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
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
Home colours Away colours
← 2016–17 2018–19 →

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

Main article: 2017–18 Scottish League One

Albion Rovers v Ayr United

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

Ayr United v Forfar Athletic

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

Stranraer v Ayr United

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

Ayr United v Arbroath

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

Raith Rovers v Ayr United

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

Ayr United v Alloa Athletic

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

Queen's Park v Ayr United

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

Ayr United v East Fife

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

Ayr United v Airdrieonians

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

Forfar Athletic v Ayr United

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

Ayr United v Stranraer

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

Arbroath v Ayr United

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

Ayr United v Raith Rovers

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

Alloa Athletic v Ayr United

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

Ayr United v Albion Rovers

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

Ayr United v Queen's Park

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

East Fife v Ayr United

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

Airdrieonians v Ayr United

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

Ayr United v Forfar Athletic

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

Stranraer v Ayr United

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

Ayr United v Arbroath

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

Raith Rovers v Ayr United

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

Queen's Park v Ayr United

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

Ayr United v Alloa Athletic

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

Ayr United v East Fife

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

Ayr United v Airdrieonians

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

Ayr United v Raith Rovers

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

Arbroath v Ayr United

14 March 2018 28	Arbroath	1 – 1	Ayr United	Gayfield Park, Arbroath
19:45	Denholm 45'	Report	McGuffie 86'	Attendance: 653 Referee: Colin Steven

Forfar Athletic v Ayr United

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

Albion Rovers v Ayr United

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

Ayr United v Queen's Park

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

East Fife v Ayr United

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

Airdrieonians v Ayr United

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

Ayr United v Stranraer

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

Alloa Athletic v Ayr United

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

Ayr United v Albion Rovers

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

Main article: 2017–18 Scottish League Cup § Group E

Group stage

Ayr United v Kilmarnock

14 July 2017 Group stage	Ayr United	1 – 0	Kilmarnock	Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45	Geggan 39'	Report		Attendance: 6,417 Referee: John Beaton

Dumbarton v Ayr United

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

Ayr United v Clyde

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

Annan Athletic v Ayr United

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

Hibernian v Ayr United

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

Main article: 2017–18 Scottish Challenge Cup

East Stirlingshire v Ayr United

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

Ayr United v Montrose

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

Main article: 2017–18 Scottish Cup

Banks O'Dee v Ayr United

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

Ayr United v Arbroath

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

Ayr United v Rangers

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

Team statistics

League table

Pos	Team v t e	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

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	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	H	H	A	A	A	H	A	A	H	A	H
Result	W	W	W	L	L	D	W	W	D	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	L	L	W	L	D	W	L	W	W	W	D	W	W	W	W	W	L	L	W
Position	1	1	1	2	2	2	3	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	2	1	2	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	1

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	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

Players in Player From Fee Chris Higgins Queen of the South Free[7] Michael Moffat Dunfermline Athletic Free[8] Andy Geggan Dunfermline Athletic Free[9] Craig Moore Motherwell Free[10] Craig Reid Peterhead Free[11] David Ferguson Motherwell Free[12] Lawrence Shankland Aberdeen Free[13] Steven Bell Stranraer Free[14] Jack Ruddy Wolverhampton Wanderers Loan[15] Mark Kerr Falkirk Free[16]

Players out Player To Fee Daryll Meggatt Alloa Athletic Free[17] Peter Murphy Annan Athletic Free[18] Gary Harkins Greenock Morton Free[19] Michael Wardrope Kilwinning Rangers Free[20] Greg Fleming Peterhead Free[21] Nicky Devlin Walsall Free[22] Paul Cairney Peterhead Free[23] Conrad Balatoni Falkirk Free[24] Farid El Alagui Edinburgh City Free[25] Lyle Avci Troon Loan[26]

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. "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.