Match ends, Ayr United 1, Arbroath 0.
AyrAyr United1ArbroathArbroath0
New manager Lee Bullen got off to a fantastic start as Ayr United stunned Scottish Championship leaders Arbroath at Somerset Park.
Bullen arrived at the club on Friday and had a two-hour session with his players.
But James Maxwell scored the only goal after 18 minutes and the hosts held on for a second successive victory.
A first defeat since mid-October means Arbroath's lead at the top is cut to two points.
Ayr United remain seventh and are now six points clear of bottom side Dunfermline.
In a low quality encounter, Scott Stewart and James Craigen threatened early for Dick Campbell's men before the deadlock was broken.
Maxwell was slipped in and skipped past three players to fire off a shot which Ricky Little will not want to see again. The defender was well placed to clear but got his footing all wrong and the ball ended up in the back of the net.
Patrick Reading then tested visiting goalkeeper Derek Gaston, while Arbroath finished the first half on top but could not find a way past the resolute home defence.
The best of the second half action came late, with Joel Nouble, in his last appearance for the league leaders before heading back to Livingston, twice guilty of bad misses and Daire O'Connor denied by Gaston right at the death.
Ayr United manager Lee Bullen: "I've got to be honest; it was unexpected against a team who have been flying high. It was backs to backs to wall stuff and bodies on the line at times. We showed some real pockets of quality. Our players deserve every bit of credit they get."
Arbroath assistant manager Ian Campbell: "It just wasn't like us today, the second half they just parked in their 18-yard box and that's a way to win a game. We didn't' deserve to take anything out of that but it's going a be a great end to the season so bring it on."
Line-ups
Ayr
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1McAdams
- 2Houston
- 15BairdBooked at 83mins
- 5McGinty
- 3Reading
- 4Muirhead
- 22McKenzieSubstituted forMcAllisterat 90+4'minutes
- 18Chalmers
- 6Murdoch
- 14MaxwellSubstituted forO'Connorat 80'minutes
- 7MoffatSubstituted forBrydenat 77'minutes
Substitutes
- 10O'Connor
- 17McAllister
- 21Albinson
- 25Ecrepont
- 30Bryden
Arbroath
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Gaston
- 7GoldSubstituted forLowat 64'minutes
- 4Little
- 5O'Brien
- 3Hamilton
- 12StewartSubstituted forLinnat 69'minutes
- 8McKenna
- 18Hamilton
- 28CraigenSubstituted forHilsonat 83'minutes
- 20Hamilton
- 17Nouble
Substitutes
- 6Low
- 9Hilson
- 10Swankie
- 11Linn
- 15Donnelly
- 21Antell
- 22Henderson
- Referee:
- David Munro
- Attendance:
- 500
Match Stats
Home TeamAyrAway TeamArbroath
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away3
- Corners
- Home3
- Away9
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Ayr United 1, Arbroath 0.
Post update
Colin Hamilton (Arbroath) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Fraser Bryden (Ayr United).
Substitution
Substitution, Ayr United. Nicholas McAllister replaces Mark McKenzie.
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Attempt saved. Fraser Bryden (Ayr United) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Attempt saved. Daire O'Connor (Ayr United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Colin Hamilton (Arbroath) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Daire O'Connor (Ayr United).
Post update
Corner, Arbroath. Conceded by Sean McGinty.
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Corner, Arbroath. Conceded by Aidan McAdams.
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Attempt saved. Joel Nouble (Arbroath) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
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Foul by Ricky Little (Arbroath).
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Patrick Reading (Ayr United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Dale Hilson (Arbroath) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Andy Murdoch (Ayr United).
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Attempt saved. Jack Hamilton (Arbroath) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Arbroath. Dale Hilson replaces James Craigen.
Booking
Jack Baird (Ayr United) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Jack Baird (Ayr United).
