A DRAMATIC last gasp goal denied United the victory they deserved following an inspiring second half.

However they ultimately had themselves to blame as poor defending from a set-piece helped the Loons secure a point to remain in top spot.

Manager Ian McCall was disappointed not to take advantage of their dominance after the break although was heartened with the display and said: “The key to the game for us was we did far better in the second half and dominated. Jordan had one or two chances and we could have been 3-1 or 4-1 up at the time and we were gutted .We should have put the game to bed, but unfortunately did not. If Jordan had those chances again he could have had a hat-trick. Forfar have a real spirit about them. Even their second goal looked like it was going wide but hit Mikey Donald on the face on the way in.” McCall was also angry that Forfar’s questionable opening goal was allowed to stand and said: “The referee said he did not see the handball for the first goal, the boy did handle it although probably didn’t mean it. But he stopped the ball getting to any other player and it allowed him to go through and score.” This was a performance full of flair from United, especially in the second period and you can’t help but feel when the midweek games end tonight (Tuesday) and the players are much fresher they have the potential to really challenge at the top of the table.

However it must be said they must sharpen up on their finishing.

Ayr gave a start to new signing Andy Graham who was fielded at centre-half, with regular stopper Gerry McLauchlan rested following a hectic scheduled which had seen them play three games in seven days.

Forfar had an opportunity in two minutes when an Iain Campbell corner-kick was easily saved by Greg Fleming in the home goal.

Four minutes later a well-flighted cross from Brian Gilmour was headed just over the bar from six yards by Paddy Boyle. Gilmour shot straight at visiting goalie Rab Douglas from 25 yards in eight minutes. Graham headed back to Fleming when under pressure from Kevin Allan in 14 minutes.

Jordan Preston and Craig Moore combined with Robbie Crawford whose shot from 10 yards was blocked by a visiting defender in 16 minutes. As Ayr kept pressing skipper Nicky Devlin surged into the box only to see his shot from eight yards hooked off the line by Michael Travis a minute later.

The Loons had a half chance in 22 minutes when a free-kick from 25 yards by Campbell was saved by Fleming. A minute later the home goalie got down well to save a Chris Templeman effort from the edge of the box.

United had a penalty claim turned down when Moore was upended inside the box by Andrew Black, but play was waved on.

However the visitors’ pressure paid off in 26 minutes when Crawford was short with a pass which was intercepted by Kevin Allan although there was a suspicion he handled the ball before rolling it home from 12 yards.

Home goalie Fleming made a diving save to foil Kerr Hay from just outside the box in 31 minutes. A Gilmour corner was cleared by the Loons defence and the resultant corner was headed just over the bar by Moore.

However right on half-time Ayr levelled when Alan Forrest sent a precision pass to the impressive Moore to sweep the ball home from 12 yards. It was the perfect time to equalise.

Ayr began strongly after the break and a cross-cum shot inside the box from Craig Moore was spectacularly tipped over the bar by Douglas in 51 minutes.

The hosts were agonisingly unlucky in 55 minutes when Donald crossed to Jamie Adams, whose header was saved and the ball broke to Forrest whose fierce effort from eight yards hit the side netting. But in 56 minutes United soared into the lead when Forrest hit a shot with the outside of his foot which deceived Douglas and landed in the back of the net.

Forfar came close when a Bryan Hodge shot from 12 yards following a Campbell cross was cleared by the home defence. Moore intercepted a stray pass and put the ball on a plate to Preston who shot straight at the keeper with the goal at his mercy from eight yards in 69 minutes.

Ayr were unlucky again four minutes later when a rasping 12-yard drive from Preston was saved on the line by the visiting goalie.

Yet another chance came Ayr’s way in 80 minutes when Moore squared the ball at the edge of the box to Preston who shot inches over the bar.

Donald sent a precision pass to Preston who shot narrowly over the top from 16 yards in 87 minutes.

In the final minute the home defence failed to clear a Campbell corner-kick and the ball broke to Travis who bundled it home with his knee from six yards to snatch a last-gasp point.

AYR UNITED: Fleming; Devlin, Boyle, Adams, Graham, Murphy, Gilmour, Crawford, Preston, Moore, Forrest (Donald 62). Subs not used: Newman, McLauchlan, Caldwell, Muir, Nisbet, McCracken.

STARMAN: Brian Gilmour 3 Alan Forrest 2 Jordan Preston 1.

LEADERBOARD: Ross Docherty 6 Alan Forrest 3 Martyn Campbell 3 Jamie Adams 3 Brian Gilmour 3 Alan Trouten 2 Peter Murphy 2 Gerry McLauchlan 2 Greg Fleming 2 Jordan Preston 2 Ross Caldwell 1.