Ladbrokes League One

AYR UNITED 1

ALLOA ATHLETIC 2

By Stewart McConnell

Pictures: David Sargent

DREAMS of title success for United are fading fast after they were stung at home by a lethal Wasps side who exacted revenge.

But the hosts, who won with a late goal at Alloa in November, could feel a real sense of injustice as what looked like a legitimate goal from Craig Moore was chalked off in the dying minutes.

Defeat leaves the Honest Men two points behind new leaders Raith Rovers who have a game in hand. And Ian McCall's side have a mountain to climb if they want to win the title.

Treatment was needed to home defender Michael Rose inside his own box in three minutes.l

Ayr opened strongly and came agonisingly close in four minutes when Michael Moffat sent a sizzling 20-yard shot over the box. Then at the other end a Kevin Cawley effort was headed clear by the Ayr defence,

As play swung from end to end Jamie McCart, under pressure from Declan McDaid, shepherded the ball back to visiting goalie Neil Parry.

However the deadlock was broken in 10 minutes when top-scoring Lawrence Shankland took one touch and rifled the ball info the net from just inside the box in 14 minutes the game was all-square when McCart headed home a corner-kick from eight yards.

Alloa came close again in 15 minutes when a strong shot from 12 yards by Iain Flannigan was deflected wide by the home defence. However the Wasps seized the lead in 17 minutes when home goalie Jack Ruddy miscued a clearance and Ross Stewart sent home an angled drive from 12 yards.

Alloa had the ball in 23 minutes but the "goal" was chalked off for offside.

An audacious strike from 35 yards by McDaid was well gathered by Parry in 28 minutes.

A cross-cum shot from outside the box by David Ferguson was confidently clutched by Parry in 29 minutes.

Dangerous Alloa broke again and Jordan Kirkpatrick went on a darting run before shooting just over the bar from 12 yards in 37 minutes. Two minutes later they came close again when Iain Flannigan sent a 22-yard free-kick just over the bar.

The hosts forged another opening in 43 minutes when Alan Forrest ran towards the corner flag and shot just over the bar from 12 yards

In 47 minutes Parry raced out to beat McDaid to the ball eight yards from goal.

Then a minute later McDaid's cross into the box was hooked away by the visiting defence as the home side began the second half well.

Alloa were adjudged offside when Paul Joseph Crossan ran on to a long through ball in 70 minutes.

United came so close when a Moffat effort from 12 yards was cleared off the line by a visiting defender three minutes later.

Yet another chance was spurned in 78 minutes as Craig Moore shot high and wide from the edge of the box.

Great play by Moffat on the right forced a corner-kick and from the set-pie e Adams headed into the goalie's arms in 84 minutes.

United had the ball in the net in 87 minutes when Craig Moore shot home from eight yards. The "goal was chalked off for what was deemed a foul on Parry but the replay showed he dropped the ball and there was no contact.

A header from eight yards by Steven Bell was headed clear by an Alloa defender a minute later.

A 20-yard shot from McDaid glanced narrowly wide in 89 minutes as Ayr chased an equaliser.

Alloa went close in time added on when a 25-yard rocket from Stewart was tipped over the bar by Ruddy but they held on to win.