THE Honest Men fell to a cruel 2-1 defeat at Tannadice last night, despite a brave performance.  

A first half goal from Simon Murray put the Arabs ahead however United responded through a Gary Harkins penalty in the second half.  The home side edged themselves back in front through Mark Durnan before late drama and two goal line clearances denied Ayr a point at the death.  Ayr manager Ian McCall was left frustrated at the end and felt that Ayr deserved at least a point.

The first half was relatively unexciting with Ayr failing to make any real impact going forward in the early stages.  Shots from Dundee United’s Stuart Murdoch in six minutes nd one from Gary Harkins in 18 minutes from 25 yards were the most notable incidents.  

The game was a very even affair and it came as a surprise when Dundee United broke the deadlock in 22 minutes. The ball fell to Simon Murray on the left and he managed to beat Nicky Devlin before sliding a shot underneath Fleming at the near post and into the net.

From there on the game returned to the earlier pattern with both teams cancelling each other out, the score remaining 1 – 0 at the break.  

Ayr made a much brighter start to the second half and a quick free-kick in 48 minutes caught the home side defence off guard and Robbie Crawford's run into the box was unfairly halted by Robson’s outstretched leg and referee Cook pointed to the spot.  Harkins stepped up and fired the ball high into the top right hand corner to send the travelling fans into delirium.  

The Taysiders pressed to regain their lead and Murray had a shot well saved by Fleming in 62 minutes with the rebound being lashed into the side netting. 

Eight minutes later Murray had another chance from a one-on-one with the Ayr keeper but Greg Fleming did well to get down quickly and smother the ball.  

The home side found themselves ahead again in 77 minutes through Mark Durnan.  A corner was whipped in and Fleming managed to get a punch on the ball but Ayr failed to clear the ball from the box. As the ball came back in Durnan stuck out a leg and thumped the ball into the net from close range.  Ayr had looked comfortable and the goal when it came seemed a cruel blow.

Ayr tried to get themselves back in the game and in 93 minutes ere handed two glorious chances to equalise when Farid El Alagui threaded a pass through to Forrest whose shot was parried into the path of Paddy Boyle who seemed destined to score. With bodies being thrown in the way Dundee United somehow cleared the ball off the line.

Craig McGuffie then drove the rebound goalward but again, to the total disbelief of the travelling Ayr support behind the nets, his shot was also cleared.  Heartbreak for Ayr and all three points stayed on Tayside.
DUNDEE UNITED: Bell, Durnan, Murdoch, Murray, Nicholls, Telfer, Edjenguelle, Flood, Mikkelsen, Andreu, Robson.  Subs: Zwick (gk), Dixon, Donaldson, Kuate, Van Der Struijk, Coote, Van Der Velden.

AYR UNITED: Fleming; Devlin, Boyle, Gilmour, Rose, Crawford, Moore, Harkins, Meggatt, Balatoni, Docherty.  Substitutes Hart (gk), Murphy, Forrest, Cairney, El Alagui, Wardrope, McGuffie

Starman
1 Daryll Meggatt 
2 Michael Rose
3 Robbie Crawford