Published: Friday, 16th October, 2009 12:05pm

FIGHTING SPIRIT EARNS AYR UNITED A POINT

by Frank Cassidy

Print | Email

Ayr United 2 Dundee 2

AYR United came back from the dead against Dundee on Wednesday evening after being two goals down and looking a beaten side.

They had gone behind in the 12th minute when the defence was posted missing and a slick move that started around the half-way line ripped them apart.

Leigh Griffiths picked up the ball, passed it to Sean Higgins who sent Craig Forsyth through on goal and he finished well to open the scoring.

Ayr had a great chance to level within five minutes when Dean Keenan was brought down on the edge of the box and Ryan Stevenson's free kick was parried by keeper Tony Bullock.

Incredibly, Ayr got another chance from another set piece, from a more direct angle this time, and Stevenson's shot again tested Bullock who couldn't hold it.

At this stage Ayr were still in the game and, although Dundee were hitting on the break with Griffiths in particular looking dangerous, they never really tested Craig Samson.

That all changed in the 35th minute though when a decent cross from Eric Paton found Higgins who had a free header well saved.

Two minutes later Stevenson set up Chris Aitken but, from a scoring position, he hit a weak shot that never troubled the keeper.

Loan signing Ryan McGowan was settling well into the match and he sent an inviting ball across the face of goal but there were no takers.

In the last action of the first half, Ryan Borris slipped a ball to Kenny Connolly who touched it on to Stevenson whose deflected shot was over the bar.

The Honest Men started the second half in similar fashion when Borris had a good run forcing a throw-in and having probed for an opening had a low Ryan McGowan shot saved.

But the next goal came at the other end as once again the defence was cut open by a three-man move which Griffiths finished well from a tight angle.

Again Ayr came back and, after a Stevenson shot was blocked, the ball fell nicely to Mark Roberts who sent a half-volley just over the bar.

And they finally got the goal that their fighting spirit deserved when another good Borris cross was met by Ryan McGowan and Ayr were back in the game with 17 minutes left.

In almost an action replay of the goal Borris crossed again with Ryan McGowan's resultant header just going past - but Ayr were applying the pressure.

It could have meant nothing though in 77 minutes when Gary Harkins' shot spun off Samson into the air, but the ball was scrambled clear.

This proved to be a crucial miss as Ayr equalised in the 85th minute when a superb overhead Borris cross caught out the visiting defenders and Stevenson took full advantage to head home.

Unfortunately, the match finished on a sour note when Griffiths tried to haul Billy Gibson up after he had gone down injured.

Having played well, the young striker's actions could have led to a late red card, but referee John McKendrick deemed it a yellow.

AYR UNITED: Craig Samson; Dean Keenan, Neil McGowan, Billy Gibson, Martyn Campbell, Ryan Stevenson, Ryan McGowan, Chris Aitken, Kenny Connolly (David Gormley 61)Mark Roberts, Ryan Borris.

Subs: Stephen Grindlay (G/K), Bryan Prunty, Kevin Cawley and Alastair Woodburn.

Att: 1,720