Imrie rues ref’s big calls as Ayr snatch late point
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SUBSTITUTE Tomi Adeloye snatched a point late on for Ayr United at Cappielow, and could have won the game even later were it not for a fantastic stop by goalkeeper Jack Hamilton, as Morton manager Dougie Imrie was left frustrated by refereeing decisions.
The home side had the ball in the net on four occasions but only the tap-in from midfielder Cameron Blues, following a goalmouth scramble, would count.
Morton were twice denied after referee Michael Roncone blew up for a foul on the keeper, the other ruled offside by his assistant. “The first one is baffling. No-one has batted an eyelid. Their players have got up and walked away as if it’s a goal. But you need to be careful what you’re saying,” said Imrie, back in the dugout following his lengthy suspension.
“The third one, my players are saying it wasn’t offside, it’s the wrong player who has been adjudged to have been offside.
“It’s difficult to take, but we’ve got to move on. It’s another valuable point for us.”
Ayr enjoyed the best of the opening minutes, controlling the midfield through Celtic loanee Kerr McInroy and with Rangers loanee James Maxwell driving at the defence at every opportunity. However, they lacked a cutting edge, with 17-year-old Fraser Bryden isolated at times in the lone striker role.
The home side settled, adopting more of a direct approach. Lewis Strapp’s throw-ins were a constant threat, each one thrown flat, far and fast – as if struck with his boot.
Morton thought they’d taken the lead around the 20-minute mark when Gozie Ugwu rose to nod in from close range, but the referee thought he’d gone in illegally on keeper Aidan McAdams. Ugwu then headed over a Strapp corner under heavy pressure from the Ayr defence before Morton took the lead seven minutes before the break.
A cross from Robbie Muirhead caused panic at the near post as Ugwu and Gavin Reilly tried to force it over the line. A combination of McAdams and his central defenders denied them but the ball spun free to Blues, who tapped into an empty net from a few yards out.
Minutes later Morton could have doubled their lead after Sean McGinty completely misjudged the ball. Muirhead collected and drove at goal but shot into the side netting from an angle when he should have found a team-mate.
After the break there were near misses at each end, with Ayr midfielder Andy Murdoch shooting viciously over before Reilly’s low strike rolled agonisingly wide. Ogwu was then again adjudged to have fouled the keeper as Michael Ledger headed in around the hour mark.
Lee Bullen responded by throwing on Adeloye, and then Michael Moffat, in a switch to a diamond formation. It freed up McInroy to again take a grip of midfield, eventually leading to the equaliser. His shot was turned behind for a corner which he took himself and found Adeloye at the front post, leaving the English striker with the simple task of nodding it in for his 13th goal of the season.
Morton thought they’d instantly replied when Michael Ledger fired a loose ball into the net, only to see the linesman raise his flag.
Ayr almost won it when Adeloye cut in from the left and unleashed an effort from the edge of the box, tipped round the post by a stretching Hamilton. Bryden also came close late on but could only head wide.
“Every point is a prisoner at this stage of the season,” said Bullen. “We got forward but, again, in the final third we were a little bit toothless. Which has been a little bit of an Achilles heel for us recently.”