Honest Men boss it at Stark's Park but only get a point

AYR UNITED manager Ian McCall couldn’t believe that his side took only one point after dominating an enthralling 90 minutes at Stark’s Park.

In a game that had incidents aplenty, it took United until the 87th minute to equalise after Jole Coustrain’s early opener for Raith.

The opening exchanges were evenly contested before Coustrain’s deflected effort looped over Greg Fleming’s outstretched hands and into the net on 16 minutes. Ayr felt a sense of injustice as, earlier in the move, United defender Daryll Meggatt appeared to have been fouled in front of the Ayr technical area, leaving manager McCall fuming.

This spurred Ayr on to even greater efforts and they pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Their cause was helped on 35 minutes when Rovers’ captain, Kyle Benedictus scythed down Nicky Devlin and was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

Rover’s reorganized and set out to defend their leading position while Ayr pushed and probed in attempt to break down the well marshalled rear-guard. Try as Ayr might, there was no breakthrough by half time.

United opened the second half with wave after wave of attacks and should have been level on 47 minutes but striker Kevin Nisbet somehow put the ball over the bar from two yards with the open net beckoning.

After 56 minutes, Ayr’s search for an equaliser was dealt a major blow. Unexpectedly Raith broke at speed and Paul Cairney chopped down Declan McManus as he crossed the halfway line giving the referee no choice but to issue a straight red card.

Unexpected Raith resurgence did not materialize and Ayr continued to dominate creating chance after chance but as time slipped away Ayr fans must have thought that nothing would bring about the equalizer. Then came a moment of brilliance from Gary Harkins. On 87minutes Ayr were awarded a free kick some 20 yards out and Harkins curled the ball around the Raith wall and past the helpless keeper Cuthbert and into the net.

Ayr continue to push for a winner and a rasping drive from Crawford looked goal bound but for a fingertip save by Cuthbert.

A draw was no less than United deserved but this was a performance that deserved more.

AYR UNITED: Fleming; Devlin, Crawford, Harkins, Cairney, Nisbett, Meggatt, Wardrope, McGuffie, Balatoni, McKenna. Subs: Hart; Rose, Forrest, Donald, O’Connell, Boyle.

RAITH ROVERS: Cuthbert; McHattie, Callachan, M’Voto, Benedictus, Stewart, Matthews, Davidson, Coustrain, Roberts, McManus. Subs: Brennan; Johnston, Vaughan, Osei, Skacel, Thompson, Crawford.