Goals from Jordan McGregor and Willis Furtado earned Airdrie a well-deserved point against one of the Division‘s front runners.

 

A battling Diamonds side did well to come from behind after Ayr had turned the game on its head early in the second half.

 

Ryan Conroy returned to the starting line up as Airdrie looked to follow up their good form prior to the international break with loanee Jake Hastie settling for a place on the bench.

 

Seven minutes in Willis Furtado chased a long ball forward that was comfortably picked up by keeper Jordan Hart, with Robbie Crawford showing early intent a minute later but firing his 20 yard shot high over the Airdrie goal.   

 

With 18 minutes gone Rohan Ferguson did well to block an angled shot from Lawrence Shankland after Michael Moffat sent him clear into the box with a neat pass.

 

The home side had a better chance to break the deadlock in 20 minutes after a penalty was awarded. As Moffat ran on to the ball behind the visitor’s back line a flag was raised while Ferguson dived at the striker’s feet and appeared to have connected with the ball and then player.

 

Amidst the uncertainty, Shankland stepped up to shoot for goal, only for Ferguson to make a fine save diving to his right and push the ball away before it was cleared. 

 

After successive corners it was Airdrie who bagged the lead.

 

Scott Stewart won a corner on the right, and Tom Fry’s delivery from the left was met by Jordan McGregor who headed powerfully into the net with 29 minutes gone.

 

Unfortunately the goalscorer’s joy was short lived as he had to be replaced six minutes later after picking up an ankle knock.

 

As the home side tried to get back on level terms they closed out the half with decent pressure.

 

A back post cross from the left by Craig McGuffie set up Shankland but his headed attempt was off target, while Kieran MacDonald pulled off a fantastic last ditch tackle on Moffat who was racing into the box and looked set to add the finishing touch.

 

In first half stoppage time Luke Watt’s excellent weaving run from midfeld saw him go past three Ayr players to the edge of the box before being unceremoniously blocked only to have his claims waved aside.

 

As Ayr countered Moffat fired the ball high over Ferguson’s goal. 

 

In the second half the home side started at full pelt.

 

The Diamonds rearguard were putting bodies in front of long range efforts and were happy to see Crawford’s 20-yard strike hit Ferguson’s right post.

 

McGuffie was next up two minutes later to blast the ball high over the goal.

 

The equaliser was not far away and came in 55 minutes after a curling ball from the right from former Diamond David Ferguson was passed into the net by Andy Geggan.

 

Two minutes later the advantage had swung in favour of Ayr United after a slip in the middle of the park saw the home side power forward with Moffat squaring the ball to Geggan to net his own and his team’s second goal.

 

Airdrie had a great chance to level in 59 minutes when Furtado’s knock down for Conroy gave the midfielder a chance to score but his chipped shot was easily taken by Hart.

 

Ayr realised that Airdrie were still in the match, making a couple of changes, while Jordan Allan came on to support Furtado, who had also gone close to scoring.

 

With 65 minutes played, MacDonald's blocked cross fell to Fry on the left wing, and the midfielders excellent back-post ball saw Allan strike a sweet volley that rattled Hart’s woodwork. The loose ball fell nicely for Furtado to fire home the equaliser.

 

The game was now becoming very stretched and a couple of shots from Fry caused concern for the home side before Ayr substitute Declan McDaid raced into the box and sent an angled shot wide of goal.

 

Allan and Furtado were linking well and taking pressure of the Airdrie defence.

 

As the clock ticked down either side might have won it with Ayr drawing some decent saves from Ferguson while on occasion a different pass in the Airdrie ranks might have led to a better option.

 

It was a fine advert for the Division with Airdrie picking up another valuable point to leave their first quarter tally at 11.

 

Having played all the other sides the Diamonds are reasonably placed in the league table and show encouraging signs of improvement. 

 

Referee: Mr Steven Reid

Attendance: 1,513