GIFTED Ardrossan teenage footballer Michael Wardrope is hoping to help Ayr United secure promotion after producing some fine recent performances.

The 19-year-old midfielder played a pivotal role in the Honest Men's 2-1 home win against Forfar Athletic on Saturday, setting up Ryan Stevenson for the opening goal.

He has featured in the last four games for the Honest Men after being brought back from a loan spell at Junior club Glenafton Athletic.

Michael is in his third season with the first team and three years ago he played the last five minutes against Rangers in a game at Ibrox.

He joined Ayr aged 12 after winning the league and cup with Tass Thistle FC Under-13s and joined the Somerset Park club's Under-14 Academy team under coaches Neil Duffy and Andy Willock.

The teenager, whose cousin Marc plays for the United Under-17s Academy team old Sportscene: "It's great to have the chance to play in the first team again. I enjoy being at Ayr and it's a good set up at the club, I am grateful to the manager Ian McCall for giving me a chance.

"We have a lot of games coming up including a couple in midweek and I hope to keep playing regularly. Hopefully the team can achieve promotion, either by winning the league or through the playoffs and the aim is to go on a good run."

Meanwhile praise for Wardrope came this week from skipper Nicky Devlin.

He said: Michael has been different class and will be a massive player between now and the end of the season."