IT was another frustrating draw for The Honest Men as they were held 0-0  at Palmerston. For the second week in a row weather conditions made the outcome of United’s match something of a lottery and forced the Honest Men to stand fast against a wind assisted Queens in a difficult final 45 minutes/
Manager Ian McCall praised his resolute defence, highlighting the performances of Scott  McKenna, Conrad Balatoni, Robbie Crawford and Ross Docherty while revealing that three of the team (including Balatoni and Docherty) had “come out of their sick beds” to play in the match.
More concerning for McCall was the inability to carve out a win (with none in the last nine matches) even though his team is playing well. McCall mused “I think we’ve only been beaten once in seven games but we’ve got to find a way to turn the draws into wins, and that might mean a change of personnel.” 
Looking at the match stats, with United having 55 per cent of the possession but only managing two attempts on target, this seems to highlight the need for a proven goal scorer and McCall confirmed that he is hoping to bring one in during the transfer window.
The home side started the stronger of the two teams and after only six minutes, they carved out their first chance. Good inter-play on the right by Lyle and Dobbie ended with Dobbie being set through one-on-one with Fleming but the United keeper was there to stop the shot.
In 15 minutes, Ayr had their first chance of the game as Harkins chested the ball down on the edge of the area but could only volley the ball harmlessly wide of Robinson's goal.
Alan Forrest was next to try his luck for United on 18 minutes when he was sent into the box on the left and fired in a low shot which Robinson superbly flicked around the post. From the resultant corner Meggatt saw his header tipped onto the bar by Robinson before Cairney half volleyed a shot just over the bar.
Ayr had yet another chance after half an hour when Harkins curled a low 20 yard free-kick just wide of the right-hand post.
Seven minutes later Ayr came close in a comical manner. A long searching cross-field ball from Paddy Boyle was caught in the wind and turned goalward, bouncing over the scrambling Robinson before finally clearing the bar by inches.
Queens had their best chance of the game in 39 minutes through Dobbie. Hamill's low cross was left by Lyle and found an unmarked Dobbie in the penalty area but the usually deadly striker uncharacteristically rolled the ball just wide of the right-hand post.
Queens had a great chance only 2 mins into the second half when a slip in defence by Balatoni allowed Dobbie through on goal. The striker rounded Fleming but unexpectedly fired his shot into the side netting from a tight angle when he seemed odds on to score.
Lyle was next to try and break the deadlock when on 51 minutes, he managed to get his head on a corner and directed his header straight at Fleming and the United keeper held well.
Dobbie had another good chance for the hosts 10 minutes later when he got behind the United defence and drove a powerful volley from 25 yards/This time his superb strike was well saved by Fleming who palmed the ball away and Dobbie’s rebound effort was blocked by Boyle.
The home side were creating the better of the chances in the second half and on 70 mins Brownlie had a header from a corner go just over the bar from close range.
Queens thought they had broken the deadlock on 87 mins when a chipped ball landed for Lyle who rounded Fleming and stroked the ball into the net but he was adjudged to have been in an offside position and the goal didn't stand.
The last chance of the game fell to Ayr on 90 minutes when Craig  McGuffie curled a free-kick into the box and the ball scraped the outside of the left-hand post just as it looked as if it may have sneaked into the net.
Ayr now welcome Dunfermline to Somerset on Saturday in their quest to find that winning feeling again.
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH: Robinson; Hamill, Marshall, Dowie, Brownlie, Millar, Lyle, Dobbie, Jacobs, Bell, Carmichael. Subs: Atkinson, Higgins, Anderson, Hooper, Moxon, Nelson, Fergusson.
AYR UNITED: Fleming; Boyle, Crawford, Gilmour, Forrest, Harkins, Cairney, Meggatt, Balatoni, Docherty, McKenna. Subs: Hart, Rose, Nisbet, Murphy, McGuffie, Wardrope, Donald.
Referee: Steven Kirkland
Star Man
1 Scott McKenna
2 Conrad Balatoni
3 Robbie Crawford
Attendance: 1594.