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Youngsters Grab That First Win
It was United's 9th visit to Inverness on 18th January 2003 when Robert Kean scored early that earned Ayr their first ever win at the Caledonian Stadium.
Ayr United first played at Inverness at Caledonian Stadium on St Andrew's day in 1999 and a disappointing 1-1 draw was earned by Ayr. Our second visit on 25th April of that season also ended 1-1 but we were confident that the following season we would record our first win there.
A 7-3 league defeat on 2nd December 2000 was a disaster but on 27th January 2001 United were 3-0 ahead at half in a Scottish Cup 3rd round tie and that ellusive win was hours - or rather it wasn't. Caley banged 4 into the Ayr goals in the second half to win 4-3. Three goals in an away tie usually gives you a win - but to do it twice at Inverness and still lose meant that forbidden phrase - bogey team - was on the tips of Ayr fans lips.
A 1-0 defeat in the league completed a unenviable hat trick for Ayr - at least we didn’t score 3 in the third lost game - although if we had we would have won.
Season 2001/02 would be the season - we thought. A 3-1 defeat early in the season was a blow but when Ayr beat Inverness twice in four days at home (3-0 - league and 5-1 - cup) we thought that they bogey had been beaten. As they lined up on 2nd February 2002 we were confident. Alas Ayr found themselves 1-0 down at half time and we were thankful to earn a 1-1 draw at the finish.
Season 2002/03 began with the usual defeat for Ayr on 5th October, a 2-0 win being registered by the highlanders. With Inverness flying high and challenging for the league championship United took their team of confident and talented youngsters north on 18th January 2003 and registered their first ever away victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle thanks to a third minute strike from Stewart Kean. Despite late pressure from the home side and a Paul Lovering red card, United's young guns held on to record an excellent win over the league leaders.
United’s next foray to the Caledonian Stadium was for a Scottish Cup on 7th January 2006 which ended in a superb 1-1 draw, considering Ayr were two divisons below Caley at the time,
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