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Success at Almondvale - At Last!
Ever since Meadowbank Thistle became Livingston at the start of season 1995/96, Ayr have struggled to beat them at their neat little all seater Almondvale Stadium.
United first played Livingston at Somerset Park on 3rd August 1996 in a League Cup match winning 5-2 with goals from Kerrigan (2), English (2) and Hood. On 12th October United won the first league encounter by 1-0, this match also played at Somerset Park.
The first ever league encounter at Almondvale Stadium was on 14th December 1996 when Ayr lost 1-0. However Ayr reversed this score at Somerset Park on 1st February 1997. United were finding it difficult to win at Livingston and suffered another defeat there on 5th April 1997 by 2-1 in a season when Ayr and Livvy tustled for the second division title which finally settled at Somerset Park.
With Livingston failing even to get promoted Ayr did not play competitive football against the Livvy Lions for sometime the only match being in the Livvy tournament at Livingston which ended in a 0-0 draw on 19th July 1997.
League rivalry was renewed in season 1999/2000, this time both as first division teams. That season brought even worse results with Ayr suffering defeats in all four matches - defeats at home by 2-1 on 14th August 1999 and 1-0 on 29th February 2000. Away from home there was a 4-1 defeat on 16th October 1999 and 3-1 loss on 29th April 2000.
Season 2000/01 was to prove another top of the table clash between the two and Livingston established themselves firmly at the top with wins and a draw at Ayr.
A 1-1 draw for Ayr at Livingston on 4th November 2000 had been preceeded by a 2-0 defeat at Livingston on 9th September both matches attracting large attendances - 3,082 at Ayr and 5,226 at Livvy. A 1-1 draw at Ayr on 3rd Mach was again disappointing but United finally broke that Almondvale duck by winning 1-0 there on 23rd March 2001 with an Eddie Annand goal.
Ayr had gradually taken control of the game, and deservedly opened the scoring in the 40th minute. A cross from the silvery right boot of Gary Teale was only half headed away by John Anderson, and Eddie Annand lashed a powerful right-footed volley past Ian McCaldon into the top corner of the net and right in front of the United support.
With Livingstons rise up the leagues playing in the Premier League the two clubs did not play each other for some time the next time being when United recorded a good 2-1 victory at Somerset Park in a Challenge Cup match on 15th August 2006.
What a difference a year makes. The night of 7h August 2007 in the CIS Cup at Almondvale ended with a devastating 5-0 defeat for Ayr who went behind in 3 minutes and were on the ropes for the entire match.
No programme was produced for this fixture.
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