AYR, Scotland (Interstat) — Ayr United’s season opened in frustrating fashion Saturday as a third-minute goal by Greenock Morton substitute Aaron Comrie proved decisive in a 1-0 victory for the visitors at Somerset Park.

The match, an early fixture in the Scottish Championship season, was settled almost before it began. Comrie, introduced as a substitute in the opening moments, found the net with his first touch of the game. The sequence began with a Morton set-piece, with defender Scott McMann playing a short corner to midfielder Kevin Holt. Holt’s driven cross was met by defender George Finney, whose headed pass across the six-yard box was turned in by Comrie from close range.

The early goal dictated the tempo for the remainder of the contest. Ayr United, playing at home and heavily favored pregame, controlled large stretches of possession but struggled to break down a resolute and physically committed Morton defense. The visitors, organized and disciplined, were content to absorb pressure and look for opportunities on the counter-attack.

Morton’s defensive resolve came at a cost, as the match grew increasingly fractious. The teams combined for eight yellow cards, with Morton accounting for six of them. McMann, Holt, substitute Jackson Longridge, Finney, and substitute Cameron MacPherson were all cautioned for the visitors, reflecting a pattern of tactical fouls aimed at disrupting Ayr’s rhythm. Ayr’s Ben Dempsey and Morton’s Grant Gillespie also received bookings in the second half.

The statistical narrative heavily favored Ayr United before kickoff. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 1-1 draw, while its ELO rating system gave the home side a 67.5 percent probability of securing a win. Those projections were rendered irrelevant by Comrie’s early intervention and Morton’s subsequent game management.

Ayr’s best chances came from set-piece situations and hopeful balls into the box, but they lacked the precision or luck required to beat the Morton goalkeeper. The home side’s frustration was palpable as the clock wound down, with Morton’s defenders throwing their bodies in the way of shots and crosses to preserve the clean sheet.

The result provides a perfect start to the league campaign for Greenock Morton, who begin the Championship season with one win and no losses. For Ayr United, it is a disappointing opening defeat at home, leaving them with a record of no wins and one loss. Both clubs see their overall records across all competitions mirror those league marks.

Key performances for the victors were defined by the goal and the assists. Comrie’s instant impact as a substitute secured the points, while the assists from McMann, Finney, Holt, Longridge, and MacPherson highlighted Morton’s threat from wide areas and set-pieces. Their collective defensive effort, though card-strewn, was the foundation of the victory.

The match concluded a brisk, if ill-tempered, 90 minutes that underscored the unpredictable nature of the Scottish Championship. Morton’s early strike and disciplined defensive performance successfully overturned the pregame odds, handing Ayr United a defeat to ponder as the long season gets underway.