Akinyemi at the double for league leaders

IT’S early days in the Championship but Dipo Akinyemi may prove to be the bargain of the season. The 25-year-old striker netted a brace as Ayr United came from a goal down to see off Dundee and put themselves four points clear at the top of the table. Partick Thistle and Queen’s Park have the chance to eat into that lead today but, on initial impressions, Lee Bullen’s side have to be seen as genuine title contenders and remain the only unbeaten side in the second tier. Zak Rudden’s fourth-minute opener for the Dark Blues was cancelled out by a goal in each half from Akinyemi while, in between his brace, Jordan Houston chipped in with the first senior goal of his career. An explosive start to the game saw Rudden reward Dundee’s early pressure with an immediate lead. Luke McCowan whipped in a deep cross that Paul McMullan did well to slide onto before cutting the ball back to Rudden in the box. He steered the ball beyond the reach of Ayr keeper Charlie Albinson and, for a spell, the hosts had their backs against the wall. Yet, Bullen’s side found a way back into the game and managed to survive the early scare. Akinyemi gave an indication of his attacking threat when he cut inside and unleashed a decent effort from the edge of the box that was held by Dundee keeper Harrison Sharp. It was a sign of things to come as he found the net a few minutes later. Ben Dempsey’s corner was flicked on by Frankie Musonda’s knee before Akinyemi succeeded in bundling the ball over the line. Ayr started the second half with the same tempo in which they had ended the first. Dundee were not without their chances, though, Rudden almost poking the ball into the net following Joe Grayson’s corner with Albinson quick to pounce and stave off the danger. Jordan McGhee then forced the keeper into a fingertip save before Ayr got their second. Akinyemi’s ball to Houston was drilled into the bottom corner before Akinyemi added the third, turning Tyler French and sending a venomous effort into the top corner. While the English striker was celebrating his sixth goal of the season, a miserable night for Dundee saw skipper Ryan Sweeney sent off for dissent late on.