Ladbrokes SPFL League One AYR UNITED 2 BRECHIN CITY 1 By Stewart McConnell ON a day when summer finally arrived in Ayrshire, temperatures and fans’ spirits were sent soaring as United secured a hard-fought home win.

They shrugged off the bitter disappointment of a surprise opening day loss away to champions Albion Rovers to rack up their third straight home competitive home win of season 2015-16.

Manager Ian McCall was impressed with his team’s showing and said afterwards: “I thought we thoroughly deserved the win. It was hard-fought as they had lot of players coming back just as we had. I felt Ross Docherty was absolutely immense, he looks as if he really cares. If you had offered us three wins from our first home games we would have taken that. It has been an absolutely terrific start to the season for us.”= United started very strongly by creating a host of early chances before City came back and forged a couple of opportunities of their own before the home side made the breakthrough in what was a most entertaining early season encounter.

Still smarting from the loss at Cliftonhill, the Honest Men took the game to their opponents from the off. They won a free-kick 30 yards out in four minutes after a trip on Robbie Crawford. The resultant set-piece from Brian Gilmour broke back to Crawford at the edge of the box but his shot was deflected wide. Then in four minutes striker Craig Moore pounced on a loose ball and burst into the box before shooting inches over the bar from eight yards. The hosts once again came close in five minutes when Moore raced onto a long through ball only to see his effort from eight yards saved by former Ayr goalie Graeme Smith.

City had their first opportunity in 12 minutes when Andy Jackson sent an angled shot from eight yards narrowly wide, much to the relief of the home fans.

United had a lucky escape in 18 minutes when Jamie Montgomery surged into the box only to shoot narrowly over the bar from 12 yards. United should have scored in 20 minutes but a Moore effort from six yards was deflected wide by a defender. However they made no mistake only a minute later when an inswinging cross from the edge of the box from former Ranger Gilmour was powerfully headed home from eight yards by Alan Forrest.

A brave diving save from Greg Fleming kept out a fierce effort from eight yards by Montgomery in 23 minutes as the visitors tried to battle back. They had the ball in the net six minutes later when Andy Jackson shot home from six yards but the “goal” was chopped off as the striker was rightly adjudged offside by referee Barry Cook.

Ayr had a half chance in 32 minutes but the industrious Crawford sent a 25-yard effort over the bar. Another opportunity was wasted when Forrest shot well wide from 22 yards.

The Honest Men had another lucky escape in 36 minutes when a Jackson shot from the edge of the box was scrambled wide.

Back at the other end in 39 minutes, Peter Murphy sent a curling 22-yard free-kick just past the post. United were denied what looked a clearcut free-Kick in 50 minutes when Moore was tripped 25 yards from goal.

City were unlucky in 55 minutes when a 25-yard shot from Gary Fusco was deflected wide.

Visiting player/boss Darren Dods was Booked for a rash late challenge on Alan Trouten in 57 minutes. A free-kick from the same player 22 yards was deflected wide two minutes later.

Ross Docherty sent on a long through ball to Moore who shot wide from 10 yards in 67 minutes.

However the Northerners levelled two minutes later when Robert Thomson burst into the box before shooting home from eight yards.

United were awarded a penalty in 72 minutes when Alan Trouten was hauled down inside the box by Dods. The striker, back for a second spell at Somerset Park, stepped up to slam home the resultant penalty kick. That was despite the best efforts of former Ayr goalie and ex Brechin team-mate Graeme Smith to put him off.

Murphy made a telling tackle on Jackson eight yards from goal in 79 minutes after Fleming had spilled a shot.

A minute from time we witnessed an ugly end to a match otherwise played in good spirits as Smith came out of his goals to try and inspired one last attack from the visitors. However he suffered a rush of blood to the head and appeared to elbow Murphy, resulting in a second yellow card and dismissal.

Substitute goalie Patrick O’Neil took his place for the visitors but had nothing to do as the final whistle blew and three important points were secured by McCall’s men.

It’s early days but the opening to the season suggests progress is being made following a miserable 2014-15.

AYR UNITED: Fleming; Devlin, Boyle, Docherty, McLauchlan, Murphy, Forrest (Donald 73); Crawford, Moore (Caldwell 75); Trouten, Gilmour (Adams 46). Subs not used: Newman, Nisbet, McCracken, Muir.

STARMAN: Ross Docherty 3 Peter Murphy 2 Alan Forrest 1.