The Scotsman

Neilson’s United gaining ground as Ayr stumble at home for first time

- By CRAIG P STEWART IAN MCCALL “I thought we were dominant but failed to put the game to bed”

Championsh­ip leaders Ayr United dropped points at home for the first time this season as Queen of the South hit back to draw 1-1. The result left both managers with mixed feelings.

The Honest Men had the better of the first half but the closest either side got to a goal was a ferocious shot from the Doonhamers’ Stephen Dobbie that rattled a post.

A sixth Somerset Park success looked on when Michael Rose headed Alan Forrest’s corner past Alan Martin on 75 minutes.

But the Dumfries men levelled six minutes later when substitute Connor Murray fired home Callum Fordyce’s knockdown just ten seconds after coming on.

Mccall said: “I thought we were dominant but failed to put the game to bed. We deserved to win but we will take the point and move on.” Queens boss Gary Naysmith, who was barracked by some of his fans when he brought Murray on, said: “I will not be claiming it as a stroke of genius, it was just luck. The players deserve credit for sticking at things.”

Ross County went down 1-0 to a visiting Dundee United side who are enjoying a resurgence under Robbie Neilson.

Paul Watson produced the only goal on 15 minutes when he slammed William Edjenguele’s header from a Fraser Aird free-kick into the net.

County became frustrated by United’s willingnes­s to slow the game down and, despite seven minutes of added-on time the Dingwall side could not find an equaliser.

Gary Caldwell’s miserable run of results as Partick Thistle manager continued as his side lost 1-0 to Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Firhill for a fourth consecutiv­e defeat under his guidance and a seventh loss on the spin overall.

Caley scored through Tom Walsh’s 25-yard strike 19 minutes from time, with Thistle’s plight summed up when Mark Ridgers saved Blair Spittal’s late penalty and then blocked the follow-up effort from Kris Doolan.

Falkirk’s improvemen­t under Ray Mckinnon was evidenced in their 1-0 success at the East End Park home of a Dunfermlin­e side that sit seventh. Zak Rudden secured only the second win of the season for the Bairns when he fired a long-distance shot past Lee Robinson on 71 minutes.

Alloa secured their first away success with a 2-0 triumph at Morton where penalties were to prove decisive. Alan Trouten netted from the spot 17 minutes from time and then Iain Flannigan did likewise with five minutes left.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom