ayr united 0 morton 0

Ayr dropped home points for the second week in a row but extended their lead to five on Ross County who have a game in hand.

Nevertheless, Ian McCall acknowledged it was a well earned share of the spoils since they played the last half hour a man short after Craig Moore was sent off for retaliation.

Morton could have snatched victory at the death when a netbound Gregor Buchanan header was scrambled off the line by sub Michael Moffat.

McCall claimed: “I feel a point was well earned and felt we deserved it.

“We started the second half really well and were well on top.

“Then Craig got sent off and he knows he was daft.

“I put on Michael Moffat to get a winner, then he actually saved one on the line, which was different class.”

Morton had the best first chance when Liam Smith was short with a passback and Gary Oliver sprinted clear only for Ross Doohan to block his shot.

Two minutes later, the Greenock men had another opening when Bob McHugh dashed into the box but slid his shot wide of Doohan’s right-hand post.

Lawrence Shankland replied for Ayr four minutes before the interval when he curled a shot towards the bottom corner but Derek Gaston pushed his effort wide for a corner.

Ayr began the second period well with Moore heading wide and Robbie Crawford and Mark Kerr having shots saved.

The game erupted on the hour when Moore struck out with a retaliatory back-heel in response to a foul by Buchanan who was booked.

Oliver hit the post as Morton tried to cash in. And the visitors went close again in the dying seconds when Buchanan powered in a header which Moffat knocked off the line.

Morton boss Jonatan Johansson claimed: “I’m pleased with a point. It’s the league leaders away and I thought the workrate and performance was very good.

“I thought Gregor had won it with the header at the end but it wasn’t to be. Gary also hit the post so we had a couple of chances to win it.”