THE BIG MATCH ACTION AND REACTION
United show fight when it matters for survival
INVERNESS ............................................... 2
AYR UNITED .............................................. 2
Stuart Wilson at the Caledonian Stadium
Josh Todd admits he couldn’t have chosen a better time to hit his first goal for Ayr – now he’d love to make his mark as an Honest Man next season.
The midfielder became an instant Somerset Park hero by slamming home the equaliser that preserved United’s Championship status.
And he’s hoping the dramatic intervention will do enough to keep him in David Hopkin’s plans for next season’s revolution.
Todd revealed: “I guess there was never a better time to get my goal – it keeps the club up and I’m delighted with it.
“I’ve only been here a short time and to make an impact like that on the last day of the season is brilliant for both me and the club.
“The finish might have looked calm but I’m not so sure it was that way in my head.
“Big Bairdy has flicked it on and I’ve taken a touch.
“To be honest I was blowing so I’ve gone first time and I’ve managed to keep it down and luckily it’s gone in.
“Losing the goal early was a big blow but credit to the lads, we stuck at it and showed great togetherness to get there in the end.
“I’d happily try and sort something now to stay here – I’ve loved my four or five weeks and I’m delighted to be back in the
Championship.
“There’s a lot of potential here, the boys and the gaffer are great and it would be fantastic to be part of that next season so it’s a win-win for me.”
Todd and Ayr knew a point would keep them in the league and they started in nervous fashion trying to remain compact and in the game.
But their gameplan went out of the window after just six minutes when Sean Welsh played in Dan MacKay to slot home the opener.
That left United staring down the barrel and they were forced to regroup and come out fighting in a bid to get back into the contest.
Slowly but surely, they grew into the contest as the first half wore on and drew level just before the break when skipper Jack Baird won a soft looking penalty after being caught by David Carson.
But Ayr weren’t grumbling and Aaron Muirhead stepped up to thump home the spot kick and send Ayr in level at the interval.
However, parity lasted less than two minutes after the restart as Ayr conceded a debatable penalty of their own when Sam Roscoe was adjudged to have felled Roddy MacGregor.
Welsh stroked home the resultant award and Ayr were left with it all to do.
But where Hopkin may have questioned his side’s character before, it was not found wanting on this occasion and they duly hauled themselves level for a second time with 23 minutes left.
Joe Chalmers, who enjoyed one of his best spells in an Ayr shirt during the second half, crossed for Baird to flick on and Todd stayed cool to drive home a low finish at the backpost.
That set the stage for a incredibly nervous final quarter to the game and Ayr retreated towards their own box as the clock ticked down.
But Inverness never seriously troubled United’s loan keeper PJ Morrison and Ayr were able to run down the clock to bag the point that secured their survival.
A delighted Hopkin could not contain his relief at full time as the Ayr bench flooded on to the pitch to celebrate.
He said: “Every man tonight played a part in this.
“Two weeks ago everyone thought we were dead and buried.
“But I wasn’t going to let that happen. “After the Arbroath game I worked on shape constantly and tonight you saw the performance of a team who wanted to stay in the Championship.
“We faced adversity twice, came back and showed character.
“I have fantastic footballers here but what pleased me most tonight was the way they dug in.
“I asked the likes of Luke McCowan, Michael Moffat and Joe Chalmers to do that. Josh Todd was the best player on the park.
“As a group over the last two weeks we have worked so hard and achieved what I set out to do when I came in – and that’s stay in the Championship.
“I’m delighted for the chairman and the board who’ve given me the chance to come in here and the players who’ve bought into my ideas and philosophy.”
INVERNESS: Ridgers, Carson, Devine, Deas, Harper, Welsh, MacGregor, MacKay (Doran 68), Allan, Sutherland (Lyall 58), Todorov (Storey 76).
AYR: Morrison, Houston, Baird, Roscoe, Reading, McCowan (Murdoch 90), Muirhead, Miller (McKenzie 53), Chalmers, Todd, Moffat (Walsh 59).