Ayr United 1
Dundee 1
League Cup (Semi Final 1st Leg)

Match Report

Newspaper extract from The Courier.

Dundee laid the foundations for a League Cup final appearance with a convincing semi-final first leg performance at Somerset Park last night.

Their display encapsulated the mixture of skill, discipline and determination that Donald Mackay has instilled this season and they were particularly well served by Cammy Fraser and the irrepressible Jim Murphy.

However, Dundee would do well to note that Ayr have won every one of their away ties in the League Cup and their clever outfield play often had Dundee in trouble.

Their lack of punch up front let Dundee off the hook on many occasions and it took a late goal by full-back Robert Connor to keep them level as they await the second leg in a fortnight's time.

Dundee got off to an unsteady start and their defence looked particularly nervous under pressure. This showed no more clearly than when McLaren recklessly sliced an easy clear ance into the stand and only a couple of minutes later Fraser followed this example when he sent the ball out of the stadium while under no pressure.

The Dens Park side were in further trouble in nine minutes when some slick football from Ayr put ex-Dundee United striker Derek Frye clear in the box, but Leslie Barr stepped in with a well-timed tackle to save the day.

Despite their defensive unsteadiness it was only 11 minutes before Dundee went ahead with a shock goal. An incisive defence-splitting flick by Murphy found Sinclair in the box.

His shot was deflected into the net by Ayr right-back Mark Shanks.

This goal gave Dundee the confidence they needed. A strong left-foot drive from Fraser tested Rennie's capabilities to the full.

However, Ayr continued to fight determinedly and Bobby Geddes had to dive full length to hold a ferocious Shanks drive from 25 yards.

Ayr came close again in 27 minutes when from 30 yards centre-half Jim Fleeting sent a beautiful right-foot shot past the post.

Dundee were keen not to let Ayr off the hook and after a mistake by Nicol, Mackie burst into the box and sent a powerful drive inches over the crossbar.

Mark Shanks was obviously determined to make amends for his own goal and in 36 minutes Geddes watched another shot from the full-back sail narrowly

Just after this Dundee's defence lost concentration again and allowed Christie to drift through but inexplicably the forward shot straight into the arms of Geddes.

The start of the second half was held up for five minutes when rival fans clashed and spilled on to the park but when it finally got under way Jim Shirra took McGeachie's place in midfield.

A bit of needle crept into the game when Frye and MacLaren clashed but sensibly the referee did not resort to the yellow card to calm the players down.

Derek Frye wasted a good opportunity to put the home side level when he found himself clear on to a Nicol pass. However, he shot weakly at the keeper.

In 58 minutes Peter Mackie was booked for a crude tackle on Christie but he redeemed himself nine minutes later when Fleeting had to block his power ful shot with Rennie stranded.

In 70 minutes Rennie had to dive full stretch to save a low drive from Les Barr.

In desperation, Ayr sent on Cashmore for Frye and McSherry for Love. Dundee replaced Mackie with Fletcher.

Dundee had a lucky escape four minutes from time when a Billy McColl shot rattled the bar.

A minute later, however, Ayr snatched a dramatic equaliser when, with the defence wide open, Connor drove the ball past the helpless Geddes from 18 yards.

After the match Dundee boss Donald Mackay said he was delighted with his side's performance, particularly as half a dozen of them had displayed symptoms of flu on the bus down from Dundee. That was why he replaced McGeachie so quickly.