Freak won’t put wind up keeper
Cairney backs hero Fleming to bounce back
Paul Cairney made three goals and then looked to have won it for Ayr with a tap- in only for 10- man Dumbarton to rock them at the death.
Three times in an incredible second half the Sons beat keeper Greg Fleming with freak wind- assisted efforts.
But Cairney led the defence for the season’s hero and insisted he will bounce back from a horror day.
Scott McKenna and Gary Harkins had Ayr 2- 0 up and looking good with headers from Cairney crosses.
But Robert Thomson got one back with a header in interval stoppagetime and then Daniel Harvie curled in a bizarre equaliser from the touchline that left Fleming clawing fresh air.
Ayr went back in front when Andy Stirling was sent off for hauling down Cairney for a penalty which Alan Forrest stuck away.
Joe Thomson scored direct from a corner to again level only for Cairney to seemingly win it after Robbie Crawford’s shot hit the post.
That was surely that but not until lifelong Ayr fan Ryan Stevenson, who switched camps in the summer, dumped his old team by heading home a Joe Thomson corner with two minutes left.
Cairney admitted: “It was crazy. We are just disappointed to score four goals at home and not get the win but fair play to Dumbarton who kept fighting with 10 men.
“Robbie’s shot hit the post and rolled along the line before I put it in so it’s my goal although I don’t really care who scores.
“Greg has been different class for us and yet he lost three freak goals. I am sure he will bounce back as he is a top keeper.”
Boss Ian McCall claimed the draw felt like a defeat but admitted Ayr were awful in the first- half.
He added: “We feel the goal in the 47th minute was quite pivotal. Their second goal was a cross which went in with the wind – we didn’t get any goals like, I wish we had.
“I thought Dumbarton were better than us in the first half when we were awful and didn’t have an attitude for it.
“However, in the second half we were comfortably the better team but their three goals came from using the wind.
“Our goalie has been fantastic for us but he’s got to do better although the boys are saying he was fouled at one of them.
“It feel like a defeat but some of the football we played on a horrendous day was great. Harkins and Cairney played some terrific stuff.
“It’s hard to take but on a horrible day the paying public got their money’s worth.”
Sons boss Stevie Aitken claimed both teams deserved great credit for serving up a treat in the conditions.
He added: “It’s not easy playing in the wind. It’s horrible but credit to both teams for putting on a good show.
“We would have taken a point beforehand. We did well but are disappointed with the poor goals we conceded which is not like us.
“To be twice behind and twice come back with 10 men shows our character. I am delighted that Ryan got the goal coming back to the club he supports. His attitude was great.”