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Good Hunting at Paisley
Ayr United's first ever visit to St Mirren Park, Paisley was on 21st September 1912, but not to play St Mirren. This match was a Scottish Cup Qualifying match, (second reply) against Galston which ended in a 0-0 draw after extra time. It was two years later, on 25th April 1914 when Ayr returned to face St Mirren. This time goals were score the game finishing in a 1-1 draw.
On 6th March 1971 Ayr had a good 2-0 league win at Paisley against St Mirren and two seasons later a 3-0 Scottish League Cup win emphasised our overall good record at St Mirren.
On 24th January 1990 in a Scottish Cup 3rd Round Replay things didn't go so well for Ayr. However the game did provide a rare treat for Ayr fans - Dougie McCracken scoring a goal, and it was captured on TV ! Having drawn 0-0 at Somerset on the Saturday (also covered on TV), we made the treacherous journey to Paisley on roads with up to 4 inches of snow for the midweek replay. The pitch wasn't much better with the lines partially obliterated and an orange ball was in use. A poor match which saw Saints go 2-0 up and then have Gudmunder Torfason sent off. The sending off was a s good a piece of audience participation as I can remember. Torfason had been taunted by the Ayr fans since the start of the second half and further taunts produced an angry reaction from the Saints man. A further v sign given to the Ayr fans was spotted by the referee and off he went. If the team off the park had done their bit the lads on it used it to best effect and capitalised almost immediately and big sub McCracken forced the ball home after a clever free-kick was chipped over the wall. A clever free-kick ? That's even rarer than a Dougie McCracken goal ! Alas , there wasn't enough time for Ayr to equalise and we were out of the cup - again.
On 4th September 1993 Ayr were again on the winning end of a 1-0 score at Love Street
By August 1998 Ayr were in their second season back in the first division and greater things were expected when we lined up at St Mirren Park, Love Street, Paisley on 8th August 1998 for the game against St Mirren. It was a remarkable game and Ayr played some superb football in that first half. Coming up to half time, however. it was still 0-0 but how St Mirren had survived was anybody's guess. Then the breakthrough. Close to half time the ball broke lose in the penalty box and Andy Walker ran across the goal and slammed the ball high into the net. 1-0. A short time later and it was 2-0 with a superb goal. The ball was hoisted from close to the half way line Andy Lions at the edge of the penalty box. There was a ruck of players around him and the goalkeeper approached as Andy took the ball. Instead of attempting to trap it and shoot he suddenly lunged at it and breasted across the goal away from everybody giving himself an empty net. He did not miss and the large Ayr support were jubilant. 2-0 at half time.
In the second half Ayr continued to press and it was no surprise when Glynn Hurst sealed the points with a superb third. A consolation goal for the Saints late on was more than they deserved, but Ayr finsihed with a comfortable 3-1 away win to a potential championship contender.
Season 2001/02 had hardly started when St Mirren, newly relegated from the Premier League, lined up against Ayr in the Challenge Cup match on 7th August 2001. Once again United triumphed in a 3-1 win.
This was followed up by a 1-0 league win at Love Street.
Ayr did not manage to win at Paisley in any of the following two seasons ending with relegation at the end of 2003/04.
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