The first trip to Ayr and the first derby game of the season ended in disappointment, as a fine volley from Kelly and some outstanding saves from Doohan in the Ayr goal denied Queens a victory they just about deserved.

Alan Johnston made two changes to todays lineup with Kidd and Dobbie replacing Semple and Paton, neither of who made the squad. Kidd started in the centre of midfield with El Bakhtaoui wide on the right, but a shuffle was required after 16 mintues when Gary Oliver had to come off. El Bakhtaoui replacing him up front with Kidd moving out to right midfield.

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It was all Queens early on and the first chance fell to Connor Murray. Pybus played the ball wide to the young midfielder and he cut inside onto his right foot to shoot from the edge of the box, but his effort flashed wide.

El Bakhtaoui then did well to control a high ball and hold off the defender before sliding a perfect ball in behind for Gary Oliver. His shot was well struck across the goalkeeper, but Doohan got down well and pushed the ball round the post for the first of a succession of corners.

Ayr were struggling to create much at this point but Forrest did work McRorie with a shot from a tight angle, but it was tame and the on-loan keeper saved comfortably.

The home side then took the lead after a Mercer slip let Forrest in down the left. His cross was cleared by the stretching Kilday but only fell to Kelly on the edge of the box. The young midfielder caught the ball on the volley and it flew into the bottom corner of the net. 1-0 Ayr

Ayr take the lead

 

It was Queens, though, that had the next chance. Brownlie carried the ball forward from defence before passing to Dobbie. The returning striker wasnt closed down and took a shot from 25 yards. Uncharectaristically, his shot was of more danger to the seagulls on the terrace roof than the Ayr goal.

He, perhaps, should have been presented with a much easier chance moments later as El Bakhtaoui chose to shoot rather than square it to Dobs for a tap in. The Morrocan did well intially to rob Bell of the ball 30 yards from goal and as he raced towards Doohan, he took on the shot from 12 yards but it was too close to Doohan and the keeper made another good save, this time with his feet.

El Bakhtaoui with a great chance well saved

The next chance fell to El Bakhtaoui too, although this one was more difficult. Mercer did well on the right to skin Harvie before putting in a dangerous cross. Murray narrowly missed connecting with his head in the middle and the ball fell to El Bakhtaoui at the back post but his half volley also found the roof behind the goal.

That was the last chance of the half, so the home side went in ahead. HALF TIME Ayr 1 - 0 Queens

Ayr started the second half on top without really troubling McCrorie in the Queens goal and the visitors struggled to create anything until after Hamilton came on. He rose high at the back post to meet a Murray cross and must have thought his downward header was going to level the score until Doohan dived low to his left to pull off another excellent save.

Doohan makes a great save to deny Hamilton

 

The home side could have sealed the win when Forrest unleashed a curling shot toward goal but it curled too much and McRorie got across to save well.

McCrorie pushes the ball away late on

Apart from a Brownlie header over the bar from a corner and a long range effort from El Bakhtaoui that was well wide, the game fizzled out with no clear cut chances for either side.

So, while there were lots of positives to take from todays performance, the result will be dissapointing for Queens in a match where they had enough chances to come away from the Ayrshire coast with at least a point.

The next game is at home on Saturday 31st August when Alloa make their first visit of the season to Palmerston.