Reading steals Caley’s thunder
AYR UNITED 2 Chalmers (15), Reading (53) INVERNESS CT 2 Welsh (13), Gardyne (26)
Billy Dodds had urged Inverness to start winning on the road – but the Highlanders had to settle for their fourth away draw as they missed the chance to go top.
Goals from Sean Welsh and Michael Gardyne, which were sandwiched by a Joe Chalmers equaliser, had Caley in the driving seat by half-time.
But Ayr battled back for a deserved point thanks to a pinpoint low drive from Paddy Reading.
Caley boss Dodds admitted: “I thought we totally dominated the first half and could have scored a few goals.
“We scored two and had control of the game but then my team decided to take a rest at the start of the second half.
“A good game for the neutral but I can’t believe we lost two points. We worked hard but we just have to manage the game and we never.
“Usually my players have the right mentality but I think they thought they had the game won.
“We should have had enough experience to see it out but we should have had a penalty when Kirk Broadfoot was barged in the back.
“We ended up losing two points but we’re up the top, we’re in there and we’re battling.
“I thought we should have taken care of the game.”
Caley made a hot start and it took a great save by Aidan Mcadams to keep out a Billy Mckay header after Gardyne picked him out with a perfect cross.
The Highlanders were ahead after 13 minutes when Welsh headed home a cross from ex-ayr man Tom Walsh.
It took the home side just two minutes to draw level when Chalmers found himself in space at the back post to knock home a corner from skipper Andy Murdoch.
Caley went back in front after 26 minutes when Gardyne sent in a cross-cum-shot that eluded Mcadams as Mckay waited to challenge.
The visitors had a spring in their step and almost doubled their advantage when Aaron Doran curled a free-kick around the Ayr wall but inches wide of the post.
Ayr tried to respond but the inrushing Reading was too high with a header as he strode into the box to meet a Mark Mckenzie cross seconds before the interval.
Reading had better fortune eight minutes after the restart as he drove Ayr level with a sweet low shot after great work by Jonathan Afolabi.
Ayr boss Jim Duffy said: “It was a terrific game in horrendous conditions. I think both teams deserve enormous credit for the way they approached the game.
“I’m not shouting from the rafters but I’m relatively pleased with a point.
“We gave Inverness a few problems against a side notoriously difficult to score against.”