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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Stuart Wilson

Lee Bullen hails makeshift Ayr United for finding winning touch against sorry Cove Rangers

Lee Bullen reckons Ayr fans are being given something to shout about - now he wants to hear the terraces rock.

United took a grip on third place as they eased past Cove Rangers tonight.

It leaves the Honest Men five points off the Championship summit with six games to go.

And the boss believes everyone can play their part in helping to create a bit of Somerset history.

He said: "All we can do is keep giving our supporters a bit of excitement and belief in this final part of the season.

"It would be nice if the place was a little louder as even at 2-0 and 3-0 up it still seems so quiet!

"But in all seriousness, the fans can see our boys give everything for this football club.

"If we ultimately fall short, it won't be for a lack of effort from this group of players and I think supporters appreciate that.

"Tonight we had to play with some square pegs in round holes so to win the game, score three goals and get a clean sheet was brilliant.

"The only thing we can moan about is we created enough chances to score two or three more.

"Some of the stuff we played was great and when we got the ball down we were really good.

"The reaction really pleased me after Tuesday and I have an honest group of players who knew they deserved the criticism of the other night - they realised that and came back strong tonight."

Ayr had to field a makeshift back four with Jordan Houston and Alex Kirk crocked and Frankie Musonda on international duty.

That meant Nick McAllister shifting to centre half alongside Sean McGinty and a rare start at right back for Mikey Hewitt.

But Ayr's nerves were settled as they got off to a flier when Chris Maguire played a brilliant reverse pass for Daire O'Connor to slot home after seven minutes.

Cove's Morgyn Neil drew a great stop from Ayr keeper Charlie Albinson soon after but that was as good as it got for the visitors who were defensively ragged during the first half.

They gifted United a host of chances to extend their lead and Ayr duly doubled their advantage after another Cove error which ended with Dipo Akinyemi firing home.

O'Connor and Akinyemi went close with further chances as Cove struggled to keep the back door shut during an x-rated first half show.

Paul Hartley threw on winger Luis Longstaff at the break in the hope of turning the tide.

But it was Ayr who continued to look far more likely as they pushed for a third goal to kill the game.

However, Cove should have found a way back into the game when Neil sent a free header wide from a Jackson Longridge free kick.

And the miss was punished when another bit of great individual skill from Maguire set up sub Jayden Mitchell-Lawson for a third goal.

That allowed Ayr the luxury of withdrawing star men Akinyemi and Ben Dempsey as they ran down the clock on an easy three points.

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