together in the middle of thc defence
with ex—Celt Robert Hannah demonstrating his drive and determination in
midfield.
Jim McSherry, who moved from Kilmarnock to his present club; and the fair-
haired Cromond are the others normally found in this department.
The tall McCall is Ayr’s top scorer for the season with three goals, having enjoyed
a magnificent run at the beginning of the year. He has prove to be a bargain buy
from Aberdeen.
Danny Masterton. a quiet·spoken young man from Muirkirk Juniors, forms a
troublesome duo with McCall but his best day was against Partick when he
collected both goals. _
Bobby Tait. yet another six·foot-tall player, could be in the side. having been in
the team twice in the past three weeks.
And lastly there`s goalkeeper Hugh Sproat, who was unfit a fortnight ago. and
missed his first match of the season.

Page 10

TOUR GAMES
Aug. 4 Deveronvale ………… (A) 6-0 Macleod 3. Bremner 2. Scott.
Aug. 6 Inverness Thistle ……,. (A) 3-2 MacLeod, Bremner. Stewart.
Aug. 8 Elgin City ………….. (A) 7-0 Scott 2. Rremner, Duncan, Carroll.
Paterson. Smith.
ANGLO-SCOTTISH CUP
Aug. I0 Ayr United …………. (IH) 2-1 Smith. Scott.
Aug. 22 Ayr United …………. (A) 2-2 Bremner, Smith.
Sept. 14 Blackburn Rovers ……. (H) 2-1 McKay, Macleod.
Sept. 28 Blackburn Rovers …….. (A) 1-0 Higgins.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Aug. 13 Motherwell. .,,…….. (H) 0-0
Aug. 20 Rangers …………… (A) 2-0 Rae. Bremner.
Aug. 27 Clydebank …………. (H) 2-0 Scott, Brazil.
Sept. I0 Dundee United ……… (A) 0-2
Sept. I7 Partick Thistle ………. (A) 0-1
Sept. 24 St Mirren ………….. (H) 20 Higgins, Macleod.
Oct. I Celtic …………….. (A) 1-3 McKay.
LEAGUE CUP
Aug. 17 Queen of South ……… (H) 1-2 Macleod.
Aug. 24 Queen of South ……… (A) 0-0
OTHER MATCHES
Sept. 6 Newcastle United …….. (H) 3-0 Macleod 2. Higgins.
EAST OF SCOTLAND SHIELD
Oct. 5 Meadowbank Thistle ….. (H) 4-1 Macleod 2. Higgins, Duncan.
FIXTURES
Oct. is ABERDEEN ……. (A) Feb. 4 CELTIC ……….. (A)
Oct. 22 MOTHERWELL . . . · (A) Fcb. 11 AYR UNITED …… (H)
Oct. 29 RANGERS …….. (H) Feb. 25 ABERDEEN ……. (A)
Nov. 5 CLYDEBANK …… (A) Mar. 4 MOTHERWELL …. (A) .
Nov. 12 DUNDEE UNITED . . (H) Mar. 11 RANGERS …….. (H)
Nov. I9 PARTICK THISTLE . (H) Mar. 18 CLYDEBANK …… (A)
Nov. 26 ST MIRREN ……. (A) Ma:. 25 DUNDEE UNITED . . (H)
Dec. 3 CELTIC ……….. (H) Apr. 1 PARTICK THISTLE . (H)
Dec. 10 AYR UNITED …… (A) Apr. 8 ST MIRREN ……. (A)
Dec. 17 ABERDEEN ……. (H) Apr. 15 CELTIC …….. . . . (H) `
Dcc. 24 MOTHERWELL …. (H) Apr. 22 AYR UNITED …… (A)
Dec. 3 CELTIC………. Apr. 29 ABERDEEN ……. (H)
Jan. 2 CLYDEBANK (H)
Jan. 7 DUNDEE UNITED. ANGLO SCOTTISH CUP
Jan. 14 PARTICK THISTLE . (A) Oct. 19 BRISTOL CITY …… (H)
Jan. 21 ST MIRREN ……. (H) Nov. 1 or 2 BRISTOL CITY …… (A)

Page 11

Any team trailing Celtic by three goals would seem to have little hope of
obtaining a suitable result but Hibs nearly snatched a point last week in an exciting
finish to the Reserve League game here.

We went down 3-2 in the end but it
was a really good contest played at at
terrific pace and l must praise the
Young lads for their industry and non
Stop effort
Defensive slackness was partly
responsible for Hibs falling three behind
but_a neatly worked goal put us back in
business. Willie Murray gathered a Pass
from John Brownley, cut in from the
wing to beat the goalkeeper with his slip into the middle for willie paterson to tap it home
Celtic tried to play us offside before
the second goal but Brownlie took a
return pass fom Paterson to go in and
score.

There were several near misses in the goalmouth and Hibs just couldn’t make it. Earlier on, though, with. the score at 3-1- I felt we had a valid goal dis-allowed. Pat Carroll smashed a beauty into the net from a free kick and the referee orders a retake That was an extremely tough break for the team. John Mtalholland had an excellent game and this boy has a bright future if he dedicates himself to football. SFA coach Andy Roxburgh watched the match to check on talent for the Under·18 youth team and l’m sure he was surprised to line so many eligible lads in Hibs team. Celtic paid transfer fees for four players in their side – Baines, Lynch,Doyle and Dowie — so Hibs fared promisingly against such experienced opposition. ln the previous week, St Mirren hit us with a 10-second goal and another on the stroke of hall time and we neverlooked like pulling back

Rangers score through Parlane, Hibs equalise through Bobby Smith

Hibernian 2-1 Hearts

The derby before 7-0 and before the ‘72 LC final

HIBERNIAN

• WILSON
• SIMPSON
• DAVIS
• STANTON
• McNAMEE
• BAXTER
• HOGG
• COUSIN
• SCOTT
• O’ROURKE
• CORMACK

HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN

• CRUIKSHANK
• FERGUSON
• HOLT
• MILLER
• ANDERSON
• CUMMING
• HAMILTON
• HIGGINS
• WALLACE
• KERRIGAN
• TRAYNOR

Pat Quinn`s Influence

WE have struck a poor spell recently after a bright start to the season, but injuries to our inside forwards Jimmy 0`Rourke and Neil Martin have had an obvious effect League defeats from Dunfermline, Motherwell and Kilmarmarnock have pushed the club down the championship table. and
points are needed urgently to remedy this slide. Our League Cup defeat by Morton on Monday night was a big disappointment to us all, though we had chances in the tirst half. particularly, and failed to profit from the promptings of newcomer Pat Quinn. A penalty goal sealed our fate. and I can only wish Morton good luck in the final. I hold high hopes that Pat Quinn will prove a splendid influence in the side. He may need a game or two to settle down but while he is finding his feet, Pat will be doing his best to create chances for his colleagues. Today Dundee make a quick return visit, and Hibs should have suflicient
coniidence to tackle this hurdle. The team played really well to draw at Dens and then win here in the League Cup, and they have the ability to repeat their Easter Road success.