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Plenty Success Against the ‘Sons of the Rock’
Ayr United’s first ever match against the Sons of Dumbarton was on 5th November 1910 at Boghead Park, Dumbarton when Ayr lost 3-2. History shows that Ayr United recorded their largest ever victory against the Sons at Ayr on 13th August 1952 when they won 11-1 at Somerset Park in a league cup match, a score still regarded as Ayr’s highest score and biggest ever winning margin.
In recent times 15th September 1973 saw a solid 2-1 win for Ayr in a 1st division match. The same scoreline was recorded the following season and 2-1 was the result in the Scottish Cup game on 26th January 1980. Ayr broke the mould with a 3-0 win in the 1st division match on 1st March 1980. The winning run at Boghead continued, although playing in different leagues meant that the clubs missed each other for a number of seasons. 12th May 1984 brought about another 1st division match - new style - and another 3-0 win for the Honest Men.
On 19th September 1992 Ayr continued their 3-0 sequence again in the 1st division and Ayr had a good 3-1 win in a division 2 match during season 1996/97 although a few home matches had been lost to he Sons in the intervening period.
The clubs played in different divisions since that time and had only a few cup matches to talk about - one however, was on the 50th anniversary of Ayr’s record win against Dumbarton again in a league cup match, Sons recording a 3-0 win on 13th August 2002.
The clubs found themselves together in division 2 for season 2004/05 when United lost 1-0 the first match of the season on 7th August followed by a poor 1-1 draw later in the season. The 2nd division fayre through up a wealth of goals the following season. It started calmly enough with United winning by 2-0 at home on 6th August 2005 but the ‘Sons’ smashed United for 6 in the return match on 22nd October. Ayr recorded another sedate 2-0 win at Ayr on Boxing day before returning to Dumbarton for a relagation battle in the last game of the season. Ayr got off to a flyer when, after five minutes, Ray Logan produced an outrageous flick from close range which sailed over the head of goalkeeper Stephen Grindlay. Chris Strain headed the second following an Andy Reid cross, and when Jerome Vareille ran clear to round Grindlay and make it three-nil there were only 12 minutes on the clock. Had they really tried Ayr could have doubled their advantage before half-time but casualness had crept into their game. Their casualness nearly brought disater. Relegation-haunted Dumbarton struck four times in the second half, substitute John Gemmell crashing a 30-yard free in off the post before Paul McQuilken incredibly levelled things with a neat turn and finish inside the box. But the Sons were still left empty-handed as Ayr’s Roberston secured the points nine minutes later, points which ensured Ay’s second division survival.
The clubs didn’t return to Division 2 business until 21st August 2010 when newly relegated Ayr could produce only a 1-0 win at Somerset Park.
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