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None. |
Nick McAllister (78) |
Appearances & Goals To Date
Starting Lineup
| Youngest Player: | Cameron Harper (21 years 14 days) |
| Oldest Player: | Billy Mckay (34 years 36 days) |
| Average Player Age: | 26 years 232 days |
| Domestic Players: | 5 (45.45 % of starting eleven) |
Matchday Squad
| Youngest Player: | Lewis Hyde (20 years 132 days) |
| Oldest Player: | Aaron Nicolson (2024 years 115 days) |
| Average Player Age: | 26 years 226 days |
| Domestic Players: | 10 (58.82 % of matchday squad) |
First Team Debuts
Milestones
Shaw shank redemption: Nathan Shaw earned Inverness an unlikely point as he scored his second of the game with three minutes left. That levelled the score after Dipo Akinyemi had put leaders Ayr United ahead with his 14th goal of the season less than ten minutes from the end. Shaw had given the hosts an early lead which they held until the 66th minute when Mark McKenzie bundled into the net from close range. This was a better point for Inverness who still had nine players missing although Danny Devine came into the back four before going off after being injured with fifteen minutes remaining.
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Ayr came out of the blocks quickly and had a couple of early half chances through Daire O'Connor and Dipo Akinyemi, Cammy Mackay saving the first and Dipo heading over from the resulting corner.
However, it was Inverness that got off to the perfect start when Nathan Shaw put them ahead in the sixth minute firing home from the heart of the box into the bottom corner with Cammy Harper on the assist.
David Carson shot over and Sam Ashford brought Cammy Mackay into action once more saving his effort from distance. After half an hour Akinyemi saw Mackay save his header as Ayr looked to get back on level terms. Before the break Nick McAllister also had a header saved by Mackay who was looking assured in the hosts goal.
Just before the interval a game changer for Ayr as Logan Chalmers was met with the obligatory boos as he replaced the injured O'Connor.
HALF TIME: 1-0
The introduction of Chalmers was the boost Ayr had been looking for as he relished the chance to have a go at his former team mates. He continued from where he left us with his shoot on site policy and his intentions were there for all to see as Mackay stopped his first shot five minutes after the interval. Akinyemi dragged a shot wide but at the other end Aaron Doran went closer when his shot from around twenty-five yards hit the top of the crossbar and went behind.
Chalmers again went close when he tried to find the top corner and just when Inverness looked to be getting up to speed in the second half Ayr United equalised when Mark McKenzie knocked in from close range.
Danny Devine seemed to take a knock and was replaced by Lewis Hyde with fifteen minutes remaining which disrupted our defence again. Steven Boyd and Akinyemi exchanged misses, but Akinyemi would get another chance immediately which he buried into the top of the net. Good strike from the powerful front man to give United the lead with around ten minutes left.
George Oakley came on for one final push as we looked to salvage a point and was instrumental in the assist for Nathan Shaw to shoot across the keeper into the corner with three minutes plus remaining.
Still time for Chalmers to be denied once more by Cammy Mackay and that was the last effort in a decent game where we deserved our point.
FULL TIME: 2-2
Well done to Nathan Shaw who had said ahead of the game he was looking forward to it. He has been one of the more positive players in recent weeks. Cammy Mackay did well and denied Ayr a winner at the end and Danny Devine was a welcome returnee after weeks out until he was replaced towards the end after taking cramp. Given our circumstances many would have bitten your hand off for a point before the game started. Ayr's goals were possibly avoidable, but in Akinyemi they have the top scorer in the league and he doesn't need a second invitation.
Match report written by tm4tj
