Ayr United (Res) 0-5 Livingston (Res)

Ayr United (Res) 0-5 Livingston (Res)

SPFL Reserve League

Tuesday 21st March 2023

It was a pleasure to watch this game as Livingston’s second-string put in a solid performance to see off a youthful Ayr United in the SPFL Reserve League.

Back in Scotland for the next few days, my initial plan for today was to watch Glenafton Athletic vs Kilwinning Rangers in a ‘six-pointer’ in the West Of Scotland Premier Division tonight, so when I saw this game was on too (just a few miles down the road at Cumnock Juniors’ Townhead Park), it made perfect sense to tick off two grounds in one trip.

I’ve seen Livvy’s reserves already this season when they turned three points into just one by conceding a last-gasp goal to Queens Park in the SPFL Reserve Cup about six weeks ago, and for this game they named a more experienced than their counterparts from Somerset Park who undoubtedly had an eye on their Scottish Championship clash away at Dundee tonight.

Stephane Omeonga, Jack Fitzwater and Dylan Bahamboula were amongst the more familiar faces in the Livingston line-up but there was a sprinkling if youth too - including Max Williamson who put in an eye-catching display in his blue boots at left-wing-back. Rudi Bryce (I think) was the youngest players in Livingston’s team.

Wearing their bright yellow strip, Livingston were positive from the outset and after a first-minute corner, then hitting the post, plus a penalty shout in between, their pressure was finally rewarded when they took the lead around the quarter-hour mark with Bahamboula finding space inside the box to slot home.

Unsurprisingly considering their experience, the visitors looked decent at times - Omeonga showing a few tidy touches in midfield and 

John Binnie and Bahamboula both had headers kept out before the interval, whilst  Binnie also underlined his value with an important block in his own six-yard box at the other end in what was probably Ayr’s best chance of the first half.

Still 1-0 at the break, Livingston flew straight out of the traps after the re-start and doubled their lead within roughly 30 seconds as Bahamboula carried the ball along the byline and pulled it back for Omeonga who needed no second invitation as he swept his first-time shot into the bottom corner to get a goal his performance deserved.

Soon enough, the floodgates began to open as Omeonga bagged his second of the afternoon when he showed some quality technique to finish after latching onto Max Williamson’s brilliantly floated ball towards the edge of the six-yard box, whilst Williamson was involved in the next goal - being aggressive and direct with the ball, laying it off to Euan Griffiths who then played it across the goalmouth for Binnie to tap home.

And before the 70-minute mark, Griffiths turned from provider to scorer as he made it 5-0 in another well-orchestrated team move that culminated in another close-range tap-in.

To their credit, Ayr didn’t capitulate and let the scoreline end up something stupid and in the final 20 minutes there were opportunities at both ends, albeit with no further goals.

Overall, it was a pleasure to watch this performance by Livingston. They did possess more experience but they still needed to work hard and be organised and I’ve so much respect for how their senior players showed their desire and showed they wanted to be there - especially Jack Fitzwater who was always trying to help the younger lads by offering, leadership, encouragement and praise, and made it so easy for them by just passing on his knowledge and telling them where they needed to be in and out of possession. Those characteristics are massive within a team and I just hope some of the younger lads involved appreciate having his ‘know-how’ around them.

Amongst the younger lads, Rudi Bryce will be happy to have got about 65 minutes under his belt, but Max Williamson is the one who stood out most. A big thumbs up for the assist for the third goal (the ball itself being just as good, if not better, than the finish), plus his involvement in the fourth goal, and even more so his clever turn away under pressure, inside his own half, around the half-hour mark. It all gets noticed and this blog ought to prove that you never know who might just happen to be watching a game. There’s still a few things he has to improve such as knowing when to come inside and being positionally aware of where he is at times, etc, but he has plenty that he can feel proud about with this performance because it was the type which wins respect.

Ayr’s youngsters shouldn’t be too disheartened; hammerings happen but testing themselves against older (and better) players will only aid their development and learning of the game.