United fall just short of history up North
Loan star almost hands Ayr long awaited victory
Innes Cameron took just seconds to make his Ayr United impact with a debut goal in Inverness.
The on loan Killie striker, who stepped off the bench early in the second half, was a star turn as The Honest Men dominated after the break.
But a late Nikolay Todorov equaliser denied Mark Kerr’s side all three points in the Highlands.
Cameron, signed on Friday morning, collected a pass after a great run from fellow new boy Cammy Smith to rifle below Mark Ridgers with his first touch.
And it looked like sending Ayr towards their first win in Inverness for 17 years before the late drama ensured a share of the spoils.
Kerr had made just one change from last week’s win over Queen of the South with Smith handed a debut in place of the suspended Luke McCowan.
But Ayr could have been behind just three minutes in when Todorov’s header smashed off the underside of the bar and failed to drop over the line despite home protests.
At the other end, the lively Smith tested Ridgers with a long range drive which was parried to Bruce Anderson before the Caley defence scrambled clear.
Ayr had appeals for a penalty turned down on 24 minutes when Anderson raced into the box and tumbled under Ridgers’ challenge, but ref Alan Muir said nothing doing.
Todorov and Dan McKay both fired just wide for the hosts before Cameron Harper lashed over when clean through on Viljami Sinisalo.
But Ayr also went close before half time when a Joe Chalmers corner was met by skipper Jack Baird and his effort was cleared off the line.
McKay drew a brilliant save from Sinisalo on the stroke of half time as Inverness pushed for the opener but the game was finely poised at the interval.
Ayr, though, took the game by the scruff of the next at the start of the second half and looked by far the likelier after the restart.
Cameron was introduced from the bench on 57 minutes in place of Chalmers and within seconds had made a name for himself in black and white.
Smith’s driving run took him to the edge of the box and his pass still left the big striker with enough to do.
But he showed plenty of composure to fire low beneath Ridgers and give Ayr the advantage.
And just six minutes later, the two new signings combined again to almost double the lead.
Smith was again the provider as Cameron found space inside the box and as the chance opened up, his shot this time was sent straight down the throat of Ridgers.
It was all Ayr at this stage and Ridgers again had to be on hand to save, this time from Anderson, as United looked to kill the game.
But just as they looked on the verge of a long awaited win in the Highlands, Todorov popped up with five minutes left to swivel and fire home with a clinical finish.
Still Ayr could have won it at the death as a Smith free kick drew a brilliant save from Ridgers, who flew to his left to tip the ball over the bar and secure a point for Caley.