AYR UNITED 2 KILMARNOCK 1 MARCH 1989
Ally MacLeod kept fans guessing with talk of a mystery striker before Ayr beat Killie 2- 1 in March 1989, only two months after a 4- 1 caning.
The “new” man turned out to be full- back Stevie McIntyre who was thrown the No 9 shirt because no one else was available.
Tommy Walker had broken his collarbone against Meadowbank while a move to sign former Scotland striker Jim Melrose from Shrewsbury had collapsed.
McIntyre revelled in his new role and he was almost a scoring star when he flashed a header against the bar from a Steve Evans free- kick.
The ball bounced back and skipper Ian McAllister headed a glorious winner.
Earlier, Ray Montgomerie had given Killie the lead but John Sludden quickly equalised after a Henry Templeton shot was blocked.
Killie’s season ended in tears with relegation to the old Second Division.
Their fans were on the Palmerston pitch celebrating after scoring six against Queen of the South on the final day of the season to seemingly make themselves safe.
But Colin McGlashan, later to become an Ayr player, scored a stoppage- time penalty for Clyde at Firhill to send Killie tumbling.
Ayr: Watson; McCann, Hughes, Furphy, McAllister, Evans; Templeton, Scott, McIntyre, Sludden, Kennedy. Subs: Shaw, Wilson.